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While it’s unfortunate that the Oklahoma Sooners aren’t on their way to the Sweet Sixteen, this college basketball season ought to be commended for the victories along the way. Several seniors played their final minutes as college athletes, and one of those players was grad transfer Miles Reynolds, whose one-year career at OU ended seemingly as swiftly as it began. The former Pacific guard was overcome with emotions following Sunday night’s loss.
Miles Reynolds (@MilesReyRey2) was pretty emotional after seeing his lone season with the #Sooners & his college career come to a close. He was not only able to make the NCAA tournament for the first time ... but also win a game in #MarchMadness. Appreciated him talking with us. pic.twitter.com/x6Py9UOdkp
— Nate Feken (@TheGreat_Nate) March 25, 2019
For him to show so much pain and gratitude all at once says everything about the strength of this program and the powerful bond Reynolds quickly forged with his new teammates. In less than a calendar year, he’s become a true Sooner through and through, and if anybody ever doubted his desire, I’d have them watch, and more importantly listen, to this clip.
Transfers have made some big impacts for Oklahoma in the recent years of OU Athletics. On the gridiron, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray both lit the college football world ablaze. Giselle Juarez and Shannon Saile have fortified the pitching staff for Sooner softball this season. Finally, Aaron Calixte and Miles Reynolds made major contributions en route to this Round of 32 NCAA Tournament run, finally earning a trip to the Big Dance in their final collegiate seasons. Examples of players who began their collegiate careers in one place only to wind up and excel in Norman can be found throughout the athletic department. Hopefully they continue to make their mark and leave a legacy.
My tears during the final seconds of the season weren’t tears of sadness. They were tears of joy that I got to represent the great University of Oklahoma. It was an honor to put on that Crimson and Cream. I hope y’all enjoyed my 1 year here as much as I did ❤️ @OU_MBBall pic.twitter.com/OPzLDcb0J0
— Miles Reynolds (@MilesReyRey2) March 25, 2019
Now onto this week’s Monday edition of Hot Links! Oklahoma Baseball and Softball both sweep Big 12 opponents, Trevor Knight runs one in for the Hotshots, Jeremy Lamb hits the buzzer-beater of the year and more!
OU Links
- American Airlines is taking some serious heat from Mr. Dangerous himself. I wouldn’t recommend putting oneself on Baker Mayfield’s hit list. Somebody better fix this real quick or a lot of bad pub is coming down the pipeline. In all seriousness, it’s not nice of them to switch up Emily’s arrangement like that. Also, going after a major airline for this kind of BS is something even the haters can get behind.
Hey @AmericanAir, my fiancé has her bachelorette party this weekend and y’all cancelled her direct flight... changed her ticket and seat.. it’s no longer nonstop. I’m not sure how y’all do business but I’m pretty sure this isn’t how it’s supposed to go.... AND without a refund...
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) March 25, 2019
- Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury continues to be asked about the No. 1 overall pick as well as the future of QB Josh Rosen. With each passing day, it seems more likely that Kyler Murray will be the first player selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, and Kingsbury’s answers seem to suggest as much.
- Oklahoma baseball has enjoyed a nice start to the 2019 season, especially in conference play, as the Sooners swept Kansas to open the Big 12 portion of the schedule. OU is now 21-4 on the year, 3-0 in league play.
Highlights of a sweet sweep! #Sooners pic.twitter.com/yiYVYVMldp
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 24, 2019
- Oklahoma Softball is now 29-2 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 play after sweeping Texas Tech in Lubbock. Check out the four home runs the Sooners hit in Game 3, including freshman Grace Green’s first career grand slam.
Count 'em: 1⃣, 2⃣, 3⃣, 4⃣ homers for the #Sooners for the second game in a row!
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) March 24, 2019
More highlights: https://t.co/qZiaqvMOzu #ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/VUiDkUFxN9
- Donovan Mitchell, Blake Griffin and Kyle Kuzma would all vote for Trae Young as NBA Rookie of the Year. That’s some mighty high praise, especially with the year Luka Doncic is having in Dallas.
.@blakegriffin23, @kylekuzma and @spidadmitchell have made their ROY selection pic.twitter.com/qwEYDa0r5I
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 24, 2019
- Former Sooner QB Trevor Knight scored on a sweet rushing touchdown for the AAF’s Arizona Hotshots. Show ‘em how it’s done, Trev!
.@trevor_knight9 with the keeper, touchdown Hotshots! #SDvsAZ pic.twitter.com/YXK1hMyOvB
— The Alliance (@TheAAF) March 24, 2019
- In case you missed it over the weekend, 2020 JUCO WR Kundarrius Taylor has decommitted from Oklahoma. Taylor originally signed with the Sooners in 2018 before having to take the JUCO route.
Recruitment is Open...
— K (@KingKt___) March 23, 2019
Around the Sports World
- Jeremy Lamb made the shot of the year with this rainbow heave of desperation behind half-court to give the Charlotte Hornets the win over the Toronto Raptors. Stunning.
WE. HAVE. NO. WORDS.
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) March 25, 2019
JEREMY LAMB WITH THE HALF-COURT BUZZER BEATER TO WIN. THE. GAME!!!!! #hornets30 @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/VOUnXMhZCv
- PointsBet, an Australian-based online sportsbook, is offering a bonus bet for any bettors of UCF and the moneyline. Duke winning that game in that fashion was not only improbable, it caused a lot of outrage because of a pair of likely missed calls that maybe should have gone the other way. I don’t quite know how I feel about relief systems in betting, but I suppose it helps in case there’s ever a real case of conspiracy at work.
- New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from football on Sunday. In just 10 years, Gronk significantly changed the game by standing as the evolution of the position.
- If an MLB pitcher were to harness these five pitches, they would be unstoppable. Fortunately for the sport, five different pitchers were gifted with one each, spreading the wealth.
- If the Los Angeles Lakers tell Luke Walton to pack his bags, Jason Kidd would reportedly be near the top of the list of candidates to replace him. That would be a great hire for a team that severely needs leadership and organization.
Kidd will be among the serious candidates for the Lakers coaching job if Luke Walton is dismissed, league sources tell ESPN. That’s expected to give Kidd some pause on pursuing the Cal opening now. https://t.co/mm1SHCcVNJ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 24, 2019
Stick to Sports!
- When it comes to airports, what’s worse than a delayed flight? How about taking a flight to a completely different location and only finding out about it after you reached the destination? That’s what happened to a plane-load of passengers who wanted to go to Germany from London but instead found themselves in Scotland. Apparently there was an error in the paperwork, and the pilot was led to believe Edinburgh was the stop to make. I would be so beside myself if this ever happened to me. At least Edinburgh is beautiful, even if nobody wanted to go there at the time.
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