#DraftSZN in a pandemic has looked much different than normal.

There was no East-West Shrine Game, no NFLPA Bowl and the Reese’s Senior Bowl was a truncated version of itself.

The NFL Draft Combine, the highlight of the process for most draft enthusiasts, was also called off. It was supposed to have taken place this past weekend.

But in its place, EXOS, a nationwide athletic training company, held its own pro day, and Tylan Wallace apparently turned some heads.

Was told Oklahoma State WR Tylan Wallace clocked in at 4.39 in the 40 at EXOS pro day. LSU’s Jamarr Chase did bench and position drills, repped 23 on the bench.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 28, 2021

Some draft evaluators have questioned Tylan’s top-end speed, though he had little trouble getting open on the reg, despite being near the top of every opposing DC’s whiteboard each week.

Terms like “average speed” have fallen off the wagging tongues of plenty a talking head when scouting Tylan. Maybe if you’re really, really great at several things, people tend to take others for granted. (I wouldn’t know.)

Tylan is known for his ability to create space from defenders with his body, his overall physicality and, of course, his uncanny ability to make the craziest 50-50 catches look routine.

The 4.4 40 represents an arbitrary line by which laymen and lazy folks differentiate between quick and FAST when evaluating elite athletes. You can’t see the difference in .01 seconds with your naked eye, and it does not guarantee effectiveness one way or another on the field. But the fact that Tylan was clocked just below that threshold should bode well for him come draft night.

For reference, James Washington’s official 40 time at the combine was a 4.54 seconds. Tyreek Hill has been clocked at 4.29, so Tylan falls in between the two, closer to the fastest player in the NFL than the former second-round pick.

A 4.39-second 40-yard dash might not be Cheetah speed, but it makes for a quite speedy gazelle. And add to that the rest of Tylan’s tangibles — including his ability to play much bigger than his 6-foot frame — and this should boost his draft stock even more. At the very least, it checks a box.

The post Report: Tylan Wallace Runs a Sub-4.40 40-Yard Dash at EXOS Pro Day appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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The biggest criticism about Mike Boynton in his four-year tenure is that he hasn’t won enough.

Boynton, Oklahoma State’s basketball coach, has about as good an approval rating as a coach can have despite not making an NCAA Tournament to this point. Entering Monday’s Bedlam game, Boynton has a 67-55 career record and is 29-40 in Big 12 games.

Boynton’s 42% Big 12 winning percentage spikes down the stretch, though. In his first three seasons, Boynton’s Cowboys are 9-6 in the final five games of each regular season.

The Cowboys are 2-0 this season in the final five games with games against Oklahoma, Baylor and West Virginia to play. So, added to the 9-6 record, Boynton has won 65% of games that come in the final five games of each season.

They’ve been impressive wins, too.

In his first season, Boynton went 3-2 down the regular season stretch, with wins against No. 6 Texas Tech and No. 6 Kansas.

After starting last season 0-8 in Big 12 play, Boynton’s Pokes went 4-1 down the stretch.

This season, Boynton has already beaten two ranked teams in No. 18 Texas Tech and No. 7 Oklahoma.

Boynton credited his staff and the players for the strong finishes to the season. He gave Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe as an example of the team’s progression. Moncrieffe made 39% of his free throws in his first 10 games. In his 10 games since, Moncrieffe has made 57% of his free ones.

“It’s just part of our plan,” Boynton said. “It’s the thing we preach in recruiting — improvement, development, and our team plays their best at the end of the year. We haven’t always had great records, but we’ve almost always played better at the end of the season than maybe at the beginning, and that’s part of the process.”

The post The Closer: Boynton Making Habit of Getting Big Wins Late in Seasons appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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The Cowboys beat the No. 7 Sooners in Norman, in overtime, in the wake of an absolute monster game from Cade Cunningham. So where else would we start?

OSU Bullets

• Marshall shared 10 Thoughts on the Cowboys’ momentous win and they are, as always, required reading.

• I wrote about Cade’s career game and why we should savor these moments while we still have them.

• The internet went during, and after, the win. I can’t wait for Monday night.

• Dan Wolken says Cade’s the No. 1 pick and we should all stop pretending that it’s even a conversation anymore.

