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Sooners On SI Podcast 331: Combine Preview, New Coaches Arrive and More · The Sooners On SI Podcast

0:11
[SPEAKER_01]: What's up, sooner nation?
0:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Welcome to the Sooner's on SI podcast.
0:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm John Hoover.
0:16
[SPEAKER_01]: That's Carson Field, that's Ryan Aver.
0:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Our main Ryan Chapman is under the weather today.
0:20
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll try to, as a team, model on through with a three-man show.
0:25
[SPEAKER_01]: See if we can get to the other side.
0:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Guys, I think we can do it.
0:27
[SPEAKER_01]: I like our chances of finishing this podcast.
0:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Success.
0:30
[SPEAKER_01]: How's everybody doing?
0:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Pretty good, pretty good glad to be on it here.
0:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Good, good last few weeks of sports for me.
0:36
[SPEAKER_00]: It's Seahawks win the Super Bowl and I think we can all agree.
0:40
[SPEAKER_00]: Team USA winning the gold medal in those wins when we talk.
0:43
[SPEAKER_00]: He's pretty electric, so I can't complain.
0:46
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, definitely the same as Carson there was fun watching the Olympic gold medal matchups on both sides but especially Sunday to see the US win their first gold medal since that 1980 miracle on ice team and a lot of my hockey teammates were fired up
1:08
[SPEAKER_02]: and awake at hours that they're not normally awake, at least on the front end of the day.
1:14
[SPEAKER_02]: Usually when some of my guys are up, it's seven a.m. comes on the back end of the day.
1:20
[SPEAKER_02]: But it was a fun one for sure and it was nice to get out and play some hockey a little bit later that day after watching the U.S. win the goal.
1:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Nothing like a three hour nap on a Sunday in the middle of the day.
1:35
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what I had to do.
1:38
[SPEAKER_01]: And nothing wrong with that either.
1:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, no, I mean, I said I'm going to go lay down for a little bit three hours later.
1:43
[SPEAKER_01]: I was like, is dinner ready?
1:47
[SPEAKER_01]: That's Olympic hockey.
1:48
[SPEAKER_01]: That was the highlight, obviously, of a just a kind of an uneven weird strange Olympic Games winter Olympics, but we're going to talk about OU today.
1:57
[SPEAKER_01]: We're going to talk about the sooners The news today and yesterday I guess and what it's been kind of trickling out and coming down the pike for a while now
2:07
[SPEAKER_01]: It seems that it's all over for Owen Heineke.
2:09
[SPEAKER_01]: He is going to be a professional football player from this point forward.
2:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Not a bad fall back plan.
2:14
[SPEAKER_01]: The guy handles rejection pretty well.
2:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Owen has, I guess, run out of appeals, run out of, he's barring.
2:24
[SPEAKER_01]: I think barring gives me an actual lawsuit or like a restraining order or an injunction or whatever.
2:30
[SPEAKER_01]: I think we're going to be seeing him in the NFL in 2026.
2:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it doesn't seem, oh, sorry, Carson, go ahead.
2:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no, you're good.
2:39
[SPEAKER_00]: I was, yeah, I think that is the way that it's leaning.
2:42
[SPEAKER_00]: It's pretty mind-boggling just the state of college athletics.
2:45
[SPEAKER_00]: We're seeing guys like Charles Bediaco get to play some games after playing in the NBA G league.
2:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Owen Heinecki plays the Rubel Cross games.
2:54
[SPEAKER_00]: He can't get another year.
2:55
[SPEAKER_00]: There's just not a whole lot of consistency these days, but that said, I mean, Owen Heinecki,
3:01
[SPEAKER_00]: Thankfully for him put out a lot of good tape this year still not a ton of tape playing a reserve real a special team's role before that for the sooners.
3:10
[SPEAKER_00]: So this is a big week for him.
3:12
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd say of all the tin players for a URGably the biggest week for Owen Heineke because he might not have the tape of say Kindle Daniels Marvin Jones, Jr. Dominic Williams, all of those guys.
3:24
[SPEAKER_00]: So he really has an opportunity to show what he showed us in the other media members all year along.
3:29
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a playmaker that he swarms to the wall of finishes, tackles, I think he can really benefit from a good weekend in the Annapolis.
3:38
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I don't think there's any doubt about that and going back to something you said who doesn't seem like there's any appetite for the high in the keys to force the issue and go the lawsuit route.
3:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Things like that even as much as I've sort of joked about it since the start of this whole process.
3:59
[SPEAKER_02]: It's certainly disappointing for him.
4:01
[SPEAKER_02]: It's disappointing for the sooners, but at the same time, Owen Heineck is a guy who is pretty optimistic just by nature, and it seems to have handled this pretty well, obviously accepting the NFL combine, invite he knew that there was a chance that
4:20
[SPEAKER_02]: this thing might not go through, and it didn't, but Owen Heineke is certainly set himself up very well for the future with his performance this year and just the reputation that he's built, and I think, yeah, I agree with Carson that he's got a chance to make a significant step forward this week as well, just because he doesn't have the backlog of tape as some of those other guys do.
4:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, um now today was one of the two big interview today interview days media days and so what happens is they cycle these guys through there's a there's a big like a ballroom it's at Lucas oil stadium is a big like giant ballroom of media hundreds and media hundreds of media
5:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And trust me, I know anybody, anybody can get a media pass to go to the combine.
5:14
[SPEAKER_01]: They welcome everybody.
5:15
[SPEAKER_01]: So what happens is they're sitting at media or sitting around and they'll walk in the door, kind of like we get it, oh, use that someone will walk in from the NFL or the combine.
5:26
[SPEAKER_01]: And announce who's coming up, you know, and they'll have a set schedule like big players have have a bigger table and stuff like that.
5:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Basically, they walk in and they say, you know, Owen Heinecky linebacker Oklahoma and they've turned and leave him for 10 minutes and they'll do 10 minutes of press interview.
5:41
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's it's kind of a cool setting.
5:44
[SPEAKER_01]: He said today, Heinecky said in a clip that we posted.
5:48
[SPEAKER_01]: That was on Twitter today.
5:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Ryan Roberts posted this as well as some other stuff from Kindle Daniels.
5:54
[SPEAKER_01]: He said, uh, I had to keep all my options open.
5:58
[SPEAKER_01]: One of those options was possibly going back for another year.
6:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Like I said, pretty good fallback.
6:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, he said, just trying to keep all my options open, leaning on family and the Lord for, for, for which direction is right for me.
6:08
[SPEAKER_01]: He said, that got denied and I'm excited to take the next step.
6:11
[SPEAKER_01]: So I want to have to keep more likely off to the NFL.
6:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, finally, um, he's not a guy that I would have picked on this team, you know, last year or probably even during the season to attend the combine and have a shot like this, but
6:24
[SPEAKER_01]: here's the deal other news came out uh... i guess yesterday another former sooner channeller morris is actually suing the nca because he wants to play a seventh year of college football which is obviously no big deal because they just granted a kid uh... his ninth year of eligibility the guy i can remember his name right off but he
6:45
[SPEAKER_01]: It was in Micah Parsons recruiting class for an OU reference that's Nick Bonito.
6:51
[SPEAKER_01]: It's Brandon Willis, Pat Fields, Delare and Turner Yel, Brian Osamo, Jordan Kelly.
6:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Remember that group?
6:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And Tanner Mordekai was the quarterback in that year.
6:59
[SPEAKER_01]: The 2018 football class is still playing college football guys.
7:04
[SPEAKER_02]: So that by the way is Montana linebacker, Solomon, Chulia, Tulliao Pupu.
7:13
[SPEAKER_01]: try to say that 10 times back.
7:14
[SPEAKER_01]: I love it.
7:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Well done.
7:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, he started out as a big shot recruit and he got hurt three or four times and he just kept coming back and now he's playing for you said Montana FCS.
7:23
[SPEAKER_01]: I guess so.
7:24
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, the griz.
7:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, never never never stop playing.
7:30
[SPEAKER_01]: No kidding.
7:43
[SPEAKER_01]: uh... uh... i guess as news came out two weeks ago and then uh... dlan macullock uh... news broke a week ago but yesterday uh... the news became official carson uh... uh... i want to go over a couple of key quotes in this that really stood out to me both from brim bandables and from the new assistant coaches
8:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Brent Venable says, both jobs were highly coveted and we went through exhaustive searches for both positions, Delan and Lamar separated from the pack with their extensive experience.
