at Tulsa

[TrueBlue82]

43 minutes ago, Dr. Cornelius said:

“It was a great atmosphere out there, for sure,” he said. “The Cup coming up on the road, knowing that we’ll have some fans here, but just the Mayor’s Cup in general, it’s just so big, not only for us, but for our alums. We know how important it is to them, so we just want to go out there and do what we can to keep the Mayor’s Cup where it belongs.“

LOVE this quote from Max.  He SO gets it!

I was also impressed (stunned, actually) that the TU ESPN+ broadcast named Max as the Player of the Game and invited him on their set for the post-game interview (where he had a similar quote about ORU Alumni).  I don't think I've ever seen that happen during an away game broadcast, but it was a classy move.

Another highlight from the broadcast... "Max Abmas is back to his high standard of play... and that's not good news for the Summit League!"

 

 

[Old Titan]

[TrueBlue82]

42 minutes ago, Old Titan said:

Nice spread and great publicity.  But the error in the second paragraph of “the Golden Eagles claimed their fourth consecutive victory in the rivalry” is pretty egregious.  It used to be that you could get fired for that.  Now you’re just called a journalist.

[dave]

1 hour ago, TrueBlue82 said:

LOVE this quote from Max.  He SO gets it!

I was also impressed (stunned, actually) that the TU ESPN+ broadcast named Max as the Player of the Game and invited him on their set for the post-game interview (where he had a similar quote about ORU Alumni).  I don't think I've ever seen that happen during an away game broadcast, but it was a classy move.

Another highlight from the broadcast... "Max Abmas is back to his high standard of play... and that's not good news for the Summit League!"

 

 

I thought the TU announcers did an outstanding job on the ESPN+ broadcast. Very impressed.

[ORUTerry]

Pooh Williamson (former TU point guard) is a class act and seems be a very nice person. I’m a little surprised he’s not (back) on their coaching staff. 

[Old Titan]

 

[Dr. Cornelius]

2 hours ago, TrueBlue82 said:

I know you're just being nice, KH, but we both know that this is not really a "may be".  "Probably" or "definitely" would be more accurate.  While I am thrilled with the outcome, and with our effort on the road in a rivalry game, we really didn't shoot the ball that well - and would have won by 20+ if we had.  Tulsa is just not a very good team right now - and I'm so grateful our guys gutted it out, or we would be looking back at this at the end of the season as a really bad loss.

Agree with your assessment 100%. It's great to win but ORU shot it pretty poorly.

Is there any player on TU's roster outside of maybe Griffin that would see the floor at ORU? And absolutely zero chance Griffin could start.

Time will tell if Konkol can turn it around.

[ORUalum]

Got to watch the game this morning and was really impressed when DJ and Pat Mwamba shared the floor...defense and rebounding improved noticeably. 

Really wish that Thompson follow dunk had went

Tulsa appears to be in for a long season

[Keenan Henderson]

I liked the new center that TU has from the junior college ranks: Bryant S.  He looks good around the rim and should be a regular double double type player for the Hurricane.  He gave Connor some problems in the paint and is about 8 inches shorter than Plastic Man.

It is safe to say that ORU is getting better but has not peaked yet.  Then again it is December and no one wants a team to peak this early.  As long as the Eagles stay healthy and get Sir Isaac back soon, then they still have a good chance to make a run in March.  The pieces are there with Patrick being the real X factor.

[Idig32]

I like the defensive intensity that Max brought in the second half. He got a really nice steal from Pritchard I think. Then not long after, he hit his head when he almost got another steal. If he hadn’t hustled and got a hand on that pass, it would’ve been an open 3 for TU. Mwamba was great too on defense. He is a rare talent in that he can guard any position.
 

I thought some of the communication issues early in the game may have been due to coach Mills trying some different strategies defensively. It seemed like we were switching more than normal, and there were some switches that weren’t communicated well. The second half was much better in that regard. 

