February 27, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Spo February 27, 2021 3 takeaways from Sooners' 62-57 loss at Kansas State Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman sions. The second tied it. The as Reaves left the 3-pointer fly Austin has to handle that bet- Sooners struggled. ence games. The Jayhawks wrap third put the Wildcats ahead but no call came, the went ter.” Umoja Gibson was 2 of 11. up their regular season Saturday MANHATTAN, Kan. — Aus- 56-53, ‘out of bounds off the Sooners ‘The Sooners were outscored Brady Manek was 1 of 7, missing at home against No. 2 Baylor. tin Reaves threw up his arms in "We just have to have more ur- and Kansas State put the game 16-11 without Reaves on the all five 3-pointers he hoisted. Seven of the league's 10 teams frustration. gency to get there on McGuitl's away at the free-throw line. floor as the Wildcats tied it The Sooners also had just Reaves’ 3-pointer in the clos- threes," Sooners coach Lon Here are three quick take- heading into halftime. eight assists, their second-low- will play three conference games ing seconds hit off the rim as he Kruger said. "He's such a good aways from the loss: OU didn't that poorly without est total of the season. after the Jayhawks wrap up their pleaded for a foul call that never shooter. He's done that all of his Reaves sits for long stretch... Reaves, going 5 of 11 from the "I thought we got into the schedule. OU will play two — its came. career. I thought we were kind of Austin Reaves has been the floor, but they missed all four paint ie ies and forced home game against Baylor was Reaves came up big most of there but not enough. Sooners’ spark plug this season, 3-pointers during that stretch up a tough shot as opposed to not rescheduled — and Kansas the night but it wasn't enough "We have to have a lot more leading the Sooners in scoring, and struggled to get into much getting into the paint and mak- State will play just one. as OU's vexation at Bramlage ‘urgency to get there and make rebounds and assists as his game of a flow offensively. ing that one extra pass to get a After a near-letdown at Iowa Coliseum continued Tuesday him put the ball on the floor. We has taken a significant step for- «Then takes over late better shot," Kruger said. "We night. didn't do that. He made us pay ward as a senior. The Wildcats remained a have to learn from that and get State on Saturday and Tuesday's ‘The No. 7 Sooners struggled for it.” Reaves is also the Sooners’ thorn in OU's side, keeping the better." upset loss, Kruger said he hoped to find much of a rhythm before Kansas State was just 4 of 24 emotional leader. game tight. ‘The Big 12 picture his team regained focus quickly seemingly taking control, only from behind the arc before Mc- Tuesday, he got a little too But then it looked like the ‘The loss dropped the Soon- in time for the closing stretch. to see Kansas State senior Mike Guirl's offensive outburst. emotional early. Sooners had turned a corner, ers to 9-5 in Big 12 play enter- “Obviously tonight we didn't McGuirl catch fire at the end to McGuirl, who was just 1 for 5 With the Sooners up 18-13 thanks in large part to Reaves. ing their back-to-back Bedlam finish it (but) they've had a lift the Wildcats to a 62-57 up- from behind the arc in OU's Jan. a couple minutes past the mid- OU's point guard scored 12 of games followed by a regular-sea- year where we've taken care of set. 19 win over the Wildcats in Nor- point of the first half, Reaves OU's 14 points during a stretch son ending matchup against No. OU hasn't won at the "Octa- man, hit five of Kansas State's hurried back after Umoja Gib- of more than six minutes as the 14 Texas at home. business and made progress," gon of Doom" since 2012. seven 3-pointers Tuesday. son's turnover and was called for Sooners ripped off what wound ‘OU entered the day in second Kruger said. "Unfortunately, it Five times during that span, Even after McGuirl's heroics a foul. After Reaves appeared to up being an 18-7 run to take a place in the league but West Vir- might take this to get our atten- an unranked Wildcats team on his senior night, the Sooners react verbally to the call, he was sixpoint lead with less than ginia improved to 9-4 with their tion and make sure we do things knocked off a ranked Sooners hada