8:13
[SPEAKER_01]: He said their knowledge and their ability to teach, lead fit in with our staff and connect on the recruiting trail.
8:20
[SPEAKER_01]: There was no compromise in any of those areas and both knocked it out of the park during the interview process.
8:24
[SPEAKER_01]: What does that tell you about how Brent Venable's maybe went about this and what may be quality candidates he had?
8:32
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I think it just shows how meticulous he was in this process.
8:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure they've added a lot of people with OU connections.
8:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, McCollek being one of those with both of his sons going through Oklahoma.
8:43
[SPEAKER_00]: But you look at him.
8:44
[SPEAKER_00]: He is someone with vast experience at the power for level.
8:48
[SPEAKER_00]: that in that fellow level, he's someone that's done this for a long time and been successful everywhere he's gone.
8:54
[SPEAKER_00]: So we talked about that I think that was last week on the podcast.
8:57
[SPEAKER_00]: How much of a home run that seems like at least on the surface, um, obviously different programs, different fits.
9:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe it doesn't work out, but just on the surface level it looks like a great higher.
9:07
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, these both just,
9:10
[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like Brent Venable is just from the way he spoke in those quotes, obviously talks about how detail he was probably going through a lot of people that might have been more convenient iris, whether that's somebody that worked on staff with him before, someone that has, like I said, ties to the university, but going through that exhaustive of a search landing on these two guys, that signals that he's confident that he got the right fits for these positions.
9:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Ryan Abraham, I'll give you this.
9:37
[SPEAKER_01]: He says, he goes on to say in the press release.
9:39
[SPEAKER_01]: He said, these are guys who had several other NFL and college opportunities, but they chose to come to Norman.
9:45
[SPEAKER_01]: They recognized the value of the Oklahoma brand.
9:47
[SPEAKER_01]: He said, on D-line McCullick, has an impeccable reputation as a leader, a teacher, and a motivator.
9:54
[SPEAKER_01]: It's big and then on the more marketing cities got extensive experience as a plate collar and that was among a handful of factors that separated him from the rest of the pack.
10:01
[SPEAKER_01]: So now that it's official, oh you have welcomed these guys to campus, your thoughts on those two hires.
10:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I think two great additions to the staff just looking at it on paper and I've had a chance to not talk with Dylan McCullough, but talk to people about his family, his background and things like that as you know, we went through his sons recruiting process when the son and day wound up here and.
10:35
[SPEAKER_02]: the reputation is sterling from him.
10:37
[SPEAKER_02]: One of the big things is just the connection with Kevin Wilson, who I think this is a sign of maybe how vital Kevin Wilson's input is into the staff.
10:51
[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously it's a little bit hard when you see the title of analysts that you know he'll
11:01
[SPEAKER_02]: offensive assistant.
11:02
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's the way that it's it's phrased, but there's no doubt that Kevin Wilson and we got a sense of it late in the season, especially when players started talking about some of the motivations behind that November run and Kevin Wilson's name got brought up a lot.
11:19
[SPEAKER_02]: it's a sign of the influence that he has on this offense and I think clearly Kevin Wilson thought really highly of McCullough who was at his running backs coach during his entire run as Indiana's head coach but also the
11:35
[SPEAKER_02]: experience he's developed beyond that.
11:37
[SPEAKER_02]: We've talked a lot about the NFL, the Raiders, Ashton, Gentile, last season.
11:41
[SPEAKER_02]: He did a great job there, Notre Dame.
11:44
[SPEAKER_02]: He had some fantastic running backs during his time there, but every stop it seems like this guy is having success, and that's the kind of guy that they wanted.
11:55
[SPEAKER_02]: It's a Demarco Murray, another thing we've talked about a lot is the development piece maybe wasn't there with him, at least evident in the production numbers.
12:06
[SPEAKER_02]: That's something that they feel really good has a chance to change around as he gets his eyes on Xavier Robinson, a Tory Blaylock and now Jonathan Hattens.
12:15
[SPEAKER_02]: uh, junior and guys like that.
12:18
[SPEAKER_02]: And then uh, you know, on the the other higher one interesting to see that he was the corner backs coach.
12:24
[SPEAKER_02]: It had been reported that he was going to be the defensive backs coach overall.
12:29
[SPEAKER_02]: We wonder what that meant for Brandon Hall.
12:32
[SPEAKER_02]: But.
12:33
[SPEAKER_02]: the emphasis on the teaching aspect of things and not just sort of paying lip service to it but development of these guys and that's something that we saw out of him at Michigan as he brought along several of those young guys and made them into all big ten type of players during his time there.
12:54
[SPEAKER_02]: So I think it's going to be really, you know,
12:58
[SPEAKER_02]: key to be how these guys integrate with the staff, but it certainly sounds like they're right in line with a lot of the guys that Brent Venables has brought on in the first when he got here, guys like Miguel Chavis and Todd Bates, Brent and Hall guys like that, but also in the more recent hires with Jason Whitten coming on board to tie it in where some of those
13:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'll say this, I'll add a couple of quotes here to support two things that you just said, one from Delan McCullot.
13:34
[SPEAKER_01]: He said, what's been consistent everywhere I've been is development and production at the running back position.
13:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Those are...
13:42
[SPEAKER_01]: music to Oklahoma fans ears because that's one thing that's been missing is development and production at the run-and-back position.
13:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And then on the Mar Morgan, he says my mom was a dyslexia teacher, so I realized the importance of education, you know, we said he's got what three masters degrees.
13:57
[SPEAKER_01]: He said I want to be in a lead teacher, I want to take a young man when he gets here at 17 or 18, he's able to teach him the game, teaching about life and what it means to be a sooner.
14:06
[SPEAKER_01]: uh... both of those statements knock it out of the park and i apologize to deep dealin macolla uh... i think that's the way we're pronouncing his name my second job offer out of uh... college was in demand florida so for the rest of my life i'm it's going to spill out as the land so my apologies up front sir uh... it's just that's where my brain works it's the way we were wired
14:31
[SPEAKER_01]: a break out one more for you since you're the uh... the long time around this podcast uh... i think we can safely say that with joe john and marco gone that preventables has
14:46
[SPEAKER_01]: at the moment for now moving forward really truly embrace the idea of hiring coaches with almost zero ties to Oklahoma.
14:55
[SPEAKER_01]: I know Delana McCulloch, you know his sons were here and so there was a recruiting tie and things like that.
15:01
[SPEAKER_01]: But these are two guys that really can do Oklahoma.
15:05
[SPEAKER_01]: just to coach football.
15:06
[SPEAKER_01]: They had no, you know, they weren't alumni.
15:09
[SPEAKER_01]: They weren't didn't work previously for Bob Stoops.
15:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Like the comfort of knowing that those guys helped him help Brent.
15:17
[SPEAKER_01]: uh... get through that early uh... maybe unsteady face of being a first time head coach but you know now he's four four years in he realizes i think that if he's ever gonna get this thing of the next level i think he need he knows he needs to step outside of his comfort zone and kind of trust himself and challenge himself by hiring elite coaches
15:35
[SPEAKER_02]: my real no i i think you're absolutely right there i i think it's it's a clear indication that there's a different kind of comfort level uh there for print thenables to be able to go outside that and i think they're you know are very valid and an important reasons why he uh you know made some of the hires that he did initially and a kept joe john on staff uh things like that and i think there was some benefit uh to that even if the position group itself
16:04
[SPEAKER_02]: uh... you know wasn't able to excel uh... during that time but now brim animals has a little bit better feel for it he's developed some other relationships in coaching uh... that have allowed him to expand his world view uh... a little bit on coaching and also i i think he's done a good job and i think it's uh... i don't know surprises the right word but when you look at the way that uh...
16:33
[SPEAKER_02]: handled the transition of the last few years and was really had to be, you know, drug kicking and screaming into the new reality of things.
16:42
[SPEAKER_02]: And it seems like he's finally, you know, getting on board there.
16:46
[SPEAKER_02]: But Brent Venables is embraced it.
16:49
[SPEAKER_02]: And OU has embraced it in a different way.