What he did against Oklahoma, though, was a completely different level of dominance, where the ball was in his hands every possession down the stretch and he found a way to make good things happen almost every time down the floor. That kind of skill and size combined with the ability to play under control makes him the easy No. 1 pick in this draft. But if he can continue to play like that for the next few weeks, Cunningham could carry Oklahoma State a long way. [USA Today]

• Guerin Emig also wrote about Cade’s big game and how his talent stacks up against the nation’s best like Luka Garza, Jared Butler and Jalen Suggs.

Wonderful players, absolutely, but none with the variety of tools in Cunningham’s kit.

What a treat to see Cunningham put them all to use in a game like Bedlam.

What a thrill it would be if he goes to work in even bigger moments during college basketball’s brightest month. [Tulsa World]

• Elsewhere in Cowboy country, Josh Holliday’s Pokes remained unbeaten thanks to an 8-2 win over Illinois State. They’ll attempt to complete the series sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. in O’Brate Stadium.

BACK-TO-BACK @MathisBrock sends this one into the Cowboys bullpen and makes the score 8-0 Pokes#MakeItHappen #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/RALbM7LWOF

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) February 27, 2021

• Checking in with a future Cowboy.

Yeah.. best decision I’ve ever made #GoPokes #LetsRide22 pic.twitter.com/wpDSJxFJXu

— Garret Rangel (@GarretRangel) February 27, 2021

Non-OSU Bullets

• On how the lack of fans (and those teams that are allowing some) are affecting NBA games this season. [The Ringer]

• The right to disconnect and why email is making us miserable. [The New Yorker]

The post Daily Bullets (Feb. 28): Cade Did What to Who? appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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It’s not every year that you get to witness a generational talent suiting up for your favorite school on a weekly basis, and it’s not every day that they gift you with a memorable performance such as Cade Cunningham bestowed upon Oklahoma State fans on Saturday.

In a game that matters more, and in a place where wins have been scarce of late, the unassuming superstar fervently stamped his name on Lloyd Noble Center’s yet unnamed wooden court with a scowl.

Elvis Presley once performed back-to-back concerts on that floor, as LNC historians are eager to point out. I think the King himself would have tipped his crown to the savant that rocked the house in his exclusive appearance. One night only, folks. I hope you got your ticket.

Maybe Cade was unofficially submitting his name for approval. “Cade Cunningham Court” certainly has a nice ring to it, but I’m not sure the OU Board of Regents would oblige.

“They’ve been talking about it pretty much the whole season, how big Bedlam was for us,” Cunningham said of his teammates after the Cowboys’ 94-90 overtime win. “…I knew how much it meant. I tried to carry that into the game, carry that mentality like I’m playing for more than myself.”

It’s a shame that there were less than 3,000 in attendance for such an historic flex on a storied arena, and it’s an absolute travesty that COVID will keep Cade from experiencing a single sellout crowd at Gallagher-Iba Arena during his tenure. I’d love to hear 13,611 roar when his named is announced on Monday night, or experience the Ol’ Girl sway if he follows up Saturday’s outstanding outing with another all-timer to sweep Bedlam.

Cunningham is not a star, he’s a superstar — and has been for some time. The No. 1 high school recruit started off his college career rattling off back-to-back 20-point outings, and he never slowed down.

Even when he toughed out a rare tough-shooting night, Cade knew he had ice in his veins. Remember that go-ahead, ultimately game-winning 3-pointer at Wichita State? He said that he “knew” he would take the last shot.

Since then he’s done nothing but bolster (and augment) his cachet as the country’s top prospect.

Coming into Saturday’s Bedlam game his 18.7 points per game lead the Big 12. If his career ended on Feb. 27 at 1:59 p.m. he would have tied Byron Houston for the best PPG career average in school history. He more than doubled that average against the No. 7 Sooners, playing 44 of 45 minutes, of a game in which his team needed every minute, and every point.

One of the few knocks (if it is a knock) on Cade is that he’s not assertive enough early in games, deferring to teammates and stuffing the stat sheet elsewhere instead of the hoop. But on Saturday he started and finished the game with a purpose.

Cade made his first of three 3-pointers on the night just three minutes in, and started 3-for-3 from the field. He had 13 by halftime on just seven attempts.

“We came in with a chip on our shoulder, wanted to win for our team, for our school and we did that,” Cunningham said.