chance. given a technical foul as well. four minutes to play. win over TCU. better. squad. Tuesday's win was the Reaves cut the lead to one ‘The sequence sent Reaves to Reaves scored 18 of his game- Texas knocked off Kansas in third for an unranked Kansas with a driving layup with 16 the bench for the final 7:50 of high 25 points in the second half overtime to improve to 8-5 and you“This conference is tough if don't bring it every night, State team over a top-10 Soon- seconds left, then after a pair of the half. but it wasn't quite enough. knock the Jayhawks down to ers squad during that span. free throws, Kruger put the ball "We can't have that happen,” While Reaves and De'Vion 11-6. don't come in focused and don't McGuirl hit 3-pointers on back in his hands. Kruger said. "Changes the flow Harmon combined to got 15 of Kansas is the only team in the do the things you need to do to back-to-back-to-back posses- ‘There appeared to be contact of the game at that moment. 31 from the floor, the rest of the league to have played 17 confer- give yourself a chance to win." Sooners deserve their Bramlage fate, perhaps it will wake them up Clay Horning, The Norman Kaosi Bzeagu answered to put used in the second. last couple of games, 1 of8 from be true and accurate, yet the wall has to be resolved. Transcript the Wildcats on top 40-35, the Reaves can remember the beyond the 3-point arc. Sooners’ heroic turnaround, led It wasn’t so long ago the Soon- Sooners might have played their technical foul he took 7:50 be- If he wants to, Gibson can lec- by Reaves, who finished with (It was coming. best basketball in weeks, even if fore the break that produced four Wildcat free throws and a ture all of his teammates about 25 points and six boards, much ers found their magic. They've their shortcomings. He only of it by force ofwill rather than It was entirely deserved. it was for a short stretch. lost it, but the good news is Now that it’s done, maybe the Umoga Gibson hit a 3, then head coach who'd seen enough, made 2 of 11 shots but, maybe depth of skill late in the second they've got plenty of time to Kruger opting to pull his best the shortest player on the court, Oklahoma men can get back to Jalen Hill and Kuath both player off the court until the the Sooners’ rebounding disad- half, would have been the more find it again, Kruger has time playing good basketball because blocked shots on the other end. vantage would have been much memorable story instead. but for a double-overtime es- ‘The Sooners came up empty second half began, after which worse than 38-33 had he not It would have been true, too, to press the buttons that need cape at West Virginia 10 days their next two possessions but K-State outscored OU 16-11 to grabbed a game- and career- but also misleading. Because it pressing to find it again and they prior to Tuesday, they haven't itnabbed didn’t matter because Gibson produce a 29-29 intermission one of his four steals high 11 and those four steals can’t be Reaves alone at the end can even do it in increments. It played much of it since topping after the first fruitless trip and deadlock. matched a career-high, too. of games every time. Some two- doesn’t have to happen {em} then-No. 9 Alabama all the way Kuath blocked Miguel Selton af- De’Vion Harmon can try to Some may rail against Kru- back on Jan. 30. figure out why he failed to show ger for sitting Reaves after he or three-headed combination of now! ter the second. after the half, scoring a single Manek, Harmon, Gibson, Har- ‘The final score was 62-57 and, ‘Two free throws from Reaves said the T-earning magic words, Yet, bad basketball is bad believe it or not, it was OU coach tied the game, another bucket point after scoring a dozen be- whatever they were, but bully less or Hill has to show up at basketball and OU’s played too Lon Kruger’s ninth straight loss from Kuath gave OU the lead fore it. and Brady Manek can go for the coach for doing it. money time, too. to Kansas State coach Bruce and before long the edge was six looking for his confidence again, Had OU prevailed, the laun- ‘That, and the rest of the silli- much of it. Finally, the Sooners Weber inside Bramlage Colise- points. The Sooners, appearing having made 2 of 14 shots his dry list of failures would be still ness that put OU up against the paid a real