16:52
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think that that's a big part of why Jim Naggi is on the staff.
16:57
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think it's played a role in all of these hires when you look at Jason Witten, when you look at all of these other guys to be brought aboard.
17:06
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think it's added a new element.
17:10
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think it's also shown that there's people who aren't afraid to go from the NFL to college.
17:18
[SPEAKER_02]: Jim naggy did it to to an extent with coming from the the senior bowl and I don't think there's any doubt that Dylan McCullough had some chances to you know coaching the NFL again.
17:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean heck it was reported that he was one of those candidates at it can's a city to return back to that job.
17:37
[SPEAKER_02]: The job at Demarco Murray ultimate landed.
17:41
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's you know
17:43
[SPEAKER_02]: I do think it's a sign of growth and change in Brent Vittables and his approach to things.
17:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, just go back to Brent's first big in-person press conference, I believe, where he was planting the flag and taking a stance.
17:59
[SPEAKER_01]: If you're committed to us and you take another visit somewhere else, you're done.
18:04
[SPEAKER_01]: That changed in about two years, year and a half, I think.
18:09
[SPEAKER_01]: He backed off of that because that's just not the way kids are wired.
18:12
[SPEAKER_01]: That's not the way and especially N.I.L.R.
18:14
[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, money now changing hands legally, kids bringing their agents on recruiting visits.
18:21
[SPEAKER_01]: That's just not the way it calls for what works anymore.
18:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's switch over to recruiting.
18:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Carson, I want to get kind of a, I, I, I, hits you up in the, in the rundown.
18:32
[SPEAKER_01]: It's, it's called a recruiting wuss up.
18:34
[SPEAKER_01]: What's going on with recruiting?
18:36
[SPEAKER_01]: The rivals 300 ranking came out.
18:38
[SPEAKER_01]: There, as soon as it's been offering, setting a visits and offers.
18:42
[SPEAKER_01]: We got stuff going on on both coasts, big showcases and opening and all the miracles and, tell it, catch us up.
18:50
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, as far as commitments, there haven't been a lot lately.
18:54
[SPEAKER_00]: The last one was microroads, the 28 running back, number one running back in that class.
18:58
[SPEAKER_00]: And that was earlier this month.
19:00
[SPEAKER_00]: But as far as visits, people getting offers, there have been a lot.
19:04
[SPEAKER_00]: Rivals just released its rivals 300 rankings for the 2027 class.
19:09
[SPEAKER_00]: And there were seven of Oklahoma's commits from the 2027 class included in that.
19:14
[SPEAKER_00]: When I thought was notable, is Keldred Bin.
19:16
[SPEAKER_00]: One of the running backs they got in that class.
19:19
[SPEAKER_00]: He was an unranked prospect when OU offered him.
19:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I know that in our group chat we had to ask is this a real recruit.
19:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Like this guy doesn't have any stars.
19:27
[SPEAKER_00]: Like is this legitimate?
19:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Turns out he's really dang good at football.
19:31
[SPEAKER_00]: He had only gotten offers from the
19:35
[SPEAKER_00]: before he committed, now I believe LSU, Texas, Clemson, some other big timers have entered the race for him, but he's committed to OUS of now, number 86 prospect for those rankings.
19:46
[SPEAKER_00]: So obviously a four star, Cooper Hackett though, that's that's the big name, that was the big flip in the fall.
19:53
[SPEAKER_00]: in September he flipped from Texas Tech to OU.
19:57
[SPEAKER_00]: He's the number six overall prospect in those rankings.
20:00
[SPEAKER_00]: They'll only five star for OU in the class, but there are only 12, 5 stars so far on the rivals 300.
20:05
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's not like OU's behind the packer or anything that they only have once.
20:10
[SPEAKER_00]: five star player.
20:12
[SPEAKER_00]: So this will be an interesting next few months.
20:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Kids starting the schedule some official visits, unofficial visits.
20:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously the official visits, those happen after Springball is complete, but there will be a lot of commits, targets in Norman for obviously Springball stuff practice.
20:30
[SPEAKER_00]: I assume those Spring Game, I assume a Spring Game, not a Crimson Combine because we haven't heard anything of that being like last years event.
20:38
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's going to be it's going to be a busy next few weeks and months of recruiting and we'll have you covered as always twenty twenty seven Class rivals three hundred rivals throughout their top three hundred prospects some guys from Oklahoma or guys committed Oklahoma Took some jumps took some leaps in that so that's that's obviously a good thing for you
21:01
[SPEAKER_00]: No, it definitely is, and you look at some that are uncommitted to like a guy like Gabriel Osborne corner back from Mustang.
21:08
[SPEAKER_00]: I know he's a big target for not only OU but for Texas, Texas A&M, believe that less use in the mix there too.
21:14
[SPEAKER_00]: So there's a lot of big programs going after him but having that local connections big.
21:19
[SPEAKER_00]: I know that he was in Norman for an unofficial visit a few weeks ago.
21:23
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's definitely a high-priority target Cooper Whitten, not for local home club but for North Texas.
21:30
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously a big, big priority for the sooners with his dad now being on staff being the number one linebacker prospect in the country.
21:38
[SPEAKER_00]: A lot of buzz as far as he might commit to OU fairly soon of scenes from crystal ball predictions that have him going to OU, so that's something to watch for as well.
21:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Quick shift back to the combine.
21:51
[SPEAKER_01]: We mentioned the combine at the top with all on high-neaky being there and other guys being there.
21:56
[SPEAKER_01]: There's 10 sooners.
21:57
[SPEAKER_01]: We went over it last week two weeks ago.
21:59
[SPEAKER_01]: 10 sooners at the combine the most since 2022, which was the combine year was Lincoln Riley's last year.
22:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Here's the workout schedule.
22:08
[SPEAKER_01]: You guys would be interested in if you're sitting around NFL Network or NFL.com.
22:13
[SPEAKER_01]: If you're at work, don't tell your boss.
22:15
[SPEAKER_01]: You didn't hear this from me.
22:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Thursday, that's tomorrow.
22:18
[SPEAKER_01]: You're going to see working out Grayson Haltten, Marvin Jones, Armace and Thomas, Dominic Williams, Kendall Daniels, and Owen Heinecky.
22:25
[SPEAKER_01]: So six of the 10 guys will be working out tomorrow at Lucas Oel Stadium.
22:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Friday is the DBs and the tight ends, so you're going to see Robert Spears Jennings and Jared Canick.
22:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Saturday is the Wider Severs,
22:41
[SPEAKER_01]: And then Sunday, offensive line.
22:43
[SPEAKER_01]: So Fabetschi, we will be out there.
22:46
[SPEAKER_01]: It's worth noting, I think, maybe the six of the 10 guys at the Combine for OU this year came to Norman via the transfer portal, including Owen Heineke through the La Crosse Ohio State transfer portal.
23:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, Abraham, we've heard from some delinemen and the linebackers already.
23:05
[SPEAKER_01]: We've talked about the clips from Heineke and Kendall Daniels.
23:09
[SPEAKER_01]: They're making rounds on social media.
23:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to toss it to you guys like this.
23:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Ryan, you can go first.
23:15
[SPEAKER_01]: What do you think has the best career out of this group of guys?
23:18
[SPEAKER_01]: And why?
23:20
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, I mean, it's hard not to say Armace and Thomas with the tape that he's put in, the consistent production.
23:28
[SPEAKER_02]: He's got all of the tools that make a really good NFL defensive end.
23:35
[SPEAKER_02]: And you know, certainly look the part at OU.
23:38
[SPEAKER_02]: But also, it seems like today's city was going to go through the full gamut of workouts up there, which is something that's really interesting for a guy that's as highly thought of as him.
23:49
[SPEAKER_02]: A lot of those guys don't do that.
23:51
[SPEAKER_02]: They elect to do the private workout route and, you know, potentially even a pro days back at home, as you can get maybe a little bit friendly or stop watches.
24:02
[SPEAKER_02]: It in Norman, then you can't in Indianapolis, but his stock.
24:06
[SPEAKER_02]: continues to rise.
24:08
[SPEAKER_02]: I think I saw Mel Kaipur Jr. had him in the first round in his most recent mock draft had him go into the Patriots, which you know if you're going to go to an NFL program and that's a pretty good one to to make the leap to their late in the first round and I think
24:27
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, beyond that, just because I feel like maybe that's the obvious answer there.