He started the second half slow in the scoring department, not making his first field goal until the 9:32 mark. But it was a big one.

Following that display of mesmerizing machismo, Mr. Clutch proceeded to unleash his most stone-cold finish yet.

Cade scored 10 points in the final five minutes of regulation and 10 more in five minutes of overtime to go along with a huge block and a steal (separate plays) in the waning seconds of regulation and OT.

His 40 points ties Keiton Page and JamesOn Curry for the fifth-highest scoring total in OSU history.

Mike Boynton was around for the highest Bedlam scoring total by a Cowboy during his first year in Stillwater.

“Jawun Evans’ performance in Stillwater my year as an assistant coach was pretty damn good,” said Boynton on Saturday. “I think he scored like the last 20 points of the game, but I think you’ll have to dig pretty deep to find one better than this.”

Evans dropped 42 on the Sooners in GIA back in 2016 which is still the tied for the No. 3 scoring output by any Cowboy ever. But even the silky scorer that he was, it took Jawun 31 attempts to get there and the Cowboys still fell short. Cade scored two less on 10 less shots and, most importantly, got the W.

“I think getting the win was how I wanted to put my print on Bedlam,” said Cunningham. “Having the trust from my coaches and my teammates allowed me to get 40, but I think we all played to win. That’s what I’m most happy about.”

As big as rivalry games are, this was for more than bragging rights. For the first time in Mike Boynton’s tenure, OSU will be a tournament team and OU was a Top 10 opponent. Cade has elevated the program and the stakes in his single season in Stillwater.

“Obviously there’s been a lot made about his performance this year and I think people will know that he’s a really good player. I think I said it maybe two weeks ago,” Boynton said with a smirk, “you need to appreciate what you’re watching. It’s special.”

The good news is that, if it is the spirit of Bedlam that brings out the best in OSU’s best player, you won’t have long to wait for another memorable display because the Sooners are coming to Cade’s house on Monday night. Following that game will be two more road trips to current-Top 10 teams in Baylor and West Virginia. Then, the Big 12 Tournament followed by the Big Dance.

I, for one, will do my best to heed Boynton’s advise. Cade Cunninghams don’t come around all that often, and they’re gone before you know it. Savor this win and try not to blink over the next couple weeks or so, or you just might miss something spectatular.

The post Cade Cunningham Gifted OSU Fans With an All-Time Performance in Bedlam appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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BOX SCORE

Cade Cunningham is a Bedlam hero.

Oklahoma State beat Oklahoma 94-90 in overtime Saturday in Lloyd Noble Center. In his first Bedlam, Cunningham dropped 40 points to go with 11 rebounds, both career highs. With this being such a good game, let’s do 10 thoughts instead of five.

1. Cade’s First Taste

No matter how Monday goes, Cade Cunningham has found his way into Bedlam history.

Cunningham’s 40-point performance was up there with Trae Young’s 48 in Stillwater or Jawun Evans’ 42 in Stillwater. But unlike with those other two, Cunningham won.

The phrase “hero ball” almost has a negative connotation at this point, describing guys who try to win games all by their selves. Well, Cunningham was the super hero that saved Oklahoma State’s day.

2. The Silencer

Avery Anderson had a breakaway layup attempt blocked in the first half.

As Anderson spilled to the court, Lloyd Noble Center erupted. That lasted all of five seconds when Cunningham coolly got the ball on the 3-point line and drilled one of his three triples of the game.

Cunningham did that all game.

With about 1:30 to play in regulation, Brady Manek tied the game at 70 with a layup. Cunningham scored 17 seconds later.

Elijah Harkless then hit a 3-pointer to give OU a 73-72 lead with 54 seconds to play. Lloyd Noble was going nuts. Cunningham scored 15 seconds later.

With 2:40 to play in OT, Manek hit a 3-pointer to give OU an 83-82 lead. LNC goes nuts; Cunningham answers 15 seconds later.

“We talk about it,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said. “We always talk about understanding the moment and it being necessary for our team. … When the game got going, he understood that he needed to understand the moment and be more aggressive.”

3. Cade Isn’t Trae

Trae Young’s Bedlam legacy centers on that game in Stillwater where he carried OU to overtime and finished with 48 points.

