What’s up, everybody?

The biggest softball series of the 2019 Big 12 slate begins tonight for the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (38-2, 9-0), as they are in Austin to take on the No. 10 Texas Longhorns (36-9, 7-3). OU hasn’t lost to UT in the last 15 meetings, but the Burnt Orange are as dangerous as they’ve been in recent seasons.

Oklahoma’s top spot as well as its 28-game winning streak are on the line, so you’ll want to make sure you keep up on all the action starting at 6 p.m. CT, airing on the Longhorn Network. You can also listen to it live on the Sooner Sports Network.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Kyler Murray could place Oklahoma in some rather elite company if his name ends up atop the draft, Bill Bedenbaugh’s work is cut out for him this offseason, a pro sports gambler is re-writing the ‘Jeopardy!’ record books and more!

OU Links

• Watch out, Tiger Woods, because Lincoln Riley might be wearing a green jacket next April. In all seriousness, I wonder where he ranks on the golf course out of the football coaching staff or the athletic department’s coaches as a whole. Lon Kruger is likely near the top department-wide, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. As far as Riley’s staff is concerned, that’s a tough call sight unseen.

• Speaking of Riley — last Friday night was the first time the new assistants saw firsthand just how much ability the head coach has in delivering on his promises, writes Sooner Scoop’s Bob Przybylo. He said it would be another huge recruiting weekend, and even on short notice, his prediction was dead on.
• If Kyler Murray is selected with the No. 1 overall draft pick next week, OU would become the fourth school to have a total of five first picks, which all-time is the most any that college football program currently has.

• While it wouldn’t take long for you to find people talking about Murray and the No. 1 spot, what could happen if he does not actually go first overall? ESPN’s Todd McShay tried to pinpoint scenarios that could unfold if K1 isn’t the first player to hear his name called.

• The Tulsa World’s Guerin Emig spotlighted Bill Bedenbaugh, who is about to witness as many as four of his O-line pupils drafted into the NFL all in the same year. Also ahead of him is the challenging task of finding replacements for each of those departures, but that perhaps won’t be figured out until sometime in late August.
• In case you missed it, check out this week’s podcast! Also, make sure to subscribe to the podcast on your platform of choice. We’re now on ITunes, Spotify, Google Play and Stitcher. If you enjoy it, make sure to give us a five-star rating on ITunes, as it will help it reach more listeners.

Around the Sports World

• Kevin Durant was incredibly detailed about his matchup with the Clippers, and specifically the one-on-one battle with Patrick Beverley. Am I sensing some passive-aggressiveness in his tone (SHOCKING).

• The Cleveland Browns will be featured in at least four prime-time games during the 2019 season, including three within the first five weeks.
• I’ve lost sleep wondering about the legality of Daniel LaRusso’s crane kick to win the tourney back in 1984, so you know I’m here for a full 30 for 30 style breakdown of The Karate Kid if they ever decide to take it that far.

• If you haven’t seen this guy on ‘Jeopardy!’ recently, you ought to at least read up on who he is. His name is James Holzhauer, and he’s made a living as a professional sports bettor in Las Vegas. Now he’s using his acquired skills and dominating the game show scene at a record-breaking pace.

• You’ve heard people say “gender reveals are getting out of control”, or at least something to that effect. Well here’s one of the more cringeworthy ones you’ll ever see. Zion Williamson is a great kid, and it could have been worse if he wasn’t that into it, but still, y’all need to chill.

Stick to Sports!

• At a recent benefit, New Zealand singer/songwriters Lorde and Marlon Williams honored the lives of victims taken in the Christchurch terrorist attack with a duet cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s popular ‘Sound of Silence’. I highly recommend giving this one a watch, folks.

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