24:32
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, I'm really interested to see what kind of career that Kindle Daniels is able to carve out for himself at the next level.
24:43
[SPEAKER_02]: He's a guy who I think did nothing but help himself this year.
24:46
[SPEAKER_02]: There were questions about his motor and things like that during his time at OSU, is he sort
24:57
[SPEAKER_02]: at Cheetah for Oklahoma, and obviously that's a different kind of role than what you see in the NFL, but I think the physicality, the speed, things like that that we saw from him, I think have a chance to translate as well, and I think he's a guy who can hang around also.
25:13
[SPEAKER_00]: Carson, who you got?
25:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, Abersetta, I think Armace and Thomas is the easy answer.
25:19
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, such a producer on this defense for his last two seasons at OU.
25:24
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that he has a big opportunity at the calm lines really boost his stock.
25:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Aber mentioned the chieper draft having him 31 to the Patriots.
25:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I could see that.
25:33
[SPEAKER_00]: But you look at him, maybe slightly undersized for an NFL Ed Drusher compared to maybe Keldrick Falk from Auburn,
25:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Cash is how for me and I think our Mason Thomas is just as productive or more productive as those guys and can really benefit from a good combine So I like that he's kind of taking that risk and then surely he'll do the pro day next month in Norman So that's gonna be interesting, but I think
26:00
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he can be a really good edge russia in the NFL for years to come, but I want to see Grace and Houghton too.
26:07
[SPEAKER_00]: I thought he was fantastic this year.
26:08
[SPEAKER_00]: I thought he played his best football.
26:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Just really good at stopping the run and that's what stood out most to me being on field level.
26:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Just how disruptive he was in stopping the run.
26:21
[SPEAKER_00]: They were good, good running backs coming through weekend week out.
26:24
[SPEAKER_00]: You look at a lot of hearty Jeremiah Cobb, just as Haines.
26:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, oh, he used defense was tasked with some really good running backs.
26:31
[SPEAKER_00]: And they neutralized just about all of them.
26:34
[SPEAKER_00]: I know Haines' numbers were kind of exploded because of that 75-yard run.
26:39
[SPEAKER_00]: But other than that, it was a really just good team effort and grace and haltment was a big part of stopping the run.
26:45
[SPEAKER_00]: He's also one of those guys that
26:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Not as big as some NFL defensive tackles, maybe lacking some size, but I think his disruption if a team gets him in say day three, I think that could be a steal of the draft for whoever gets him.
27:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm going to say that our Mason reminds me of two other undersized guys who have had recent success in the NFL as the addressers von Miller and Nick Bonito.
27:11
[SPEAKER_01]: They've done pretty well being undersized, you know, typically not outside of the, you know, 275 pound defensive end kind of guys.
27:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, my picks are as follows for who has the best NFL career out of this group.
27:24
[SPEAKER_01]: You both named him, uh, a Grayson Haltten and Kendall Daniels.
27:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Grayson Haltten showed over the course of three seasons and it may be a couple of spring balls that he is not to be underestimated.
27:37
[SPEAKER_01]: He, you know, he's not the most decorated guy.
27:40
[SPEAKER_01]: He's not the most, uh, you know, got the most stars or the most, uh, all conference or whatever.
27:46
[SPEAKER_01]: but who's the one that's always in the backfield making tackles who's the one that's always chasing the quarterback from the interior of the line it's Grayson halton he's done it like like we said three years on row now uh and then Kindle Daniels just unlimited physical potential um if he can hook that train that bego car that bego caboose whatever you want to call it if he can hook that to an engine
28:11
[SPEAKER_01]: that can really, you know, I'm talking about desire and focus and leadership and stuff like that.
28:16
[SPEAKER_01]: If those two things can get come together with him, I see him having a long, long career.
28:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Because like you said, Abraham, I think you said this.
28:24
[SPEAKER_01]: His versatility at Oklahoma State, where he played safety, played defensive anti-played linebacker, and then he comes to Oklahoma, basically plays all three in one position.
28:34
[SPEAKER_01]: NFL can't wait to get their hands on a guy like that.
28:37
[SPEAKER_01]: So, again, workouts, Thursday, defensive linemen, linebackers, and kickers don't forget that defensive backs and tight ends go Friday, quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs go Saturday, and Sunday is offensive linemen.
28:53
[SPEAKER_01]: You can catch all that crap on NFL network, NFL plus,
28:57
[SPEAKER_01]: All that good stuff and the NFL draft this year's April 23rd, 24th and 25th so the week after the OU spring game.
29:04
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think they've said a date yet for pro day, but when they do, we'll let you know.
29:09
[SPEAKER_01]: We guys think of the schedule breakdown that our man Brady has been, since he's been back from New Zealand, of course.
29:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Our man Brady has been putting out, I thought these were interesting breakdowns of Michigan and Georgia so far.
29:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no it's it's a cool deal.
29:26
[SPEAKER_00]: It's never too early to start looking ahead football season 90.
29:30
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm personally counting the days and what better way to start this schedule breakdown them with Michigan and Georgia two of the trips on most excited for this year and I think both of those are going to be fantastic games.
29:41
[SPEAKER_00]: you'll get Michigan to team with a new coach, so much history, biggest stadium in the nation.
29:46
[SPEAKER_00]: That game's going to be awesome, especially after how great the game was in Norman this year.
29:52
[SPEAKER_00]: Bryce Underwoods only going to be better and more experience, so I think that adds a dynamic OU obviously losing some key defensive pieces, like our Mason Thomas, Grace and Holtton, Owen Heinecki, the guys that we've mentioned early in this podcast.
30:05
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's going to be
30:09
[SPEAKER_00]: arguably the most consistent program over the last five, 10 years in college football.
30:15
[SPEAKER_00]: They're never going to have a bad team as long as Kirby smarts the head coach, talent, a good quarterback and Gunner Stockton coming back.
30:22
[SPEAKER_00]: That game's going to be fun.
30:24
[SPEAKER_00]: I have been to Athens, never covered a game there, but been to Athens went to a game at Sanford Stadium and it's pretty awesome.
30:31
[SPEAKER_00]: So going to be a fun one, and that's one that I highly recommend sooner fans to make the trip for, because that's going to be special.
30:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and then two weeks after that, they're playing Texas, so in the span of literally September 12th, September 26th and October 10th, span of a month, they've got those three games.
30:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Aver, this schedule is so freaking front-loaded, if they survived that.
30:56
[SPEAKER_02]: right if they get out of that with say a two and one two and one against those three teams and i think the middle part becomes more manageable ban but if there's one or two key injuries at that point of the season i think the whole thing can collapse what what say you yeah i think you're right you look at the schedule november isn't quite as maybe daunting is it was this year not that it's easy because it's it's not uh when you look at uh what is it floored an old
31:26
[SPEAKER_02]: But if you're able to manage those first three big games that you talk about and get a couple at least two wins out of that group If you're able to do that then you set yourself up to have a great chance to make another run at the college football playoff because I mean heck you look at at this year
31:44
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, maybe in the middle of the season it got lost a little bit, but when you look back at the end, the importance of that Michigan win and what it did for OUs resume and getting them into a position to be in the college football playoff.
32:00
[SPEAKER_02]: I think was was massive and I think these are both teams that are really intriguing on paper Carson broke it down a little bit.
32:07
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Michigan is going to be really interesting to see what kind of shift.
32:13
[SPEAKER_02]: that they go through under Kyle Wittingham.
32:15
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's a fantastic coach and was a little bit surprised at that move, but at the same time when you get a chance to coach Michigan, you sort of gotta take it there.
32:27
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think he's the perfect guy to sort of stabilize the program.
32:31
[SPEAKER_02]: for a few years until you find the guy who can, you know, really move it forward and make it his own.
32:39
[SPEAKER_02]: So those are going to be to just fascinating matchups, especially with Michigan.
32:45
[SPEAKER_02]: When you look at, uh,
32:46
[SPEAKER_02]: of the coaching hires in Lamar Morgan, the player transactions where you had sort of Cole Sullivan and Taylor Tatum, almost being traded for each other, and both going to be really key to their teams as well.