But, Young did so on 39 shot attempts. And perhaps Young’s Bedlam highlight involved him shying away from a scrum with Mitchell Solomon on Eddie Sutton Court.

In the first half of Saturday’s game, Cade Cunningham got double-teamed and lost control of the ball. Instead of chalking that possession up as a turnover, the projected No. 1 pick hit the hard wood and fought the ball away from two Sooners. The possession ended in a Rondel Walker 4-point play.

Cunningham also did his damage with just 21 shot attempts. That’s 18 fewer attempts than Young had in Stillwater.

And again, Cunningham won.

4. This Is … Technically Still February

Cade Cunningham is going to be an All-American, and with more performances like this down the stretch, he might just be more than that.

I thought Cunningham out of the national awards races like the Naismith and the Wooden, but with this and three upcoming games against ranked teams, Cunningham has a shot to get back in the mix for those.

Cunningham has been good all season, don’t get me wrong. But other guys have seemed to be in control for those types of awards most of the season, guys like Jalen Suggs and Jared Butler, whose teams haven’t lost or Luka Garza, who is averaging 24.3 points and 8.3 rebounds a game in the Big Ten.

In a nationally televised game, Cunningham put 40 on a Top-10 team, and he has three more shots at doing similar impressive feats.

5. Cunningham/Harkless Matchup Was Fun

Cunningham wasn’t doing this against some woeful defender, either. Elijah Harkless is legit.

Harkless was tasked with guarding Cunningham for much of the night, and it was a fun battle. Obviously Cunningham’s 40 points and a win will say he came out on top, but there were times when Harkless straight up ripped the ball away from the future No. 1 pick. He finished with five steals.

“He’s a really good defender,” Cunningham said. “They put that matchup on me and really trusted him, and a lot of times they kind of let us play one-on-one. Anytime I can get you know one-on-ones and things like that, I’m gonna have fun. He’s a competitor. I’m competitor. We were going at each other.”

6. Boynton’s Defensive Adjustment That Might’ve Won the Game

OU’s offense in the second half centered on getting Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe switched on Austin Reaves and having the quicker Reaves beat Moncrieffe in isolation.

Reaves put up 14 of his 22 points in the second half in overtime. The Cowboys kept switching screens with the Sooners quick dribble hand-offs, and it looked like that was going to be the Cowboys’ death note.

That was until Boynton switched back to zone in overtime, keeping the bigs off the perimeter. The Sooners scored just one jump shot in the final two minutes of OT as a result.

It was a risk, too. OU had as much success against OSU’s zone as any team this season in the first half. The Sooners were good at getting the ball to the high post and forcing the Cowboys’ middle man into a 2-on-1, but Boynton had the guts to make the switch.

7. Bryce Williams Just Needed One

Entering Saturday, Bryce Williams was just 2-for-10 from 3 in his past three games and 0-for-5 in his past two.

Williams didn’t have a point at the half, missing his lone 3-point attempt. But then they started falling. Williams went 4-for-9 from 3 in the second half and overtime and finished Saturday’s game with 15 points.

He got confident, and it was bad news for OU.

8. Growth

The Cowboys have stunk from the free throw line for much of the year, but in perhaps the most hyped game of the season, the Pokes were nails.

OSU was 23-for-26 from the stripe in the first Bedlam. Cunningham, of course, led the way making 13 of his 14 attempts.

As frustrating as free-throw shooting has been for OSU fans this season, it’s important to remember that this is a young team. The Cowboys started two freshmen, two sophomores and a transfer senior Saturday.

Only six Cowboys played more than six minutes Saturday, with Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, another freshman, joining the starters.

This team is growing up, and it couldn’t come at a better time for Mike Boynton.

9. What a Game

As Mike Boynton frequently points out, Bedlam means more.

The fact that this game was Bedlam adds to just how special it was. It was a high-octane affair with a superstar dropping 40. It’s not like it was some tight game in the 50s.

Add to that the little storylines like Cunningham vs. Harkless or Rondel Walker scoring 11 points as a freshman against a state school that didn’t offer him, and this was an all-timer.

The past year has stunk, and this game would’ve been that much more fun with a full student section.

To this point, the most fun I’ve had covering a game live was that Trae Young Bedlam in Stillwater. I’m going to have to sleep on this, but it might have been usurped it.