price. um, which is no way for an alma uninterested for so much of it, mater to treat a favorite son like had survived. Only they didn’t because it Ranking the 2021 college football the Sooner skipper. turns out even a K-State team Of course, none of that mat- that had won all of two confer- ters, because all that matters ence games coming inis allowed is that it happened and it was to make shots in its own arena, coaching hires coming and maybe OU will heed on senior night anyway, provid- the wake up call. ed a senior’s taking them and It looked like it was going Mike McGuirlis indeed a senior. to be different. It looked a like Because McGuirl made those a defensive awakening on the shots, the Sooners ought to Berry Tramel, The Oklahoman Here are the 15 coaches who a coach can win. Sarkisian was director Danny White from Cen- back end of a Kur Kuath follow have a far easier time reflecting. took over Division I-A jobs going 46-35 combined as a head coach, tral Florida, at least will have of an Austin Reaves’ miss with ‘A game like this one, victory Only 15 major-college football into the 2021 season, ranked by but his first UW team went 5-7, administrative support. 14:27 remaining would deliver might be blinding. For all he did later, Kuath can jobs made coaching changes dur- the quality of the hire. Not the after the Huskies were 0-12 the 12. Marshall: Charles Huff the Sooners anyway. recall the time he flat handed ing or after the pandemic-stricken quality of the job, not the quality year before. The biggest concern? replaces Doc Holliday. Like Bill ‘After Kuath put back Reaves’ the ball to Selton just 5 1/2 min- 2020 season. That's fewer than of the coach, but the quality of Sarkisian was fired at USC over Belichick assistants in the NFL, miss, he forced a turnover from utes into the game. usual. the fit. substance-abuse issues. Nick Saban lieutenants often are Wildcat Davion Bradford on the Alondes Williams can remem- But some schools can't wait for 1. Central Florida: Gus Malzahn 6. Auburn: Bryan Harsin replaces in demand. Huff spent the last other end. ber the time he refused to dish normal to return, and some replaces Josh Heupel. Great get Gus Malzahn. Harsin clearly is an two years as Alabama's associate Reaves followed with a to Elijah Harkless on the break, coaches get antsy, and just one for UCE, Malzahn has major excellent coach, and Boise State head coach. Huff, 37, has more tougher layup than the one he'd forfeiting an easy two points in domino falling can create a coaching chops, with a 68-35 expatriates generally do well. time spent at bluebloods Penn State and Bama (six years) than just missed and after K-State’s the first half OU sure could have carousel. record as Auburn's head coach Dan Hawkins not so much, but smaller programs, but he did and three of the eight SEC victo- Houston Nutt, Dirk Koetter and coach at Western Michigan and ries over Nick Saban in the last Chris Petersen. The only trouble ‘Tennessee State. Huff played at Providing comfort and Supportfor End of Life cholces 10 years. But Malzahn also has experience (Arkansas State, Tulsa spot for Harsin is geography — he's an Idahoan through and Hampton. 13, Louisiana-Monroe: Terry offensive coordinator) on the through. Can two years as Texas’ offensive coordinator (2011-12) Bowden replaces Matt Viator. mid-major level. Bowden turns 65 this week. We Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual re- 2. Illinois: Bret Bielema replaces and one year as Arkansas State's coach (2013) prepare Harsin for think of him as the 30something sources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer Lovie Smith. Bielema seems like a the Auburn frying pan. coaching Auburn to great glory in or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical perfect fit. Played at Iowa. Defen- 7. Vanderbilt: Clark Lea replaces the 1990s. But Bowden's career details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one. sive coordinator at Kansas State Derek Mason. Lea was a Vandy predominantly has taken place and Wisconsin. Ultra-successful fullback, 2002-04, so he should know the landscape of the South- in the shadows. Salem University head coach at Wisconsin (68-24; For questions regarding hospice service or eligibility, contact: three straight Rose Bowls) before eastern Conference's