33:02
[SPEAKER_02]: So this is going to be a fun September early October slate for the sooners and looking forward to what the rest of that series has the whole.
33:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Go ahead, Carson.
33:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think Abraham and Nailed it when he talked about the structure of this schedule as far as very front load and read incredibly tough games.
33:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Middle middle of the schedule does get a bit easier.
33:26
[SPEAKER_00]: You see South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, and not that those are bad teams, but four that should have some growing pains.
33:32
[SPEAKER_00]: South Carolina, Kentucky, who knows.
33:35
[SPEAKER_00]: And then you look at the end of it, Ole Miss A&M, two playoff teams this year, maybe playoff teams next year, but getting both of those games at home, I think that's big.
33:44
[SPEAKER_00]: And then Missouri, you'd presume, would take maybe a little bit of a step down losing a lot of key defensive players.
33:50
[SPEAKER_00]: You get that one on the road and you're like, okay, if we can win two of those games against Georgia, Texas, and Michigan, and then win two of those games at the end of the year.
33:59
[SPEAKER_00]: And
33:59
[SPEAKER_00]: One would think you're probably in the college full playoff, tend to record if that's the case with two losses to two very good teams.
34:08
[SPEAKER_00]: So you do have to like that part of it.
34:10
[SPEAKER_00]: You get that middle reprieve, but nonetheless, not in easy schedule either.
34:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Hey, were you remember the days of,
34:18
[SPEAKER_01]: squeezing in the into the paper, the APs, transactions, oh yeah.
34:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, they could not have kept up with the transfer portal, no way, shape or form.
34:32
[SPEAKER_01]: There wouldn't have been enough new inches in the newspaper to do that.
34:34
[SPEAKER_01]: You don't have to have like a four pull out four page section just to keep up with transfer portal.
34:39
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, but you know, maybe that wouldn't have been a bad thing to have that instead of some of the stuff that you had to squeeze in to, you know,
34:46
[SPEAKER_02]: fit a little hole on the agate page when you had to like buy me uh you know national lacrosse league standings uh to to add to the group the uh you know the the bowling league uh down at 66-bowl yep and uh have track those holes in one local golf course holes in one
35:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, exactly, so uh, you know, there's a lot worse things to have there, but as a kid, I absolutely loved the Agate page.
35:18
[SPEAKER_02]: and the transactions in particular and always looking for players that you recognize, especially in the baseball transactions when you've got guys getting called up to AAA or getting released, things like that, you're like, oh, I recognize that guy because he had an at-bat for the Cubs in 1986.
35:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, those were the days, man.
35:44
[SPEAKER_02]: didn't have lacrosse out here catching strays on the centers on SI podcast today but we'll take it hey we've had all kinds of lacrosse references and you know I was actually it's funny we didn't talk about this I don't think when we talked about recruiting around signing day but
36:01
[SPEAKER_02]: uh... boat Bentley uh... was watching some stuff today and he attributes his mobility to playing lacrosse so uh... that'll be something to maybe ask him about uh... when we get a chance to talk to him uh... hopefully you're in a week
36:16
[SPEAKER_01]: That's exactly what Owen Heinich, he said, they asked him about what the background.
36:19
[SPEAKER_01]: And he said, yeah, man, being able to stick with, you know, shifty little guys as a mid-middle defender, the footwork that is required to be able to change directions and anticipate.
36:32
[SPEAKER_01]: So he's talking about lacrosse, talking up lacrosse.
36:36
[SPEAKER_01]: But if we're going to switch sports, we're going to have to switch to man's basketball.
36:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Carson, because, uh, wow, uh, what a performance last night.
36:45
[SPEAKER_01]: The Lloyd Noble Center is a smoke-free facility.
36:49
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what we got an, oh, going forward.
36:51
[SPEAKER_01]: There was no popcorn burning, uh, everything, everybody looks safe.
36:55
[SPEAKER_01]: But the OU shooters, we're just going to keep beating this into the ground.
36:58
[SPEAKER_01]: They were on fire.
37:00
[SPEAKER_01]: We're never going to let that die, they were on the U last night, uh, 13 of 19 from three for the game.
37:06
[SPEAKER_01]: 10 of 14 of the first half.
37:07
[SPEAKER_01]: How do you, how do you even contend with that?
37:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, that's if you can shoot like that every game you're probably going to win more often than not, I mean, Nigel Pack as he often is was on a heater six of eight for the game, but also jade on Jones, Xavier Brown, Daryon Reed, they all hit multiple threes and it was just more than the three point shooting.
37:27
[SPEAKER_00]: It was just a good team effort.
37:29
[SPEAKER_00]: A lot of assists, Mo and he played easily his best game of the season nine rebounds for blocks four seals, 18 points, I believe it was with 10.
37:39
[SPEAKER_00]: of his 12 free throws going in, which that doesn't happen very often, not the best free throw shooter, but he was dialed last night.
37:46
[SPEAKER_00]: That was the most aggressive he's looked and he just really looked comfortable out there.
37:51
[SPEAKER_00]: So I mean, it's one of those things that it's double-edged sword, because yes, a good win, they kind of played spoiler a bit for Auburn, which is on the bubble of the tournament.
38:00
[SPEAKER_00]: But it also shows a glimpse of at its peak what this team can be.
38:04
[SPEAKER_00]: And I don't
38:06
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think anybody looks at this oh use squadins like that's a team that could have won the SEC this year.
38:12
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think a lot of people can watch this team and be like okay, they should be at least on par with Texas, Missouri, A&M, Georgia.
38:20
[SPEAKER_00]: They can very easily be a team on the right side of the bubble.
38:23
[SPEAKER_00]: They just didn't execute early in conference playing games they needed to win like Mississippi State, South Carolina.
38:30
[SPEAKER_00]: In fear, your team is both in talent, resources, and just everything regarding their programs, they just lost too many opportunities, close games against maybe better teams, like Arkansas, Alabama, lost those games in the last second.
38:45
[SPEAKER_00]: So it just kind of shows what could have been if they had taken care of business earlier.
38:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Porter Moser last night said there's still a pathway,
38:53
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't see a pathway.
38:55
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's a little bit bold.
38:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe if they won at their last three regular season games and made it to the championship game at the SEC tournament, maybe I could hear him out there.
39:06
[SPEAKER_00]: That's about the only realistic way I could see them getting in that large.
39:10
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the holes a little bit too deep at this point, even if they were to be
39:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I agree with you that would be six straight wins or no that would be seven straight wins I believe and that's the way you would want to close the season Yeah, maybe you'd catch the the eyes of the selection committee But I buried the lead Auburn last night 91 79 the Sooner's win and I thought a big reason for that win Obviously you're shooting the ball well.
39:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Why are you shooting the ball so well because I saw a lot of excellent ball movement Remember after the loss the previous game Texas A&M on Saturday
39:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Porter said he was pissed for the first time all year which first of all I admire his restraint how do you go through that season and that's the first time you're pissed um but what he said he was so bent about with shot selection poor shot selection in that game that wasn't a problem against Auburn because
40:01
[SPEAKER_01]: that got so many good shots they moved the basketball with purpose you saw guys moving without the basketball on almost every possession so so many times you saw that extra pass you know you see that one around the perimeter to he's open oh he passed it again oh he's wide open it and it's in guys especially the guys that were making shots so it did what was interesting to me was it got cut to ten in the final like three minutes plus
40:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Jeez, Darry on Reed made a play in the paint, take Davis made a play in the paint.
40:34
[SPEAKER_01]: They made smart plays down the stretch.
40:36
[SPEAKER_01]: I think a couple of turnovers on offense and found some, or found a guy on defense, but for the most part, down the last three minutes.
40:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, you fans right now are probably saying, how about doing that just once in a while?
40:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Not once or twice a season, but maybe once a week, because that's got to be the frustrating part for who you fans.
40:58
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I asked Porter Moser about that, about the execution, what he liked about it, and he says that his teams improved a lot as far as breaking the press, and you could see that the game before and the loss to Texas A&M, that's a team that famously, they pressed the entire game, not just in the last few minutes.
41:15
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't believe OU committed a turnover because of the press, all game against the Aggies.
41:20
[SPEAKER_00]: So they definitely have gotten better, compared to some of the earlier games that were close, like Alabama, Arkansas, that I mentioned earlier.
