All Activity
This stream auto-updates
- Today
-
OT stated, "Which may explain why Nike doesn't make any t-shirts that say "CUPCAKES SHARPEN IRON" I am looking at the schedule and I see the Home Schedule non-conference is lacking but a decent array of good competition on the road with some great opportunities. We should be better this year with Kerns, Nzekwesi, Lacis, Weaver, Obanor, Jones, Fuqua, Saunders, and Jurgens returning along with some added new recruits. I do see some Iron Sharpening Iron games in this upcoming season. I would have liked to have seen a better home game schedule and not sure why we can't seem to bring this about in the past four or five years. Surely there are D1 teams that are like us and willing to play home and away games. I would love to schedule some Missouri Valley teams such as my neighborhood which I both attended Indiana State and Evansville. We still have a good conference schedule with great competition and some nice home games. As a graduate of ORU grad school, I love the University and am excited about all the new buildings and growth on campus and our online program advancing. It is so much better than when I was on campus in the 90's. 1. Oklahoma State- 7 new recruits and a good opener to see where we are this year. 2. Tulsa- Possibly not as good as last year Good Competition 3. Iowa- Couple 6' 11" with good Freshman - Excellent Iron Sharpens Iron 4. Wichita State- Good returning squad - Excellent Iron Sharpens Iron 5. Creighton -20-15 Last year NIT quarter finals - Excellent Iron Sharpens Iron 6. Missouri State- Great Opportunity at Home but Excellent Competition 7. UT Arlington -Good Competition and Toss Up 8.Chicago State - Great Opportunity for a win 9. Brigham Young- Excellent team and Iron Sharpens Iron I just like to see the glass half full! Go Eagles!!!
-
Back when Scott Sutton was playing nothing but big boys (presumably for the payouts), I was beating the drum for one or two cupcakes at home, just for the reasons Doc Cornelius mentioned above: a physical and psychological break from the constant drubbings on the road. But, this schedule is swinging WAY too far in the opposite direction, as last year suggests: beating the Southwest Christians of the world by 40 points ultimately had no bearing whatsoever on ORU's eventual 20-loss season, and I can assure you it won't help this year's team one bit, either. Which may explain why Nike doesn't make any t-shirts that say "CUPCAKES SHARPEN IRON"
- Yesterday
-
I hadn't thought of this. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Wichita would give us a 2-for-1... Mills appears to be somewhat close with Marshall (the previous two seasons ORU and WSU have had closed pre-season scrimmages).
-
Personally, with how the past almost decade has gone I’m not opposed to scheduling ANYONE if it means a win. The ultimate program goal should be “anyone, anytime, anywhere” but that has to be balanced with building towards the conference season. So often ORU limps into Summit League play beaten down and spends weeks trying to build back confidence. Is this the right scheduling philosophy? Who knows. There sure is a lot less room for error though.
-
This is, without question, the worst overall schedule and (especially) home schedule that I can remember. But, I would caution the jumping to the final conclusion that this schedule was drafted in order to have more wins and fewer losses, solely due to a coaching staff in job protection mode. Preparing and finalizing a schedule is a significant challenge, balancing many aspects including financial, logistics, recruiting, etc. and many factors out of our control. Often, a planned game or tourney falls through in the eleventh hour, and there is a mad scramble to fill out the schedule as best as is possible at the time. I am disappointed with what we have before us, but it is what it is. While it is fair to speculate the “why” behind the schedule, I think it is short-sided to come to a certain conclusion. It is simply not that black and white. That said, we CAN definitely conclude that it is not a very exciting schedule, and brutal for season ticket marketers.
-
Just throwing a few ideas around about the schedule. Guessing that we signed a home and home for the next two years with Houston Baptist and UT Arlington. It makes sense because ORU is recruiting those areas pretty heavily. Since ORU is playing BYU and Wichita State back to back on the road for the last two years any chance that maybe one of those teams would come to the Mabee Center for one game in the future? Maybe wishful thinking? Also, with Missouri Kansas City rejoining the league next year, my guess is that ORU will be playing 18 league games so that means even less non-conference games in the future. Someone mentioned that earlier that most leagues are going to 18-20 game schedules so it seems that the NCAA is slowing getting rid of most of the non-conference schedule. Most teams just want to focus on conference games because that determines your seed in the tournament and of course that in turn helps you win the tournament thus advancing to the Big Dance. Any thoughts?
-
So this is what ORU basketball has fallen to? Avoiding competition in the hopes of padding a rookie coach’s W-L record? Whatever happened to “Anybody, Any Time, Anywhere?” I know of one former athletic director who, when a coach who shall remain nameless tried a similar stunt, refused to sign the game contracts. He said ORU’s mission, according to Oral Roberts, was to play the big-name schools in the big-time venues, in order to spread the word and build the brand. If this is the new normal, then let’s just go back to NAIA status. What’s the point otherwise: aspiring to acceptable mediocrity? MAKE NO LITTLE PLANS SCHEDULES HERE.
-
I don’t blame Coach Mills. The win loss record is one of the key ways he is evaluated. He needs to show improvement this year or he will definitely be on the hot seat. He also will want the team to be able to build some confidence.