sore-thumb (1983-85), Samford (1987-92), taking the Arkansas job. Bad ca- school. It also doesn't hurt that North Alabama (2009-11), Akron reer move, though Bielema's 29- Lea has coached at fellow private (2012-18). Bowden was a winner Carrie Perry, RN/ Adminsi: trator 34 record in the Ozarks doesn't schools Wake Forest and Notre at all but Akron. seem awful in retrospect. Dame. 14, Southern Mississippi: Will Pat Welsh, RN/ tient Care 3. Boise State: Andy Avalos 8, Arkansas State: Butch Jones replaces Blake Anderson. This is Hall replaces Jay Hopson. Not that long ago, Southern Miss replaces Bryan Harsin. One a change in Red Wolves protocol. Boise State grad replaces another. was one of the nation's best Some of the most common conditions are: Avalos was a Bronco linebacker Arkansas State's recent hires were up-and-comers Blake Ander- mid-major jobs. No longer. The * Cancer * Failure to Thrive * End Stage Cardiac Disease (CHF) (2001-04) who also coached at son, Bryan Harsin, Gus Malzahn Golden Eagles went through + End Stage Cerebrovascular Disease (CVA) * End Stage Amyotrophic Boise State (2012-18) before and Hugh Freeze. The latter three three head coaches in 2020. Hall, Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) * End Stage Pulmonary Disease (COPD) spending two years as Oregon's were hired away by Boise State, a quarterback at North Alabama, defensive coordinator. Boise Auburn and Ole Miss. Jones, late has coached at Presbyterian, + End Stage Liver Disease * End Stage Renal Disease * AIDS/HIV of Tennessee, is not such a hot ¢ State is an atypical good job, soit commodity. Henderson State, Southwest * End Stage Neurological Disease such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s helps to know the landscape. 9. South Carolina: Shane Beamer Baptist, Arkansas — Monticello, 4. Utah State: Blake Anderson replaces Will Muschamp. Beamer ‘West Georgia, West Alabama, replaces Gary Andersen. There isa premium personality with Louisiana-Lafayette, Southern carrle is much to like about Anderson. great pedigree. And not just his Miss, Memphis and Tulane. And Perry, RN Professional, Passionate ‘Three straight Arkansas State dad, Virginia Tech legend Frank he's only 40. head coaches left after one Beamer. Beamer has been part of 15, Arizona: Jedd Fisch replaces Advance, Attentive... season — Hugh Freeze, Gus Mal- ultra-successful staffs at Georgia Kevin Sumlin. Fisch did not play zahn, Bryan Harsin, Anderson under Kirby Smart and OU under high school or college football. He Our Difference Is Our Care took over and stayed seven years, Lincoln Riley, But the lack of experience — never a coordinator was a tennis player. Seems like going 51-37. He has coached at ~~ a variety of mid-majors — New —isaconcern. that would be a tough sell. Fisch 10. South Alabama: Kane Wom- went to the University of Florida Mexico, Middle Tennessee, Lou- mack replaces Steve Campbell. and eventually was hired as a Have you ever considered becoming isiana-Lafayette, Southern Mis- ‘The 33-year-old Wommack graduate assistant by Steve Spur- sissippi — plus North Carolina, should know how tough the job a hospice volunteer? which launched him to Arkansas is; he coached at South Alabama rier (1999-2000). Fisch broke into the NFL with the Houston A fulfilling experience in the spirit State. So he should have good in 2016-17. Wommack also has ‘Texans in 2002, then began an perspective at Utah State. been on the staff at Ole Miss, of giving and receiving. 5. Texas: Steve Sarkisian replaces Indiana, Jacksonville State, odyssey — Texans 2002-03, Tom Herman. Sarkisian is consid- Tennessee-Martin and Eastern Il- Ravens 2004-07, Broncos 2008, ered one of the hottest coaches linois. He played at Arkansas and University of Minnesota 2009, on the market. Of course, so was Southern Mississippi. Seahawks 2010, University of Mi- Herman. Sarkisian spent three 11. Tennessee: Josh Heupel ami 2011-12, Jaguars 2013-14, replaces Jeremy Pruitt. Tough University of Michigan 2015-16, years on Nick Saban's Alabama job for anyone. The Volunteers staff, plus he was a head coach at didn't seem to have an abundance UCLA 2017, Rams 2018-19, Pa- Washington and Southern Cal. of great options. Heupel, who triots 2020. That's a lot of stops. ‘Those are two programs where followed new Tennessee athletic Strange hire.