41:28
[SPEAKER_00]: But going off of your first point, I agree, the ball movement was really good, Xavier Browns, really good dimes last night.
41:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I thought Dayton 4-Sight was sneaky good last night, same with Nigel Pack.
41:40
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, Nigel Pack wasn't sneaky good.
41:42
[SPEAKER_00]: He hit 6-3 pointers, but he was a great facilitator too.
41:46
[SPEAKER_00]: I just thought it was good, clean basketball.
41:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Granted, I could, I could rant about this for five minutes, but I'm gonna keep it at like 10 seconds.
41:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Auburn is a fraudulent basketball team.
41:56
[SPEAKER_00]: They're 15 and 13 and somehow they're still on the right side of the bubble.
42:00
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what that is or how they have earned that.
42:03
[SPEAKER_00]: But that's where they are.
42:05
[SPEAKER_00]: So I don't think it's as stiff as competition is playing Tennessee, A&M, Georgia the last few games.
42:12
[SPEAKER_00]: But nonetheless, this was a game that really never was in doubt.
42:15
[SPEAKER_00]: They will start to end where the better team than Auburn, which doesn't matter who they are playing earlier in the season.
42:22
[SPEAKER_00]: That wasn't the case, and it was last night.
42:25
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's at least a step in the right direction, but going back to your first question, what was a little too big at this point?
42:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, they're now 14 and 14 on the season, but just 4 and 11 in the SEC.
42:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Best they can do is run the table and finish 7 on 11 regular season.
42:43
[SPEAKER_01]: So, and then maybe you get hot in the tournament, right?
42:45
[SPEAKER_01]: That's kind of their only hope.
42:47
[SPEAKER_01]: But whatever, what we saw last night was way better than what the team did on freaking buddy healed night.
42:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Last Saturday, played like crap at too many junctions of the game and ended up losing 75-71 at Texas A&M.
42:59
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like a wired, a wire loss for you.
43:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they led probably nine seconds.
43:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe they turned the corner, but my suspicion is, with LSU, they got their NLSU on Saturday.
43:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Home finale is next Tuesday against Missouri, and then they finish with Attaxis.
43:17
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not going to be good, and Roger Denny's first order of business will be moving on from the Porter Moser era.
43:23
[SPEAKER_01]: He's going to be looking for a new basketball coach.
43:24
[SPEAKER_01]: That's my on the official prediction.
43:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, looking to that LSU game, how many times this Porter Moser going to show, or maybe he's not even, I don't surely he's familiar with it, but I believe it was the last time the sooner, so visited Baton Rouge, a guy by the name of Isaiah Cousins, hit a game winning shot in a game that was
43:46
[SPEAKER_02]: build as Buddy healed versus Ben Simmons, which it was for a big portion of the game, but then Isaiah Cousins ultimately hits the game when they're just thinking about that the other day when Lawn Kruger and
44:02
[SPEAKER_02]: but healed and a lot of the other members of that team were back in town for buddies Jersey retirement celebration and yeah so it'll be interesting I do think I'm with y'all that there's not really a path although listening to the broadcast last night they sure beat into your head that oh you still has a chance
44:28
[SPEAKER_02]: To make it as an at large, I don't think that's going to happen just because I don't think that this team has the ability to be consistent over as many games as I have to be to get back in there and making it to the SEC tournament finals is a high high bar that's going to be difficult even if the league isn't what it was last year.
44:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Joey Buckets is just being nice trying to keep everybody engaged.
44:57
[SPEAKER_01]: That's all.
44:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it be.
44:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Hey, you got to have something to talk about on the broadcast when you're talking about Auburn and Tennessee or Auburn and Oklahoma.
45:05
[SPEAKER_02]: I do want to say also just thinking about something that Steven Pearl said the other day.
45:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Thinking about West Rucker.
45:12
[SPEAKER_02]: and uh... his family for those who knew him a tenancy long time tenancy beat writer did a lot of great things on the tenancy basketball beat tenancy baseball beat tenancy football beat in particular in just uh... uh... a tragedy what happened to west and i think about him thinking about his family and uh... his unborn daughter as well for sure awful news awful week there
45:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Ryan let's switch over to excuse me women's basketball the ladies are on a heater right now they're 21 and 6 number 7 in both polls but they're up for spots because they're on a 4 game winning streak after they beat Tennessee 100 to 93 on Sunday at Lloyd Noble the most points ever allowed by a Tennessee volunteers women's basketball team
46:00
[SPEAKER_02]: In the regular season at least, Louisiana Tech and Auburn actually scored 103 against them Louisiana Tech in the 1979 AIAAW Final Four.
46:16
[SPEAKER_02]: And then Auburn in the 1987 SEC tournament, Simmy Finals, the only other teams to score 100 or more points.
46:25
[SPEAKER_02]: And I asked Jenny Baranchick about that after the game was trying to figure out how to ask that question, and what do you ask her?
46:33
[SPEAKER_02]: And basically just said, hey, you appreciate.
46:37
[SPEAKER_02]: this sport and the history of the sport and where that program stands in the history of this sport.
46:43
[SPEAKER_02]: And she just said, wow, that it was stunning to her.
46:47
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, this offense, we've seen them explode for triple digits quite a bit.
46:52
[SPEAKER_02]: And
46:53
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, when their starters are on, there's good as anybody in the country for sure.
46:59
[SPEAKER_02]: But, you know, wasn't perfect.
47:01
[SPEAKER_02]: There was a lot to clean up in that game, especially defensively, especially with fouls.
47:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Things like that, but this team...
47:08
[SPEAKER_02]: uh... when it's on offensively and we saw it on on on sunday with ragan beers especially in the second half sahera Williams playmaking alia chave as i think is as made some strides from that uh... stretch where she had really struggled she's changed her game a little bit maybe not taking as many threes
47:26
[SPEAKER_02]: As she was before, but still finding ways to make place for herself, make place for the rest of her team, and then Peyton Verholz, what can you say for her?
47:35
[SPEAKER_02]: She's just a consistent playmaker on both sides of the ball, and you combine all of that, and Oklahoma's looking in really good position to host.
47:47
[SPEAKER_02]: uh... the first two rounds of the incident tournament where we thought maybe you know three weeks ago that uh... they were going to have an uphill climb to get there but they were able to come through this stretch there's sort of second really difficult stretch of the season uh... unscathed and now you get uh... a little bit of a reprieve going against Arkansas and Missouri here over the last couple games of the regular season uh... that not that they can't jump up and bite you bit
48:12
[SPEAKER_02]: I believe they have a combined three SEC wins on the season.
48:16
[SPEAKER_02]: So it's a little bit different than going through some of the teams that they've faced here over the last couple of weeks.
48:24
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, he's on a four game winning streak like I mentioned three of those were ranked and three of them were on the road.
48:30
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's like I said pretty heavy stuff, pretty impressive stuff.
48:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I'd think that at this point in the season right with just two games left in the regular season that we know what this Oklahoma team is that got Reagan beers in the paint a lot of Chavez out on the perimeter seven time SEC freshman of the week, Alia Chavez.
48:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, they got a lot of support from all over the floor from experience players like Peyton and Varhalshi said, uh, Sahara Williams Ivan, that's their, that's their big five or six, you know, at the front of the lineup, they're all averaging double figure scoring.
49:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, they share the basketball, assist their way up.
49:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Turnovers are actually down a little bit this year.
49:09
[SPEAKER_01]: So they're going to take risks on offense.
49:11
[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to turn the ball over, but they're going to score a lot of points.
49:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, you currently is nine and five in SEC play Arkansas as Ryan mentioned is coming in on on Thursday night six o'clock tip off tomorrow night And then Sunday five season finale at Missouri
49:27
[SPEAKER_01]: And the SEC tournament gets started in Greenville, South Carolina, a week from today.
49:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, wow, OU is, what I say, 95 in the conference, they are fifth in the SEC standings at 95.
49:40
[SPEAKER_01]: South Carolina, Texas, Vanderbilt, and LSU are ahead of them.
49:44
[SPEAKER_01]: So you're right, should be able to rack up a couple more wins before hitting into the postseason.
49:50
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and that'll certainly get them into a host position for the Insilby tournament.
