September 18, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Sports September 18, 2021 Thunder signs Paul Watson Jr. to two-way contract. Here’s what to know about new OKC forward. Joe Mussatto, The Okla- Fresno State standout Watson signed with the G NBA debut fore last season. He played 27 which he’s still eligible to sign homan Fun fact: Watson is the sec- League Westchester Knicks Watson’s strong G League games and made two starts, because he has three years or ond Paul from Fresno State to after going undrafted. The play caught the eye of the At- one of which came against the fewer of NBA experience. ‘The Thunder has signed play for the Thunder. The first, 6-foot-6 forward played 95 Janta Hawks, which signed ‘Thunder. Who knows what Mark 26-year-old forward Paul Wat- of course, was Paul George. games — making 55 starts — Watson to a 10-day contract in Watson didn’t attempt a Daigneault’s rotation will look son Jr, to a two-way contract, Watson played for the Bull- for Westchester from 2017-19. January 2020. high volume of 3-pointers, but like, but Watson shouldn’t Watson played just two he was extremely efficient. He if the minutes are there. It's have trouble getting shots up the team announced Wednes- dogs from 2013-17. He was He joined Toronto's G day. named Mountain West Fresh- League team, Raptors 905, games for Atlanta, going 0-of-7 shot 47% from deep on 2.4 Oklahoma City had an man of the Year in 2014, and prior to the 2019-20 season. in 17 minutes. attempts per game. He was worth testing the legitimacy open two-way slot after waiv- he went onto start 128 of his ‘That’s when Watson took off. ‘A day after being waived 30-of-64 overall from 3-point of his 3-point shooting, which range. stands at a sharp 45% through ing Josh Hall on Sunday. 135 college games. ‘After averaging 6.2 and 8.2 by the Hawks, the Raptors Watson erupted for a ca- 37 NBA games. Teams can have a maxi- ‘The Phoenix native aver- points per game in his first two brought Watson back to To- reer-high 30 points on April At 26, Watson is old for a mum of two players signed to aged 10.1 points and 4.4 re- G League seasons, Watson av- ronto — this time on a two- 16 against the Magic. He shot two-way player, and old com- two-way contracts, and Wat- bounds for his career. Watson eraged 19 points in 30 games way contract. 8-of-11 from distance. pared to his teammates. son will join rookie Aaron Wig- shot 46% from the field and with the Raptors’ G League Still, the Raptors waived He played eight games for Watson last month, and no He'll turn 27 in December, gins as the Thunder's second 36% from 3-point range. squad. And his 3-point at- the Raptors to finish the 2019- team was quick to scoop him making him the fourth-oldest two-way player. He ranks 17th on Fresno tempts doubled. He shot 42% 20 season. up. player on the roster behind Here are three things to State’s all-time scoring list. from behind the arc on 7.2 at- The Raptors signed Wat- ‘The Thunder will give him Mike Muscala, Derrick Favors know about Watson: G League veteran tempts per game. son to a standard contract be- a look on a two-way contract, and Kenrich Williams. OU football: Williams , Stutsman making big impacts as freshmen Jesse Crittenden, The weekend. Here's a look at two freshmen, country, and he’s already ex- liams leads the Sooners in ball from anywhere. He's fast. Norman Transcript ‘This year's team returned Mario Williams and linebacker ceeded expectations. receptions (10), targets (12), Can't say enough about Danny. a lot of veterans from last Danny Stutsman, who look It took him just two quar- and he’s second on the team But he’s really mature. We pick Through Oklahoma's first season, but several freshmen primed to play big minutes in ters to score his first collegiate in receiving yards (86) behind on him a lot, but he handles it two games, a lot of players and sophomores have already big games going forward. touchdown, as quarterback Marvin Mims. And with Theo well. I think the future’s really have seen the field. made significant impacts this Mario Williams Spencer Rattler found him in Wease out for another few bright for him.” Alex Grinch, OU's defensive ‘There was a lot of excite- the red zone to give the Soon- weeks, the Sooners will need season. As the season goes on, coordinator, played 31 differ- more young players may con- ment about the freshman re- ers a 23-point halftime lead. Williams to keep playing well. Senior Caleb Kelly even ent players against Tulane, and tinue to earn playing time. ceiver heading into fall camp. He played well again last “He's going and learnin; compared him to two former that number jumped to nearly Heading into the Nebraska The 5-star receiver from Saturday, posting four catch- but it was good to see a guy Sooner linebackers. 