Oklahoma Basketball: Sooners explode in 2nd half to beat Oregon State

Oklahoma Basketball went on another HUGE second-half run, stretching it to as much as 33-13, allowing the Sooners to win 77-69 in the Phil Knight invitational.

Coming off of a 10 point, 10 rebound double-double in his first game of the season for Oklahoma Basketball, Kristian Doolittle had 19 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and a steal, while shooting 6-14 (2-2 from 3) in the game.

Jay Bilas was calling the game last night and talked about how coach Kruger told him he would like Doolittle to be more aggressive, and Bilas said personally, that if last years Big-12 most improved player was less passive, that he’d be one of the best players in the Big-12 conference. I don’t know if he heard or not, but Doolittle definitely showed us what he can do with the ball in his hands.

I’ve said it before the season started if Doolittle steps up the way coach Kruger, Jay Bilas, and myself thinks he can, Doolittle has serious potential to be a 2nd round pick on draft day, with his Draymond Green & Grant Williams measurable’s as a playmaking small-ball four.

Austin Reaves had 17 points, hitting a total of 5 three’s on the night.

Jamal Bieniemy had 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals on the night.

Brady Manek also chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block.

Oklahoma played a pretty tough opponent in Oregon State, who just like UTSA & Minnesota, should make a solid case to be able to get into the march madness tournament.

Oregon State’s Tres Tinkle is one of the best players in the Pac-12 period, as he was voted the Preseason Player of the Year in the conference, and won the conferences first player of the week honors to start the season, coming off of a 27 point & 11 rebound performance. The Sooners shut him down to just four points in the first half, as he finished with 18 points & 10 rebounds.

Oklahoma went up against the Pac-12’s best player and fared pretty well against him. It’s a good thing to know that when they go up against real deal players, they can slow them down and pull out victories. They will need to do that in conference play when they go up against Kansas’s Devon Dotson and Texas’s Andrew Jones.

Oklahoma looks like a top half Big-12 team, not a bottom half team. I think it’s time to stop doubting Lon Kruger. Even last year, a year after Trae young left, without a natural point guard, (Bieniemy took over that role last season and led the team in assists and steals as a freshman, but his more natural position I would say is at the two) a consistent post presence, and a lack of a top-scoring option, in one of the worst shooting teams in the conference, coach Kruger STILL brought this Sooners squad to the big dance, AND made it to the 2nd weekend.

This year they’re taller, more versatile, and simply just better than last season. The versatility 1-5 allows the Sooners to really let coach Krugers brand of basketball shine. Switch everything on defense, and run a fast-paced up & down offense with lots of ball movement. Every player on the court can shoot the ball from three, you have more players that can put the ball on the floor to create shots for either others, or himself, and the added length and versatility helps them out on the defensive side of the ball as well.

We’re just three games in, but this team looks every bit to be a team that belongs in March, and dare I say, if they keep improving, could make it farther than they did the last two years, and potentially be a sweet-16 squad. Trae Young lost in round one of his lone season, last season they made it to the round of 32 before eventually falling to the eventual national champions, and with an even more improved team, we could very well see them advance farther than that if they continue to progress.

Although were talented, we are still showing our youth. Oklahoma was ahead by as much as 20 points in the second half, but let the Beavers come within six points in the final minute. Oregon State is a solid team & well-coached, so I knew they wouldn’t lay down, but if Oklahoma wants to be one of the best teams in the Big-12, and go on a strong run in March, they can’t let a 20 point lead slip away that easily. In conference play and games in March, things like that could really hurt OU.

This Oklahoma team is fun to watch, good, and better than what most people thought. they should be a top half Big-12 team. Come conference playI’mm expecting a few hiccups because of how good the conference is, but i’m fully expecting the Sooners to come out of it being on of the better teams in the league and having a solid tournament run.

The Sooners return home to face William & Mary on Monday.