49:56
[SPEAKER_02]: We talked about on the men's side, how the SEC was a little bit down this year.
50:00
[SPEAKER_02]: It is not on the women's side.
50:02
[SPEAKER_02]: It is a brutal competition and you've got to be really good to get certainly the double buys and
50:10
[SPEAKER_02]: things like that that come along with finishing near the top of the conference, but it also, if you don't get that, it affords you some opportunities to get some really, really quality wins in the tournament and continue to bolster your resume.
50:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Switching sports again to softball.
50:27
[SPEAKER_01]: So Abraham, we're going to keep it right here.
50:29
[SPEAKER_01]: The sooners are back home for the first time.
50:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Home, home debut, I guess, home opener.
50:35
[SPEAKER_01]: 15 straight games at Lovesfield.
50:38
[SPEAKER_01]: 6pm Thursday, tomorrow night.
50:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Same time as the women's basketball.
50:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Alabama State at Lovesfield, they're going to play a double header against Sam Houston State at 2pm.
50:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Alabama State at 530 p.m. and then both Friday and Saturday they're going to have home games.
50:54
[SPEAKER_01]: South Eastern Louisiana, I think Sunday coming to town 1230.
50:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I was struck this week by what Patty Gasseau had to say, let's see, record-wise they are what, 13 and 2 out of 15 games, felt to number 6 in the polls, but Patty said something yesterday that caught my attention.
51:13
[SPEAKER_01]: She said, offensively, I've seen Jocelyn all of, I've seen Lauren Chamberlain.
51:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Kendall Wells is something new.
51:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Kendall Wells is something different.
51:22
[SPEAKER_01]: How about that for a quote?
51:23
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I heard that and I asked the question and was just floored by that and she sort of, you know, set things that are similar or said, hey, she's right up there with them, things like that.
51:39
[SPEAKER_02]: But what Kindle Wells has been able to do, especially last week at the Mary Nutter and doing it against some quality opponents,
51:47
[SPEAKER_02]: is just unbelievable to hit 10 home runs in her first 15 career games, you know, hit what was it six out there at the Mary Nutter just had one game where she didn't have a home run in that event and and just the power that we see from her, but also the poise.
52:05
[SPEAKER_02]: And you see from her behind the plate and the confidence that she's handling that pitching staff with the confidence that she's sort of carrying herself with and that's something that Patty Gasser talked about.
52:17
[SPEAKER_02]: Hey, this team needs leaders to this point and it sure looks like Kendall Wells has a chance to be one of those leaders.
52:25
[SPEAKER_02]: Here before too long, but I looked into the numbers, looked at some of those players that Patty mentioned.
52:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Jocelyn Allo, TRA Jennings, even looked at, you know, Ella Parker and Cassidy Pickery and Gabby Garcia in more recent years.
52:40
[SPEAKER_02]: And none of them had 10 home runs through a first-fifteen games.
52:45
[SPEAKER_02]: The first post was TRI Jennings.
52:47
[SPEAKER_02]: It only took her 16 games.
52:49
[SPEAKER_02]: Of course, she had three home runs in a very first collegiate game.
52:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Down there in El Paso, where Oklahoma had a lot of success last week as well, or two weeks as it goes well.
53:00
[SPEAKER_02]: But, you know, it took, let's see, took Jocelyn Allow 23 games.
53:06
[SPEAKER_02]: To hit 10, it took, uh,
53:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Chamberlain, let's see, I don't remember if I actually put that in the story, but it took Chamberlain 24 games to reach 10, took Gabby Garcia 28, Ella Parker 52, and Cassidy Pickering 60.
53:25
[SPEAKER_02]: And then he is.
53:26
[SPEAKER_02]: Those are six of not only the best hitters in all you history, but some of the best hitters in college, softball history, and I think that certainly some of that new group is going to be added to that class, but to hear that she is outpacing any of those is just mind-blowing, and I think there's still a lot of growth to come in her offensive game, but what she's
53:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Correct me if I'm wrong Ryan didn't she hit in fall ball didn't she hit two balls out of the entire stadium complex?
54:01
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and it might have been more to that I remember for sure, but
54:07
[SPEAKER_02]: you know, it's not just get it over the fence power, it's get it out of the park power.
54:12
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
54:13
[SPEAKER_02]: Great.
54:13
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, you think about Jocelyn Allo and the moon shots that each she hit both at Marita Hines and then at, you know, what is now a Devon Park in Oklahoma City, hitting them over the stands in the Alfield, especially left field when she was there.
54:32
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think there's a good chance that we see kind of wells.
54:36
[SPEAKER_02]: do some stuff like that because those balls that she hit this weekend, it in cathedral springs were no doubters and when you left the bat it's just one of those things that you hear the collective ooze and Oz from the crowd and apparently tag some spectators out there in the
55:01
[SPEAKER_02]: And so apparently they had to, you know, I don't know if they had to get any medics or involve taking a look, but, you know, Kindle Wells left some bruises for sure.
55:11
[SPEAKER_01]: She currently leads the nation with 10 homerons.
55:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, you leads as a team with 56.
55:16
[SPEAKER_01]: They're ahead of the pace, Ryan Chapman had the story, the pace on 2021 and 22 teams that's obliterated the old homerun records.
55:24
[SPEAKER_01]: They're ahead of that pace.
55:25
[SPEAKER_01]: So,
55:27
[SPEAKER_01]: clearly patty has got the offense figured out the defense looks fine for the most part it does because it doesn't matter who plays where or who hits and what order but what she has not got figured out yet is the pitching as long as gin roaches unable to join the team she deals with an illness.
55:44
[SPEAKER_01]: Ryan Kirsten Deal, 16.15 ERA, Berkeley's AK 7.87 ERA, Alyssa Parker, 5.44, Sydney Burzon, 2.92, Miley Wachino, 2.82, the team leader is Audrey Lowery at 1.72, team wise,
56:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Just look this up.
56:03
[SPEAKER_01]: It's a 32-2-ERA.
56:05
[SPEAKER_01]: It's pretty good, pretty solid.
56:06
[SPEAKER_01]: 87 innings.
56:08
[SPEAKER_01]: You've given up 33 walks.
56:10
[SPEAKER_01]: You've hit 11 battles and you've given up 82 hits.
56:14
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's not just free passes and, you know, lack of control or bad ball strikes, um, um, um, tires.
56:20
[SPEAKER_01]: It's, oh, you pitchers are given up 15 homeruns and 10 doubles in just 15 games this year.
56:25
[SPEAKER_01]: So that's crazy.
56:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Just to compare,
56:29
[SPEAKER_01]: What's the ERI I just said 322 reached last year, which is the highest it's been a long time, was 266.
56:36
[SPEAKER_01]: In 24 it was 199.
56:38
[SPEAKER_01]: In 23 it was 096 and in 22 it was 1.05 and 2021 first year back from COVID 2.49.
56:49
[SPEAKER_01]: The games Ryan are only going to get harder from here, so they're going to have to get that pitching situation figured out quickly.
56:55
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they've got to get better.
56:56
[SPEAKER_02]: They've got to find more consistently consistency outside of Audrey Lauery who has mostly been really good this year struggle a little bit in that lost along Beach State last week, but she's been pretty good.
57:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I think we saw some progress out of Miley Machino.
57:16
[SPEAKER_02]: uh last weekend and uh you know you mentioned hurry r a uh at there was a 2.82 uh looking at it i think uh you know they've got to cut down on the walks i think that's something that uh you know Audrey Lauer's been really good at she's only walked for
57:35
[SPEAKER_02]: You can give up, you can live with giving up the home runs, even at that clip at 15 through 15 games.
57:43
[SPEAKER_02]: What you can't do is turn those solo home runs into two and three run home runs.
57:48
[SPEAKER_02]: And that's what has bit this team a little bit.
57:52
[SPEAKER_02]: here over the early part of the season.
57:54
[SPEAKER_02]: There's still plenty of room for growth.
57:56
[SPEAKER_02]: I think Cindy Burzon is going to be a player that's going to, you know, see her role expand.
58:01
[SPEAKER_02]: And as she certainly gets back into the swing of things, we're going to see more and more out of her.
58:07
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think that Kirsten Deal is going to be, you know, as bad as she's been.
58:13
[SPEAKER_02]: They've talked about tweaking some things mechanically with her, and we didn't see much of her last week.