40 in the Sooners’ dominant game, two young players have Florida came to OU as one of es, 49 yards and a touchdown that the moment's not too big “Yeah, he’s a tough guy win over Western Carolina last stood out for the Sooners. the top-ranked recruits in the against Western Carolina. In for him,” Lincoln Riley said last for sure,” Kelly said. “One of a game full of highlights, he week. those Oklahoma linebackers posted perhaps the biggest Danny Stutsman like Rocky [Calmus] and Teddy College football should be about one — a 10-yard touchdown The freshman linebacker on a well-placed ball from Rat- played a few snaps against Tu- [Lehman], like that’s who you tler in the right corner of the Jane, but really took off against think of when you see him. Or at least if I was a fan I would, endzone. Western Carolina. history and the game, not by his early production. Jeremiah Hall, one of OU’s team captains, isn’t surprised He finished with a team- high eight tackles against the Catamounts, and forced a fum- I think I’ve heard it. And yeah, he’s one of those guys and he’s going to be the next one. AndI markets and payouts hope for sure.” “He's a great athlete, but a ble before the first quarter hit better person off the field. It’s the midway point. Stutsman has made a good well deserved for him,” Hall Tt was clear he’s earned the case for more playing time. He said Wednesday. “His success respect of his teammates. Clay Horning, The Nor- national stage by Ohio State- Nobody will stop and think on the field is a reflection of “Danny's... really a team- currently leads the team in man Transcript Michigan, a throwback to a about it long enough for it to how hard he works in practice. first guy,” linebacker DaShaun solo tackles (8) and total tack- time when conferences made impact future decisions, but He goes out and [plays well] in White said Wednesday. “That's les (10). On Monday, Oklahoma geographic sense, and a mea- adding markets is not all it’s the games, and he also does it what really stood out to me Defensive Coordinator State football coach Mike Gun- sure — should anybody care cracked up to be. multiple times in practice. the most early, because to be Alex Grinch said the team is dy was asked about the done to look up the numbers — of Good chance the number “The growth he has dis- young, I don’t know if I can using the non-conference slate played since he arrived is more say I was that way. He's really deal that has BYU, Cincinnati, just how non-sensical confer of Texas fans in Houston who a maturity thing rather than a guy, he'll do anything for the to play different players on the Houston and Central Florida ence expansion has become will turn toward the SEC will anything taught on the field team. That’s so important for a roster, and it’s clear Stutsman’s headed to the Big 12. geographically. outnumber the Cougar fans — route running or anything. young guy. made an impression on his “Essentially, we hit a home Nebraska's and Oklaho- who will turn toward the Big It's more his mindset that has “He's already a leader coach, run ... No question about it,” ma’s campuses are 455 miles 12. Good chance Cincinnati grown and I’m proud of him within his class, that sort of “He's going to be a really he said. from one another, which was will always belong to the Reds for that.” thing. I don’t have to tell this good player,” Grinch said last He's right, of course. among the longer drives in the and Bengals, not the Bearcats. Through two games, Wil- to you guys, but he can find the week. Or, he’s right in the ways old Big Eight and a good solid Good chance most of Orlando we have come to understand drive in the not-so-old Big 12, doesn’t know Central Florida's departures and acquisitions on the athletic conference stage. yet nothing like where we find in Orlando, or, at least, cares a ourselves now and where we're whit about Knight football. Providing comfort and Supportfor End of Life cholces BYU gives you Salt Lake headed. Also, but for Atlanta, mar- City, the nation’s 30th largest The Huskers’ final Big 10 ket No. 10, the only other ma- media market and the Mor- game last season was at Rut- jor league market in the SEC Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual re- mon Church, which gives you gers, in Piscataway, New Jer- right now is New Orleans, 81 sources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer the world, sort of. sey, 1,290 miles from Lincoln, miles from Baton Rouge, un- Cincinnati gives you the about 20 hours by car and al- less you count Orlando, 110 