darrenj Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 Max Abmas, Kevin Obanor have Oral Roberts rolling The biggest underdog story of an upset-laden Sweet 16 is Oral Roberts, a 15-seed that finished fourth in the Summit League this season. The Golden Eagles won three games in three days to take the conference tournament title, then knocked off No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Florida in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. Golden Eagles 6-foot-1 guard Max Abmas and 6-foot-8 big Kevin Obanor have become two of the stars of the Dance, with Abmas -- the nation's leading scorer -- totaling 55 points in two games and Obanor going for 58. Neither player came off the floor in either game. "Abmas is so fast," one Summit coach said. "A lot of guys with speed don't play with great pace. But he has hesitations, and you have to respect him pulling up every time. He's great at hesitation dribbles. I don't care who he plays, he's the fastest player on the court. The guy doesn't sweat. Literally. He plays the game pretty easy. I think the biggest thing he's done, starting in the conference tournament, he's starting to get assists, too. That really, really changes their team. That makes them really, really, really hard to guard. "Obanor has got the ability to take advantage of switches if you go little with him. They space it around him, open up the post for him. If you go two [defenders] to the ball, he feels so good about it right now, not thinking about, he's just catching and shooting. Our league tried everything with him, and you get this late in the season, they've seen everything. You're not really going to trick him, just better be solid." play 1:16 Oral Roberts' Cinderella story continues with upset of Florida 15-seed Oral Roberts makes a run in the second half and beats 7-seed Florida 81-78 to advance to the Sweet 16. On the season, Paul Mills' team ranked in the mid-200s in adjusted defensive efficiency -- but it held Ohio State to 0.93 points per possession and limited the Buckeyes and Florida to a combined 12-for-45 from 3-point range. "They are really connected defensively," an opposing coach said. "They're kind of picking where they can give a little, and those other teams haven't been able to expose that yet. Abmas was going under ball screens, so they didn't get in scramble situations against Florida. It's worked well. And then the two unsung guys, Kareem Thompson and Carlos Jurgens, are doing a really, really good job of just guarding their guy." Can the Golden Eagles beat Arkansas and keep the upset train rolling? "Arkansas might have gotten away with one against Texas Tech. Their shot selection, holy cow," one coach said. "[Razorbacks coach Eric] Musselman will do everything in his power to take Max and Kevin out. He'll do it by switching. My guess is they'll switch every single ball screen that Max uses. That was our best bet against them. Switch against them, put it on the floor and challenge on the rim. Defensively, they really push it down on the sideline and try to keep the ball from going middle. It's a little bit Texas Tech-ish, no middle -- but not quite to that extent. If your team is willing to pass, you can beat them. But if you drive the ball, you're driving into traffic." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUalum Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 worth the watch.... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Titan Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 2 hours ago, ORUalum said: worth the watch.... Wow, that was really good analysis; looking forward to his prediction on Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUIllini Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 Thompson, Weaver, Lacis....if they can collectively shoot better or one of them really gets hot, this game is winnable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cletus Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 Thanks for the video analysis. Good information for the Arkansas game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keenan Henderson Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 Great video. He is right Arkansas is at their best when they play small ball. So a big matchup on Saturday will be Justin Smith and K.O. Smith really turned the first game around with his second half performance. He has become the leader of the Razorbacks and their main post presence. K.O. has to limit Smith's offensive rebounds and second chances points. If he does that then ORU will have a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUTerry Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Arkansas started three freshmen against Texas Tech: Moody, Davis and Williams. They are VERY talented (Moody is a projected first round pick), but let’s hope that they show their age Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUalum Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Hope this one ends up on freezing cold takes tomorrow night.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theeagleman5 Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 TheEagleman recalls vividly our December game at Fayetteville and how we basically dominated play for the first 20 minutes only to falter in the 2nd half....agreed that both teams are totally different 3 months later but my point is that ORU will not be fazed against this Top 15 team and not intimidated....in fact, it will be Arkansas that gets nervous especially if this is a close game midway thru the 2nd half....the longer ORU hangs around the tighter the collar for the Hogs....this is what happened to Ohio St. and Florida.....our guys are playing with house money.....no one expected them to be in the sweet 16 except apparently themselves.....truth be told....TheEagleman likes, er...LOVES our chances....I think we can win if we shoot just a bit better...make our 3s and FTs and keep playing excellent D....forcing those turnovers...we have to win that battle substantially.....do this and ORU will be celebrating again about 9:30 EDT tomorrow night....Honestly, I am NOT nervous at all....and have not been for all 3 games now except for those final seconds in both contests last weekend....TheEagleman is confident that my small wagers on the money line will come thru....i will take those 11 points but don't think I will need them.....ORU 83 Arkansas 80 in another exciting NCAA game.....Bring on Nova/Baylor!!! GO BLUE!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keenan Henderson Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 The real challenge that ORU faces is that Coach Muss is a pro at making those in game/halftime adjustments that really turn games around. He has done it all year, including the first time the Eagles faced the Razorbacks. Can Coach Mills counteract those changes that Muss makes? That may be a real factor in tomorrow's game, especially in the second half. Hoping he does and will! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cornelius Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ting Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 What did Lunardi predict? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUalum Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 March Madness betting: The most-bet team for Saturday's Sweet 16 games? No. 15 seed Oral Roberts Frank Schwab Sat, March 27, 2021, 10:17 AM·3 min read https://sports.yahoo.com/march-madness-betting-the-most-bet-team-for-saturdays-sweet-16-games-no-15-seed-oral-roberts-151744169.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keenan Henderson Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 As we have been saying for awhile now: now matter what happens tonight, ORU has had a great season! Hope the guys have a blessed game tonight and keep marching on to the elite 8. God bless the Golden Eagles 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cornelius Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theeagleman5 Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 Hey Warren....dont you have one year of eligibility left???....TheEagleman is ready.....WE CAN WIN!!!..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cletus Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 Living and dying on the 3, again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cletus Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 At halftime, nice to see Charles Barkley perplexed. He said he went to church once, in Alabama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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