58:19
[SPEAKER_02]: I wonder, I didn't get a chance to ask Patty about this yesterday, but I wonder how much of that was just giving her time to work through some of those mechanical things and not have to do it in games.
58:33
[SPEAKER_02]: and be able to come out on the other side.
58:36
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think we're going to see much of Berkeley's ac, it's okay.
58:39
[SPEAKER_02]: As the season goes on, but I think Alyssa Parker is a player who's got a chance to make some significant strides as well.
58:49
[SPEAKER_02]: She's one that's got to cut down on the walks a little bit, but when she's on, the stuff that she has can be special.
58:56
[SPEAKER_02]: And I don't think she has to be a player
59:02
[SPEAKER_02]: or carry the load, but she's a player who can come in and get you an ending or two here and there.
59:10
[SPEAKER_02]: And if they're able to refine some of that, as the season goes on, whether it's work with Carla Keene, whether it's consultations at least with Jen Rocha, when she's available, I think that they've still got some ability to make some great strides, but this isn't the pitching staff
59:31
[SPEAKER_02]: in recent years with Sam Landry last year with, you know, back to some of the other aces that we've seen come through this group, it's going to be a little bit of an uphill climb, but there's still a lot of talent there and still a lot of room for growth.
59:50
[SPEAKER_01]: Well said, Carson, let's finish up with some baseball.
59:52
[SPEAKER_01]: This is an interesting team.
59:54
[SPEAKER_01]: This gift, Johnson, has got going this year.
59:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Started seven and all.
59:56
[SPEAKER_01]: There's seven and all now coming off.
59:58
[SPEAKER_01]: A pretty shocking, I think, midweek loss yesterday.
1:00:02
[SPEAKER_01]: At home to your alma mater, Arizona State, 15 to three they got blitzed.
1:00:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Run ruled at home by the sun devils.
1:00:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Next game is a rematch of that series.
1:00:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Those two get teams get back together again today.
1:00:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Can we finally stay in four o'clock first pitch?
1:00:17
[SPEAKER_01]: It is currently one, so we're gonna have to, I guess, hustle to get that game covered completely, I guess, I don't know.
1:00:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Whatever you can do for us, it'd be awesome.
1:00:25
[SPEAKER_01]: But, we can.
1:00:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Gonzaga comes to town for three games, and then it's back to the Dallas Baptist torture chamber next Tuesday in Norman.
1:00:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it should be interesting.
1:00:36
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to ask all of our YouTube viewers to just kind of ignore that mini helmet that is sitting behind me.
1:00:42
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm unbiased.
1:00:43
[SPEAKER_00]: I will be out there in a couple hours, though, to cover game to this midweek.
1:00:47
[SPEAKER_00]: And yes, discouraging result yesterday for you.
1:00:51
[SPEAKER_00]: What you have to look at, this is a midweek game, midweek games are a little bit weird in the sense that it's not their typical three-pitcher rotation, and Arizona State's a good team.
1:00:59
[SPEAKER_00]: They have some good bats, that's a team that's steadily gotten better under Willy Bloomquist, and it's college-based ball.
1:01:05
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean,
1:01:06
[SPEAKER_00]: when you play 50 to 60 games you're gonna lose and you're gonna lose some games big even if you're the best team in the nation not to say oh you is the best team in the nation but even the best are gonna lose games in kind of an ugly fashion like they did yesterday
1:01:22
[SPEAKER_00]: But it is really encouraging to see how dominant, yes it was against compensate a not very good team.
1:01:28
[SPEAKER_00]: But how dominant they were over the weekend, how good the pitching was, how good the bats were, obviously carrying over from the weekend before against TCU Tech in Oklahoma State and then that game against New Mexico State.
1:01:41
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think there's much room to panic at this point.
1:01:44
[SPEAKER_00]: It's a midweek loss.
1:01:45
[SPEAKER_00]: It was an ugly loss, but it's done.
1:01:48
[SPEAKER_00]: It's in the past.
1:01:49
[SPEAKER_00]: It should be an interesting series, though seeing Gonzaga who was definitely a step up from what last week in the series was a good mid major program.
1:01:57
[SPEAKER_00]: As you mentioned, Dallas Baptist, midweek, next week, and then Santa Clara, another quality mid major team.
1:02:04
[SPEAKER_00]: I've mentioned this before on this podcast, but I like the way that Skip Johnson drew up this schedule kind of getting the mix of good opponents not so good opponents and then some that are just good mid majors like your Gonzaga Santa Clara's all in the early part of the season before playing.
1:02:21
[SPEAKER_00]: SCC teams that should be really good this year, whether that's Texas, Florida, and this conference is stacked.
1:02:28
[SPEAKER_00]: As good as this conference is in both men's and women's basketball, softball, it's just as good at baseball.
1:02:36
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's not going to be easy and I think maybe having a game like Tuesdays against Arizona State, maybe that's something that they needed to just kind of
1:02:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Stay level headed, not gonna head of themselves.
1:02:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, you're seven to no, but it's only seven games out of a lot of games.
1:02:52
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that this team can use a loss-like Tuesdays to its advantage.
1:02:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Carson, I think midweek pitching could be an issue for this team all season.
1:03:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure that Skip would like to identify that fourth starter, whether it's Catalan or whoever.
1:03:10
[SPEAKER_01]: But Arizona State may have come to town drop eight in the second inning and six in the third.
1:03:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, you ran out of six pictures yesterday and the two guys who got bombed.
1:03:19
[SPEAKER_01]: are the most two of the most experienced guys in skips uh... i don't want to say bullpen but he's not not the rotational starters of the weekend michael catalano and jaden barfield got bomb so when you when you look at yesterday i think i just you know i think you just answered my question i was gonna lead up some sign off with
1:03:37
[SPEAKER_01]: When you look at yesterday, do you see like a flashing red light up in the distance?
1:03:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Do you see maybe a little yellow yellow sign with the arrow that says proceed with caution or was yesterday just kind of a to use Oklahoma terms a good good size pot hole.
1:03:54
[SPEAKER_00]: I think more than anything, it was a good sized pot hole.
1:03:57
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, it was, it was ugly.
1:03:59
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I said, I like that they get another game against Arizona State.
1:04:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe there's a little room to worry if it's a similar result on Wednesday against Arizona State.
1:04:09
[SPEAKER_00]: But if they're able to win or lose and at least competitive fashion, I think I think you could kind of chalk that one out as an outlier.
1:04:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, that's a good team that can hit the ball really far.
1:04:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Often, maybe this team kind of just lost.
1:04:23
[SPEAKER_00]: lost their momentum, lost their hope after I think it was the second inning going down eight nothing.
1:04:29
[SPEAKER_00]: It's easy to hang your hat when that happens.
1:04:32
[SPEAKER_00]: It's not easy to come back from something like that.
1:04:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Our friend Brady was covering that game yesterday.
1:04:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Went to the gym, just checked Twitter and saw a tweet from Josh Cowley in the score was like,
1:04:42
[SPEAKER_00]: 14 to three.
1:04:43
[SPEAKER_00]: So that was that was something and I really do think we'll look back at this game like how the heck did that happen?
1:04:49
[SPEAKER_00]: This team is really good.
1:04:51
[SPEAKER_00]: And this team's in a good position to maybe host a regional in a few months from now.
1:04:56
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm curious to see what the response is in game two of this midweek though.
1:05:00
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you're right today should be fun.
1:05:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Hey, that's all for today guys.
1:05:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Ryan Carson appreciate y'all jumping on and great stuff.
1:05:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Ryan Chapman get well soon.
1:05:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I want you to remember, please, on the website, Oklahoma Sooner's on Si.com where you're going to find all of our contents.
1:05:16
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1:05:23
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1:05:25
[SPEAKER_01]: In addition to all of our OU video content, you find on our website.
1:05:29
[SPEAKER_01]: You can also find everything one easy stop over at my YouTube channel, John and Virginia.
1:05:33
[SPEAKER_01]: And don't forget to catch the two lions next Monday as they bring you the.
1:05:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Hope you guys liked my logo that I created.
1:05:43
[SPEAKER_01]: We will be back here with the full rundown next Wednesday.
1:05:47
[SPEAKER_01]: See you guys