[Ting]

3 hours ago, Old Titan said:

 

The highlight that was missing from the reel was Reems up and under in traffic under the basket. 

[ORUTerry]

This?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClunKkSDPQD/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

 

[Ting]

1 hour ago, ORUTerry said:

This?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClunKkSDPQD/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

Diff highlight - reverse layup - I got the clip, just figuring how to post the video

[Ting]

At some point maybe when the kids go to bed I need to rewatch that second half

 

It’s bigger than the 3.4mb - will figure how to post somewhere 

[ORUTerry]

We need to see Thompson and Jurgens to keep playing like they did against TU. If they do, we will be very tough - especially with Mwamba on the court. 

[dave]

Mwamba may very well be the guy who causes the team to not miss Lufile nearly as much. 

[theeagleman5]

Lufile who???

[Old Titan]

A little bit about a lot in the afterglow of what could be a watershed win this season:

• So much to like about the game plan for TU:  motion in the offense, aggressive to the rim when TU chased them off the line, patience for the most part in shot selection, sending rebounders to the boards after initial shot attempts, smothering defense on the TU guards - all things that prior to Saturday had been very scarce.  This was basketball that was FUN TO WATCH as a fan!
• Max was back in so many ways:  the shooting was better (still a little flat and long at times on the three, but better), but hustling everywhere, being aggressive AND controlled, one step ahead of the flow, encouraging his teammates - and ENJOYING HIMSELF.  Really happy for him; it must have been a lot of fun to be Max on Saturday.
• Another observation on Max:  that little 12-footer he shoots with elevation when he curls around the lane is a thing of beauty and something I hope he goes to more often when they aren't letting him shoot the three (or it's simply not falling).  Mid-range shots are rarely expected anymore by defenders - element of surprise!
• Mwamba bloomed like a flower under the Reynolds Center lights.  Perhaps inspired by facing off against former UTA teammate Sam Griffin?  Patrick was everywhere:  chasing down long boards, saving balls headed out-of-bounds, quick jumping to snag rebounds, cutting off baseline drives, even manning the point on the Golden Eagles occasional zone.  Pure energy!
• So impressed with the maturity and headiness of Kareem Thompson and Carlos Jurgens. They've both really played well this year in my book, and when Max is going off they are superb at complementing his play.  Simply put: they play like seniors!
• Conner got pushed around a little bit on Saturday, and that's going to happen to him some games, but he still filled his role, and altered a lot of shots that don't show up in the box score.  But I do wish they would quit posting him up on the block with his back to the basket.  His foot work is terrible, and he literally can't decide what to do when he gets the ball.  He's just not a post player - keep him outside and flash him from the offside!
• I know it's small on paper, but REALLY loved the line-up of Abmas/McBride/Thompson/Weaver/Mwamba.  Nothing but thoroughbreds!  Could really give Summit League teams fits trying to keep up with them - ORU's version of the vaunted Golden State "Death Squad" line-up!
• Very surprised at how passively TU played.  Wondering how much they were rebuked for their behavior in Myrtle Beach once they returned to Tulsa, and it possibly emasculating them?  No fire, no physicality, no encouraging each other - they frankly looked intimidated.  I really thought they would try to literally and figuratively punch ORU in the mouth, and I worried about ORU's response.  Instead it was the other way around, and on their own home court!
• Speaking of neutering:  Patrick Mwamba's stare-down of the TU student section following his coup de grace dunk would have elicited maniacal responses in other arenas.  Instead, from my angle looking at their faces, it appeared the 50-or-so TU students in attendance collectively wet their pants.  Patrick: "YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME???"  TU Students: "No, sir, no - we're good, we're good..."
• A friend who is no Paul Mills fan derisively noted this was "his first road win in five years over a team that wasn't previously Division II."  I think that's a bit harsh, but perhaps a more accurate description would be "first true road win over a non-mid-major?"  Regardless, it's a great win if for no other reason than it would have been a bad loss.
• More as I think of it...peace out.