Men's Basketball Latest Topics

International Success

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:55:12 +0000

Since we have a lot of international guys coming on board this season, I wanted to ask has ORU had any players coming from overseas that were instant success (first season) stories? Not taking about guys like Ofri Naveh, who had already been at West Virginia for a couple of seasons.

I bring it up because I could not think of any but some of you have been following the Eagles since the 70s and may remember someone who helped the Eagles right away.

Projections for 26-27

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:45:03 +0000

Now that we basically know the roster and schedule for the upcoming season, what are your projections for this next year?

I think it will basically be baby steps for the program, in that ORU will win around 13-15 games. The X factor is all the new international players and how good they are. I lean to more of an up and down play from these guys because like freshman they are new to D1 play and it just takes time to adjust.

The Summit League has three solid teams: SDSU, NDSU, and St. Thomas (the usual suspects). After that the league is pretty wide open. I think the Eagles make a small jump up to 6th in the standings. Any thoughts?

26-27 Schedule

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:37:12 +0000

It is that time of the year ladies and gents: summer slow down. Why not talk about the upcoming basketball schedule. The NCAA now allows up to 32 games for D1 teams. As of today the Eagles only have 14 conference games on the docket. That means a lot of non conference matchups could be on the slate. Maybe another holiday tournament somewhere that is warm?

Max Abmas - Salt Lake City Stars

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 03:30:58 +0000

Max was game high scorer with 28 points (8 of 16 FG) and 8 assists. It was the Stars' first loss since February 5th. They will be on ESPN+ on Fri, March 7th at 1pm CT.

https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/stars-win-streak-snapped-with-loss-at-oklahoma-city/n-6197385

The Portal 2026

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:20:44 +0000

Not a surprise but the first ORU player to enter the portal.

Future of NIL

Mon, 04 May 2026 01:18:35 +0000

I was in Goddard Kansas this weekend at my grandson’s baseball tournament and ran into a friend of mine that is a big Razorback fan. His good friend has a son that pitches for the Hogs.He told me that the U of A was supposed to get $1 million NIL for baseball. When all was said and done they received $200 k. In addition he said they are getting rid of men’s and women’s tennis. Needless to say U of A baseball is not doing real well this season. My observation is that the NIL is a big party and all party’s eventually come to an end. I hear that various college presidents are saying because donors are funding NIL they are struggling financially in other areas. Bottom line is there is only so much $$ to go around and God forbid our economy gets much worse I believe the NIL party will end which will be a good thing. This is my prediction for whatever it is worth.

Jalen Miller

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:47:09 +0000

Jalen Miller signed a contract last week with CB Cartagena of the pro basketball league in Spain.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbLlUzOtzMR/?hl=en

Another Golden Eagle in the pro ranks.

Thanks, Up!

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:19:22 +0000

I interrupt my current sabbatical to bring you this most indignant piece of not-so-breaking news:

Yes, after a quarter of a century under four head coaches, Steve Upshaw is no longer at ORU, in a heretofore undercover development that took place several weeks ago.

Geez, I must have missed the press release from ORU Athletics extolling the virtues of one of the nicest guys to ever work in the department, thanking him for his many years of dedicated service and selfless hard work in a variety of roles for men’s basketball.

Wishing nothing but the very best for Steve and his family; here’s hoping he at least got lunch brought in, or a nice cake, or SOMETHING to commemorate his time with ORU.

STILL WAITING FOR SOME GOOD NEWS TO REPORT, PEOPLE…STILL WAITING. #smh

Steve Upshaw

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 04:58:35 +0000

I hadn’t seen this article posted here. Steve Upshaw has been a wonderful influence on every player and will leave big shoes to fill. We were honored when Steve and Janet made the trip to St Louis eight years ago, for Mike & Katie’s wedding. They are in my prayers, that God will bless them in the next stage of their lives.
https://oruathletics.com/news/2026/7/24/steve-upshaw-concludes-25-year-legacy-of-service-to-oru-mens-basketball.aspx

Duane Fox

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:06:01 +0000

I see on the ORU website that he just passed away. What a life of service!! I'm sure eagle man can share some good memories of him. to friends and family.

Sam Alajiki

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:43:50 +0000

Sam has signed with a French club in Strasbourg. There is a film below that shows that Sam has expanded his range pretty dramatically while in Ireland and Italy this past season. (Yes, it's a slow day on the board. Baseball and former ORU players in European basketball starts to take center stage for a few weeks ).

