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Caleb is being inducted into the Tulsa Public Schools Athletics Hall of Fame! https://tulsaworld.com/sports/high-school/tps-athletics-hall-of-fame-class-includes-caleb-green-tom-maxwell/article_985f7154-d2e5-11ec-b616-972c796c2968.html

Sorry, but a 7 footer needs to be in the paint, BLOCKING SHOTS, REBOUNDING and DUNKING the basketball emphatically! We have plenty of outside threats. Connor should bring another dimension to the floor… Rob

Sad news for us old-timers: legacy “friend of the program” Sol Bayouth has passed away from complications following a heart attack several weeks ago. Fans of ORU Athletics from back in the 80’s will remember Sol as proprietor of “The Hamburger Haven” at 71st & Lewis, a favorite hangout with awesome charbroiled burgers and thick-cut onion rings (“Theta-no-pickle” was my favorite go-to choice on the menu). Sol’s brother Billy featured an identical menu for decades at his legandary downtown lunch destination “Billy’s On The Square” which he recently closed in retirement. RIP, “Solly” - a good dude who still took in the occasional ORU basketball game as well.

Max hit a big shot with about 25 seconds left that sealed the win for his team. Overall he was ok but did hit the big shot and then of course the announcers started discussing how he had 25 or more points in the three NCAA tournament games last year. First player since Steph Curry to do that.

Basically the thought is: if Max has a good camp and once again is on the NBA's radar then he would go pro but if he struggles, like last year, then he comes back to ORU. Looking at the G League Elite roster and about 15 of those guys I have never heard of, so it would seem Max has a chance to shine. It is not as tough of competition as he saw at the NBA combine last year.

I think he will spend a MAJORITY of the time in the paint, especially on defense - and will play a significant role in blocking shots, rebounding, and defending the rim. But on offense, I believe he will move back and forth between the paint and the three point arc - and that his FAVORITE shot will be far outside the range of most 7 footers. And, if I were him, I wouldn't have chosen ORU as my transfer landing point unless I knew that the coaching staff was in support of me playing that preferred inside-outside role. I agree with you, it is a unique playing style for a 7 footer, and it will only be successful if he MAKES the threes.

Down to the final series of the conference season, and ORU is fairly locked into the #2 seed. ORU can still finish 1, 2 or 3, but it would take some unlikely scenarios for the Eagles to finish anything but #2. NDSU's magic number for the regular season title is TWO (combination of NDSU wins and ORU losses). With the Bizon hosting Western Illinois this weekend, they are prohibitive favorites to win at least two-of-three, so it probably won't matter how ORU fares with SDSU. Really sad (for many reasons) to see the Summit Tourney shift to Fargo for 2023. ORU needs one win in the series in Brookings to lock down the #2 seed, but would hold onto the #3 seed even if swept by the Rabbits. SDSU's magic number to hold off Omaha for the #3 seed is also TWO (combination of SDSU wins and Omaha losses). But, Omaha could easily sweep St. Thomas, which would then require SDSU to win two of three from ORU to keep the #3 seed, or else ORU and Omaha would play in the tournament first round. One thing we know for sure... ORU's opponent in Wednesday's tournament opener will be either be SDSU or Omaha. so it will be a very familiar opponent, having played both of them within the past two weeks. The Summit tourney weekend should be well worth the price of admission!

Big week for the Max Watch: G-League camp is in Chicago Monday and Tuesday; select players will advance to the NBA combine Wednesday thru Friday at the same location. College players who have declared for the NBA draft have until 11:59pm EST on June 1st to withdraw and maintain their college eligibility.