Hot Links: Beating the Press, Strong Schedules, Magicians, and more...

It’s Friday!

OU men’s basketball got a huge win in Morgantown against West Virginia and seek to ride the momentum as they take on Iowa State on Saturday afternoon.

OU Links:

• It certainly has been a rough go for both OU and OSU men’s hoops this season. The Cowboys are still floundering, but the Sooners seems to have hit their stride. We know that Big XII hoops are a buzzsaw, but both OU and OSU share the first and second spot in strength of schedule according to ESPN.
• Coach Lon Kruger’s squad managed to break what’s been an incredibly bothersome press from West Virginia. Here are some interesting numbers from Wednesday’s game.
• OU women’s hoops, thanks in no small part to the steady hand of coach Sherri Coale, is as consistent of a program as any other in the nation. Redshirt Senior Maddie Manning came back from two season-ending knee injuries earlier in her career. Finally healthy, she’s leading the Big XII in steals. Most impressive, though, is that she graduated early and will be receiving her Master’s of education degree this spring. Congrats to Manning for putting the ‘student’ in ‘student-athlete.’
• The Tulsa World’s Bill Haisten penned a fun profile on legendary Oklahoma basketball coach Billy Tubbs, who was recently inducted into the Tulsa Public Schools’ Athletic Hall of Fame.
• Baker Mayfield tops ESPN’s list of the top returning players in the Big XII. Lots of love given to Oklahoma linemen on this list.

National Links

• Michigan defensive end commit Kwity Paye was born in a refugee camp in Guinea. Now, he’s getting an education from one of the best schools in the nation. His story equal parts sad and inspiring, and definitely worth your time.
• Uh, apparently the Patriots have a team magician. That’s not weird or anything.
• As Barack Obama gives way to Donald Trump on inauguration day, Tyler Tines breaks down the ‘petty player-in-chief’s’ most disrespectful basketball moments.

‘STICK TO SPORTS!’

• Split is M. Night Shyamalan’s first Certified Fresh film (on rottentomatoes.com) since Signs in 2002. Huh.
• Gorillaz return to the limelight with their new, er, political song Hallelujah Money. The video is pretty wild:

• No matter how you feel about it, lab-grown meat may be our future. So long as it’s clean, safe, and tasty, I fully support this.