Men's Basketball Staff Changes

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:59:08 +0000

Not great timing, but perhaps he's been gone for a while with no announcement? As of today, he's still listed on the men's basketball staff page of the ORU Athletics website, which might lead one to surmise a move on his own accord and not a dismissal at season's end a month ago.

Either way, perhaps a partial explanation of why this recruiting cycle for ORU has been so...quiet? Curious to see if any kids from this region end up signing in the coming days/weeks with Longwood...

Coaching Carousel 2026

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:29:11 +0000

FYI: a new thread such as this is where you talk about coaching changes...

...and it's where you suppose whether the likes of Kyan Brown, Warren Niles, Tom Hankins, Cory Williams, or even (gasp) Scott Sutton might apply...

Every D1 Basketball School Ranked No. 364-1

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 03:29:11 +0000

For the past few weeks, a website called College Basketball Review has been ranking every D1 basketball school all-time, from No. 364 West Georgia all the way up to (eventually) No. 1.

I've been curious to see where ORU might land on the list, and when it finally happened tonight, I was struck with equal parts pride in past accomplishments, and bittersweet realization there's nowhere to go but down in the current state of affairs for college basketball in general and at 81st & Lewis in particular:

Here's a link to the website for even more ORU Basketball content (albeit error-filled): https://cbbreview.com/

And for context, check out the next post...

Connor Vanover Watch

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 18:27:47 +0000

In my opinion, the MVP so far this season is none other than Connor Vanover. He may not be what some expected (he's a stretch 4, not a post player), but I think he's been great, and fascinating to watch. He currently leads the team in scoring at 13.8 per game, and rebounds with 8.0. And that's with three of the games in hostile enviroments vs. quality opponents. He's shooting 38% from three (8-of-21), with only 1 turnover per game, and he's stayed out of foul trouble, a real concern with ORU's lack of frontline depth right now.

But it's Connor's shot blocking that's truly special. At his current clip of 4.0 blocks per game, he could eclipse every individual record in the ORU books, and could consequently be the main factor in the team record for one season being broken as well.

Would not be surprised if he breaks the single game mark of 9 blocks in the coming home stand; he was one shy of the mark with 8 vs. John Brown. Heck, he might individually break the TEAM record for one game (13) if he gets enough minutes vs. these upcoming non-D1 schools (that record too was almost broken last week with 12 collectively vs. John Brown).

MOST BLOCKED SHOTS - INDIVIDUAL

Game: 9, Kendrick Moore at Stephen F. Austin (12-14-02), Kendrick Moore vs. IUPUI (3-4-02), Antonio Martin vs. Okla. City (1-28-78), Alvin Scott vs. West Texas State (1-24-77)
Season: 103, Kendrick Moore (2001-02)
Career: 197, Kendrick Moore (2001-03)
Season Average Per Game: 3.35, Kendrick Moore (2002-03)
Career Average Per Game (min. 60 blocks): 3.34, Kendrick Moore (2001-03)

MOST BLOCKED SHOTS - TEAM

Game: 13 vs. West Texas State (1-24-77); vs. Quincy (11-29-76)
Season: 199 (1976-77)

He's drawing notice nationally as well:

Very excited to watch his progression this season. One of a kind player!

Show Me The Money

Thu, 14 May 2026 02:43:55 +0000

I see posts like this almost every day:

Record enrollment.

Debt-free brick-&- mortar projects

Decades of growth

So…why is athletics so gosh darn poor?

How did previous coaches in virtually every sport manage to recruit better players and beat better teams while the school was teetering on bankruptcy?

WHERE IS THE SUCCESS IN ATHLETICS THAT THE REST OF THE SCHOOL SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING RIGHT NOW?

Francis Lacis Latvian 3x3 Olympic Team

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:01:16 +0000

A little surprised to learn that Francis Lacis is listed on the Latvian 3x3 basketball team for the Paris Olympics.

Though he has played for Team Latvia before, I don't recall him being on the most recent roster when they qualified earlier this year; perhaps they had an injury and he's filling the spot?

Regardless, congratulations to Francis - I think he's the first non-track & field Olympian from ORU. Latvia plays the United States in pool play on August 1st, but who knows when or if it will be broadcast/streamed here in the states.

Not Always Negative...

Sat, 30 May 2026 03:02:25 +0000

...it just feels that way when good news is hard to find.