-
The case for not playing in an exempt tournament: 18-19: Oakland Hoops Challenge (1-2) 17-18: Legends Classic (0-4) 16-17: Paradise Jam (0-3) Mills probably just trimmed 2 to 4 games off his loss total by skipping a multi-team event this year Forgo a tournament and add an extra game or two to the home schedule against a non D1 or a team like HBU....this might be a very shrewd move
- Last week
-
And, unlike annually charitable Justin Barkley at Rogers State, I don't think Hank will let off the gas if he has a chance to win the game late. If that game had a Vegas line, I might put ORU as a 2-to-3-point favorite. UCO will have tough, physical guards who will more than compensate for any size disadvantage underneath. Think Cal Baptist, v2.0.
-
just guessing that since they are not in an exempt tournament, they may be allowed an extra non-d1 game
-
I missed this yesterday looking at the schedule.........Dec 14th -- Tom Hankins return to Mabee Center
-
UTA has won 20+ games the past three years, though they inexplicably lost coach Scott Cross to Troy following the end of this season. They are typically very athletic, and traditionally play way over their heads at home vs. comparable opponents such as ORU. Mavs star Kevin Hervey was a 2nd-round NBA draft pick by Oklahoma City last month, and led the Thunder in scoring a couple of weeks ago in the Las Vegas summer league. If the Golden Eagles win in Arlington it would be a stunning development; I'll be surprised if it's under 10-points with ten minutes to go. As for the non-D1 games, I just realized Central Arkansas is an EXHIBITION game, which is bizarre. I think you're right: one of those games against Rogers State, Southwest Christian, and Central Oklahoma may have to count as a second exhibition game. A total of 10 non-conference games vs. D1 competition, and only two of those vs. Power 5 schools. We used to make fun of the Dakota schools for playing schedules like this, but in their defense, they were transitioning to D1 from D2 and had to take what they could get. What's ORU excuse, other than desperation to finish at least .500 for the year vs. all opponents?
-
Ut Arlington is a game oru could win, which would put them at 7-6 in non conference. Byu will be good this year because their big man came back instead of going pro. Thought a team could only schedule two non d1 schools a year. Did that rule change?
-
This season is all about a winning record. That is my take after looking at this home schedule of non conference. Mills is banking on the conference with at least 10 plus wins and an 18 win overall season. That is my take and I have to say in his defense, he should be trying to have a good positive season and although the home schedule is bad, he is playing some excellent teams in the non conference schedule to prepare the team for the conference and tournament. We have good talent returning and some replacement pieces to assist the overall condition of the squad. I believe Lacis will be a big part of the team but unsure of Jurgens because he did not play a minute in the final tournament game of the season. I thought that was odd at the time but if he is back, then we still are over the 13 scholarships. If we only win 3 D1 games in the non conference OT, as last year, then we are in for a long year.
-
Yep....this is the worst non conference schedule since the NAIA days.....just pathetic and uninteresting....I feel bad for the ORU season ticket holders who have to endure watching all those non D-1 games.....very discouraging to see the direction this program is headed the past 5-6 years.....almost becoming unwatchable...but that being said....ORU if healthy should have a better team this year.....at least TheEagleman is hopeful...if we can't finish above .500 with this schedule then I don't know what to say......
-
Those power conference buy games are only going to get harder to schedule if not a complete thing of the past. The Big 10 goes to 20 league games this season and the ACC does so in 20-21.
-
Don't sweat it: in this case, the so-called "winnings" split the same way any way you slice it!
-
What started out as a promising schedule earlier this year (with the announcement of the OSU game and the tournament with Cal), has since fizzled into a hot mess with no exempt tournament at all. Unless a tournament is added soon that includes a couple of neutral-court match-ups vs. low-to-mid-majors, this is easily one of the worst schedules ORU has had in a while, particularly at home. The only thing worse than losing by 30+ at places like Michigan State, Louisville or (in this year's case ) Iowa might be losing by 20+ at powerful mid-majors like Wichita State, Creighton and BYU whose home-court advantages are every bit as intimidating (more?) than the elite schools. Might as well go for the bigger paycheck and NET Ranking bump by playing at the big boys house, instead of getting stomped by their red-headed step-brother for less money and prestige. That's why it would be nice to instead have a couple of neutral site games vs. their ilk; with a better chance to steal a win. Bottom line: disregarding the non-D1 games, I only see four* three games where ORU has a legitimate chance to win: Houston Baptist and Missouri State at home; Central Arkansas* and Chicago State on the road. And, ORU is certainly no lock in ANY of those games; would be particularly surprised to see wins in both of those road games*. Probably looking at a record of around 3-8* 2-8 vs. D1 teams heading into conference play, with an amemic NET Ranking hovering around 300... * Edited once I learned that Central Arkansas is a charity exhibition game that will not count in the record.
-
Counting the exhibition, twenty would be a stretch. Without the exhibition, I’d place the preliminary range at 13 to 19 wins. But it’s still July with a LOT of roster question marks to be resolved.
-
Jmg has yet to make a reappearance so I think we only have to split the winnings 2 ways.
-
Now that the non conference schedule is out, how many wins will this team have with both the non and conference with 30 games played counting the October game? Is a 20 win season possible?
-
I meant to tell Bogus to get on. Then I would've gotten it right on!! Oh well I'll split the winnings with EagleManiac and jmg.
-
Agreed. I understand that it’s very difficult to get good home games, but man it’s tough to see HBU be the highlight of your non-conference schedule. At least we’ve got a D1 homecoming this year. That should be a priority every year. At a MNIMUM. Also, Tuesday night for the Mayors Cup? Those guys are the worst.