or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical nation’s 37th largest media most five in the air. from Gainesville. details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one. market and southwest Ohio, ‘A week from Saturday, the ‘That's not quite the market and maybe pieces of the India- Sooners play host to West Vir- strength of the current Big 12 For questions regarding hospice service or eligibility, contact: napolis, Louisville, Columbus, ginia, requiring the Mountain- — Dallas-Fort Worth, Kansas Lexington and Dayton mar- eers to travel almost as far as kets, which, if you've ever cov- the Huskers traveled to play City, Oklahoma City, Austin, San Antonio (sort of) — not Carrie Perry, RN/ Adminsistrator ered an NCAA tourney game in the Scarlet Knights. nearly that of the Pac-12— Los Dayton, you'd know, because All that, and the future Big you can throw a blanket over 12 will require jaunts from Angeles, the Bay Area, Seattle, Portland — to say nothing of Pat Welsh, RN/ Coordinator of Patient Care all those places West Virginia to BYU, almost the Big 10 — Chicago, Detroit, Houston gives you Hous- 2,000 miles, not to mention Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Co- Some of the most common conditions are: ton, the eighth largest media BYU to Central Florida, more lumbus, Omaha and whoever market and Central Florida than 2,300; while the future claims Penn State, in between * Cancer * Failure to Thriv * End Stage Cardiac Disease (CHF) gives you Orlando, the 18th. SEC, upon Oklahoma's and * End Stage Cerebrovascular Disease (CVA) * End Stage Amyotrophic So, yes, in the obvious ways Texas’ arrivals, will mean trips Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. that university athletic depart- of nearly 1,200 miles for the But the SEC is the trium- Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) * End Stage Pulmonary Disease (COPD) phant cash cow that it is be- ments chase money, relevance, Sooners to play the Gators * End Stage Liver Disease * End Stage Renal Disease * AIDS/HIV the ability to remain competi- and nearly 1,100 for the Long- cause its entire region is in love * End Stage Neurological Disease such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer’s tive and survival — the last horns to play the Gamecocks. with college football and the OF course, Texas A&M and rest of the nation that claims three of those things tending to be measured by the first — Arkansas have been making another conference _ first, similar trips for years, perhaps claims it second. arrle it is indeed a home run. But are the obvious ways none of that matters. It’s not about markets. Professional, Passionate we judge these moves really so Even though the old Pac- It’s about the football. obvious, really the most profit- 10 included 1,000-plus mile I Nick Saban were still at Advance, Attentive... able or even remotely the way Michigan State, the SEC might trips for the Arizonas, South- we'd set them up if we began ern Cal and UCLA to reach thebe in fourth place in the con- Our Difference Is Our Care all over again and tried to do it Washingtons, it made sense. ference hierarchy, maybe fifth. right? Those schools mostly shared Don’t consider this a plea Saturday, Nebraska visits ‘a time zone, mostly were in to go back in time or to make Oklahoma to play a football states along the Pacific Ocean everything make sense again, Have you ever considered becoming game for the first time since and were all in states along the just the observation that a plan a hospice volunteer? 2008 and to play the Sooners country’s western border. Col- beyond what your conference at all since the 2010 Big 12 orado and Utah, not so much. payout could become in a world A fulfilling experience in the spirit championship game and every- Boston College and Miami you walk away from from your body’s going ga-ga for it. — 1,500 miles between them history would be nice. of giving and receiving. ‘The history, not the game, — have actually been in two The reason they're go- but still. conferences together, the dis- ing crazy for the Huskers and The build-up has been huge banded Big East and the ACC Sooners this week? locally and nationally, too. It’s now, so maybe we should just They remember a time the 50th anniversary of the blame them. when football programs didn’t 1971 Game of the Century, but Or maybe not because the make mercenaries of their uni- mostly it’s just the Sooners and next time somebody says BC versities, a time that things Huskers, a once-annual game and Miami set the precedent weren't at odds with common perhaps only rivaled on the will be the first time. sense, a better time than now.