But, here's a little cure for the summertime blues (albeit nostalgic)....can you name at least three?

How's old "what's-his-name" doing?

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:15:42 +0000

Be honest: in 30 seconds, could you name more than five guys from last year's roster still playing college basketball?

Yeah, me neither - we hardly knew ye, fellas.

Here's how they're fairing so far in their new digs:

Sir Issac Herron (Louisiana Tech) - avg. 7.0 pts & 4.3 rebs in just four games off the bench (hope he's not injured again).
Josh Jones (North Dakota) - 3.3 pts & 3.8 rebs in eight games with five starts. 34.6% from the field, 38.1% from the line, and 4.1 fouls per game (I'll bet half his fouls are illegal screens).
JoJo Moore (Tulane) - since his big payday, goes by "Josiah" now. In seven games with no starts, 6.0 pts, 1.1 rebs, 1.1 asts.
Jackson Skipper (Vermont) - 3.8 pts & 1.3 rebs in nine games with 1 start.
Mathok Majok (New Orleans) - 13 total mop-up minutes in two games. Just relieved he was not forced to return to South Sudan.
Darius Robinson Jr. (Southern Illinois-Edwardsville) - In 8 games off the bench, 5.4 pts and 1.1 asts.
Pablo Navarro (Saint Martin's/D2) - 3.5 pts and 3.0 rebs in six games as a reserve.
Braeden Moore (Embry-Riddle/D2) - 6.6 pts & 3.3 rebs in 5 games off the bench.

Nary a one contributing as a starter, or even in a signicant role in their respective rotations.

Gee, hard to fathom why ORU stuggled last season...

Oklahoma HS all-time scorer, legendary Rotnei Clark, "I should've gone to ORU."

Sun, 17 May 2026 22:10:04 +0000

ill Haisten

STILLWATER — Like a good neighbor, an Oklahoma basketball legend agreed to do this interview in his State Farm Insurance office.

In 2006-08, as I had become aware of a rock-star scoring machine on the Verdigris High School basketball roster, I had two roles for the Tulsa World: I covered Oklahoma State football and I was a Rotnei Clarke biographer.

Before Clarke would conclude his prep career with a senior-season average of 40.8 points per game, with the 2008 Class 3A title and as the all-time career scoring leader in Oklahoma boys’ basketball, I was there to report on his fall-of-2007 victory over the unsuspecting operator of a Tulsa State Fair basketball game: a make-the-shot, win-a-stuffed-animal game.

When that poor State Fair guy handed the ball to Clarke, he had no idea that he was about to lose a lot of inventory.“Those rims are oval-shaped,” Clarke told the Tulsa World nearly 19 years ago, “so it’s almost an impossible shot. I got in a groove. I went to the fair several nights, and I got four stuffed animals each night. "That last night, the (game operator) told me I was red-flagged. He wouldn’t let me shoot anymore.”

Clarke’s college basketball journey would include three seasons at Arkansas and one at Butler, and in professional basketball he spent one season in Australia (averaging 21.9 points for the Wollongong Hawks of the National Basketball League) and nine more on Belgian and Italian rosters before his 2024 retirement and move to Stillwater. He is and always will be synonymous with basketball, and yet the 36-year-old Clarke has not played any basketball — not even in a casual pickup type of situation — since he retired.

During Clarke’s second year at the University of Arkansas, he attended a church-related function and met a young woman who also attended the university after having been a multi-sport prep athlete in Little Rock. During their first date, they competed against each other on a pool table in a Fayetteville bowling alley. Ultimately, they were married in 2014. Mrs. Clarke’s actual first name is Patricia, but she’s been known as PD for most of her life and was a high-jump champion in Arkansas. Just a few blocks from Rotnei’s State Farm office, PD is a dental hygienist. Rotnei and PD focus on the various sports endeavors of their three kids: 10-year-old daughter Kyah (a soccer, volleyball and basketball athlete) and two sons, 9-year-old Dre and 7-year-old Canon. Rotnei coaches his kids’ basketball and baseball teams, which are known as G3 (short for “Give God Glory”).

“There aren’t very many nights when we aren’t at a game or an event of some sort,” PD Clarke said, “but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

It’s funny how fate works. Except for one basketball season, Rotnei Clarke wore jersey No. 15. During that one season, he wore No. 11. Except for one basketball season, PD Clarke in far-away Little Rock always wore No. 15. During that one season, she wore No. 11. The 15-11 coincidence started long before they met.