10. Let’s Do It Again Monday

Catch your breath, Round 2 of this thing tips off in two days.

The wacky world that is scheduling in 2020 has messed a lot of things up. It took away football games and preseason basketball tournaments, but it also gave the state of Oklahoma two Bedlams in three days.

I don’t think I would mind this becoming a regular thing.

The post 10 Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s 94-90 Victory against Oklahoma appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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OSU Twitter went ablaze as the Cowboys bested No. 7 Oklahoma in thrilling fashion on Saturday, while the rest of Twitter — including fans of about half of the NBA’s teams — salivated over Cade Cunningham during his career day.

Let’s look at some of the best to come across my timeline during and after Round 1 of Bedlam, starting with a well-earned dig from a OKC native Rondel Walker.

You absolutely love to see it.

Lil bro’s

— 5. (@RondelWalker) February 27, 2021

If there were any holdouts from the “Cade is No.1” camp, they’ve all jumped on the bus. That game was, special.

Cade Cunningham is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) February 27, 2021

Cade Cunningham is made for March. Oklahoma State over Oklahoma without Isaac Likekele. An incredible win for the Cowboys' program.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 27, 2021

I've been around Bedlam for a long time and I don't know if I can remember a better Bedlam performance than the one we just saw from Cade Cunningham.

— Bryan Keating (@KOCOKeating) February 27, 2021

Cunningham with the 40 burger. Up there with the best individual Bedlam performances ever. Maybe the best.

— Curtis Fitzpatrick (@cfitzfox) February 27, 2021

For now on we only compare Cade Cunningham to Cade Cunningham.

— Dekota Gregory (@dekotagregory) February 27, 2021

Anytime you can be mentioned alongside Steve Novak you have made college basketball royalty. https://t.co/0yYoI1eb6y

— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) February 27, 2021

after much deep thought, my Cade Cunningham analysis: pic.twitter.com/4TMMEwK8Mt

— Jon Hamm (@JonMHamm) February 27, 2021

All this Cade to OKC talk is too much for me.

Can you imagine Cade Cunningham and SGA on the same team?

— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) February 27, 2021

I’m going to enjoy this a lot more when Cade Cunningham is doing this alongside Shea Gilgeous-Alexander.

— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) February 27, 2021

Thunder hired a new shooting coach today after watching Cade Cunningham go for 40 points and 11 rebounds vs OU: pic.twitter.com/nzw8XDiPfi

— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) February 27, 2021

4⃣0⃣ points and 1⃣1⃣ rebounds from today's MVP @CadeCunningham_. #NewEra | #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/dDwPm0a7Te

— OSU Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) February 27, 2021

Speaking of firsts, this was also Mike Boynton’s first road W in Bedlam.

When asked if he had any closing thoughts in his postgame Zoom, Mike Boynton said:

"No, I gotta get out of Norman."

— Marshall Scott (@Marshall_Once) February 27, 2021

Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma and I gotta say: Mike Boynton hasnt gotten the credit he deserves this year. Whole team could've left in the summer. Instead, he keeps them together – theyre now 16-6, with four losses by three or less. You do NOT want to see the Pokes the next month

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) February 27, 2021

W https://t.co/tybGELptso

— Thurman Thomas (@thurmanthomas) February 27, 2021

The post Social Reaction to Cade’s Career Game, Bedlam OT Thriller appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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Cade Cunningham will play just one career game inside Lloyd Noble Center, and he made it count.

Oklahoma State defeated No. 7 Oklahoma in Norman, 94-90 in the Cowboys’ second consecutive overtime game. They are now 4-0 in OT games this season.

Cunningham scored a career-high 40 points on 12-of-21 shooting and hauled in 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. He also blocked two shots and grabbed three steals. Cade has been clutch all season but he outdid himself on Saturday, scoring 10 points in the final five minutes of regulation and 10 more in overtime.

Oklahoma State earned more possessions, outrebounding OU 45-28 and took advantage of them earning 18 second-chance points (doubling the Sooners’ nine). And when things got tight late, they made it count from the free-throw line, knocking down 23 of their 26 attempts.

It started out pretty enough with the Cowboys starting 5-of-6 from the field as the Sooners started 4-of-5, but then it got downright ugly for a big stretch of the first half.