Verdigris now plays home basketball games in a beautiful arena that opened for business in 2020. If you drive past the old Cardinal gym, you do so on Rotnei Clarke Road.

Rotnei’s revelation

During a Sunday night in 2007, after he had pared his short list of possible destinations to Oral Roberts, Arkansas and OU, Clarke was in the KTUL-8 studio for a half-hour. It was during that show that he announced his commitment to Arkansas.

Live television was uncomfortable for a high school kid, Clarke says now, but not as uncomfortable as having to say “thank you, but I’m going a different direction” to then-OU coach Jeff Capel and then-ORU coach Scott Sutton. Actually, Clarke added, it also was “very, very hard” to say no to then-Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik.

When Clarke and I met last week, this was the question I most wanted to ask: If 36-year-old Rotnei could go back in time and give advice to 17-year-old Rotnei, how might that have gone?

His response was fascinating.

If he could talk with 2007 Rotnei, 2026 Rotnei says he “probably” would advise his younger self to sign with the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles or Gonzaga.

“If I look back at it,” Clarke says, “ORU or Gonzaga would have maybe been the better basketball move.”

During the 2007-08 season, Clarke’s father Conley Clarke was a member of the ORU basketball program’s support staff. Rotnei Clarke says he loved everything about ORU: the Christian culture, the Mabee Center and Scott Sutton.

It’s not as if Clarke’s Arkansas run was a bust. He did make 123 starts and had a three-season scoring average of 14.9 points. He converted on an outstanding 42% of his 3-point shots.

As Arkansas would open Clarke’s 2009-10 sophomore season by hosting Alcorn State, five Razorback players were suspended for that game. Even against a heavy underdog like Alcorn State, Arkansas would need offense. Clarke responded with a record-breaking performance: a Razorback program-record total of 51 points, and an SEC-record total of 13 3-point baskets.

While Clarke would meet his future wife and develop lifelong friendships at Arkansas, there was frustration in the way he was used in then-Razorback coach John Pelphrey’s system.

In 2011, and only a few weeks after the Bulldogs had made their second consecutive NCAA Tournament title-game appearance, Clarke transferred to Butler. There was a redshirt season in 2011-12, and in 2012-13 Clarke was a 16.9-points-per-game member of Butler’s final Brad Stevens-coached basketball team. Today, Stevens is the Boston Celtics’ president of basketball operations.

At Arkansas, Clarke’s creativity was stifled. On far too many possessions, he would be stationed in a corner, waiting for a pass and a shot opportunity. During summer games, Razorback teammates would see the extent of Clarke’s abilities to handle the ball, pass the ball and score from three levels.

At Oral Roberts, Clarke could have been — and probably would have been — a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander type of team leader. Clarke would have possessed the basketball on nearly every possession. He would have averaged 25 points per game. And when a second defender would get involved in Rotnei coverage, Clarke still would have scored or would have found a teammate for an open look at the basket.

If Clarke had the ability to score 51 points in a major-college game and have scoring totals of 36, 37 and 39 points during his Australian rookie season of pro basketball, imagine how he might have fared against ORU’s Summit League opponents.

“I formed so many relationship in the state of Arkansas,” Clarke said. “I love the University of Arkansas. My wife is from Arkansas.

“But, yeah, ORU — I do think about that.”

Inextricably linked

During Rotnei Clarke’s junior season at Verdigris, the Cardinals were matched with Adair in a 3A area championship game at the 2,500-seat Bixby High School gym. Several major-college coaches were in that standing-room-only crowd, but 300 additional fans were not allowed inside.

“You hate to turn anyone away,” the Bixby Fire Department chief explained that night, “but safety has to come first.”

Those 300 disappointed people were unable to witness this: Clarke scored a career-high total of 57 points as top-ranked Verdigris prevailed 82-74 over Adair.

Seated behind the Verdigris bench that night was Scott Sutton. No one worked harder in the attempt to win Clarke’s commitment.

“I didn’t have a better (basketball) relationship than what I had with his Scott and his staff,” Clarke said last week.

Because Oklahoma State had a commitment from Clarke’s best friend — then-Pawnee superstar Keiton Page — the Cowboy program didn’t aggressively pursue Clarke until fairly late in the process.

Eventually, Kentucky got involved with the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Clarke. So did Gonzaga. By that time, the Gonzaga program had developed into a national superpower.

Clarke’s first official visit was to the Gonzaga campus in Spokane, Washington, and, he shared last week, “I was ready to commit right then. I was on a high during that trip. It was a pretty attractive first visit. I loved Gonzaga.”

There was no Gonzaga commitment, though, and Clarke seemed more stressed by his recruiting experience than he was by trying to get buckets against two and even three defenders at a time.

As the Tulsa World’s Barry Lewis wrote when he named Clarke and Pawnee’s Keiton Page the 2008 state Co-Players of the Year, “Verdigris’ Rotnei Clarke and Pawnee’s Keiton Page will always be linked together in Oklahoma sports history.”

Clarke and Page became best friends when they were little-guy basketball teammates in Yale. During a sixth-grade game, the Clarke-Page Yale squad crushed a Stillwater team 62-15. Kyle Briggs was a member of that Stillwater team long ago, and Briggs now assists Rotnei Clarke with the coaching of the G3 baseball team of 10- and 9-year-olds.

“I always try to instill in these boys how lucky they are to have Rotnei in their life as a coach,” Briggs said. “I let them know how important Rotnei is in Oklahoma basketball history.

“I showed the boys pictures of Trae Young, Keiton Page and Big Country (Bryant Reeves), and I explained that none of those guys scored as many points in high school as Rotnei Clarke. Rotnei is so humble and modest. As I was talking to the boys, Rotnei’s face was beet red. He’s all about serving others and doing right by the kids.”

As high school seniors, Clarke became the state’s career scoring leader with 3,758 points, while Page set the single-season boys’ scoring record with a senior-season average of 44.4 points.

During the same March 2008 weekend, Clarke drove Verdigris to the Class 3A title while Page’s Pawnee Black Bears were the 2A champs.

A former OSU basketball player who today is on the Cowboy coaching staff, Page is married with three kids. Clarke is married with three kids. The families get together on a regular basis, and Clarke and Page still have the same best-friend relationship that they had more than 25 years ago.

Before Clarke sat down for this interview, he had lunch with Page. “My family is in Stillwater now,” Clarke said. “Coach Sutton is here (as an OSU-Steve Lutz basketball staff member). Keiton is here (as an OSU basketball assistant). I see Keiton all the time.” Rotnei was the best man during Keiton’s wedding. Keiton was Rotnei’s best man.

The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame should give serious consideration to the simultaneous induction of Clarke and Page.

Deserving of a title change for posterity sake. Any responses should probably be to the previous post with the TW link, which at some point may be unavailable.

KC Municipal Auditorium

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:30:04 +0000

The 'Roos are moving back to the Auditorium!!

Bill Haisten: From the legendary Rotnei Clarke (HWSNBN), a fascinating revelation

Sun, 10 May 2026 19:42:11 +0000

https://tulsaworld.com/sports/high-school/basketball/article_662b3aa9-ebe5-4451-9c6e-52277b9bc160.html

Coach Barnett's first year

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:16:19 +0000

Now that the season is over, what did you think of CB's first year at ORU? The good, bad, and the ugly? How can he improve? Go easy CB is only 37 and a first year head coach!

It was a year of trying out various ideas such as different lineups and defenses. I hope that after one season he figured out some things that work and some that did not, so that going forward he knows what his strengths and weaknesses are.

OK...now what?

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:00:33 +0000

So, let's assume a couple of things for the sake of argument:

Dow returns to play with his brother-in-law, incoming freshman Boden Williams from Owasso HS.
Luke Gray turns down any offers to leave for more NIL and returns for a breakout junior campaign.
Ofri and Martins avoid foreign entanglements this summer and also return.
Yuto, however, finds a new home after falling out of the starting line-up late in the season.
Chase Martin and Cal Furnish return, if for no reason other than they have no other Division 1 options for similar minutes.
Lane Sparks returns from a major knee injury to a semblance of his former performance level.

Here's the question: if "athletic size" (as mentioned in the fairly spot-on article) is somehow found in the portal to replace Yuto and/or strengthen the bench, how many folks out there sincerely believe these eight returnees can/will significantly improve on this year's results next season?

Because simply put, I don't.... #sorrynotsorry

Tulsa vs WSU

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 20:07:19 +0000

WSU plays TU, who must be exhausted after a 4 OT win, today 430PM Tulsa time.