At one point, the Cowboys missed seven-straight field goal attempts and committed seven turnovers. In fact, each team had committed just a turnover a piece over the first half nine or so minutes of the game, but then combined for 14 TOs over the next nine.

Oklahoma caught fire again, rattling off 11-straight points to go up 34-25 within two minutes of the intermission and took a 38-31 lead into the break.

The Cowboys used their own 7-0 run early in the second to whittle a 10-point deficit down to three.

Cunningham had 13 in the first half but didn’t score in the second until he knocked down a pair of free throws nearly seven minutes into the period, and he didn’t make a field goal until the 9:32 mark when this 3 gave the Cowboys their first lead since the first half.

But as crunch time approached, Cade took the game into his own hands.

Cunningham flexed after his contested layup put the Pokes up two with 1:13 remaining and then he stared down his own bench when his next shot went in. Harkless nailed a 3 to put OU up 73-72 with 54 seconds left but Cade answered again taking back the lead with 39 to go.

Cade then blocked an Austin Reaves layup off the Sooner to give OSU the ball, the lead and 24 seconds. Bryce Williams missed one of two free throws allowing Brady Manek the chance to tie things up with seven seconds to go. Cunningham darted down the court, intent on ending this thing in regulation, but lost the ball and the clock expired with both teams tied at 75.

The Sooners didn’t go down without a fight but Cade and the Cowboys stayed one step ahead. He made all eight of his free throw attempts in the extra five minutes of hoops.

Cade may have led the way, but he had some help.

Avery Anderson chipped in 15 points, six rebounds and two steals. And OKC native Rondel Walker showed his disdain for Cleveland County by scoring 11 (on 4-of-6 shooting), five boards, three assists and three steals.

In his last two outings, Bryce Williams went 0-for-10 from the field for three total points, but he singlehandedly got the Cowboys back in it. He scored eight-straight OSU points to pull the Cowboys within one and shift the momentum midway through the second half. Williams finished with 15 (two short of his OSU high) including making four big 3s in the second half and overtime.

OU was led by De’Vion Harmon with 23 points and the Big 12’s second-leading scorer, Reaves, added 22 on 7-of-18 shooting, six rebounds and eight assists.

Next up

Round 2 of Bedlam takes place in Stillwater in just over 48 hours with an 8 p.m. Monday night tipoff. I can’t wait.

The post Instacap: Cowboys Win Bedlam Overtime Thriller 94-90 appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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The Cowboys and Sooners are set to meet twice in just over two days — making a pair of rivals, that are already too close for comfort, even more familiar.

The Pokes come in having won three straight while the home team broke its own three-game streak with a head-scratching loss to one of the league’s worst teams in Kansas State.

The Top 10 Sooners are eager to right that woeful wrong while the barely unranked Cowboys are just as bent on proving they’re one of the Big 12’s more exciting and talented teams. It should be a fun weekend.

Here are our predictions and the viewing info for Round 1 of this year’s Bedlam series.

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Picks

• Spread (KenPom): Sooners -3

Marshall Scott: I have no friggin’ clue. It’s so weird that it’s Feb. 27, and two Big 12 teams haven’t played once. I don’t know how they’ll match up with each other. Will OSU out-athlete OU? How big of a deal will OU’s experience advantage be? So, I’m going to base this off recent for, and since OSU beat Texas Tech and OU lost to Kansas State, I’ll back the Pokes in Game 1.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 72, Oklahoma 68

Kyle Boone: On one hand, OSU’s fortunes in Norman are … not great. And OU this season has been one of the top 10 teams in the sport. On the other, I weirdly have confidence in OSU giving up a real fight. Cade’s first Bedlam, you know he’s going to try and leave his imprint on the rivalry, given how much Boynton emphasizes this game in particular. So I think it’s close. I’ll take my heart over my gut. FOR THE BRAND.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 71, Oklahoma 70

Kyle Cox: Mike Boynton has never won in that dank dungeon they call Lloyd Noble Center, but a future first-round pick deserves another first. I think Cade goes on a tear over his last week in the Big 12 with four current Top 10 teams to finish his OSU career, and that starts in Norman.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 75, Oklahoma 71

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Viewing Information

• Tip time: 2 p.m. Saturday

• Location: Lloyd Noble Center

• Channel: ABC

The post Picks, Point Spread, Preview: What to Know for Bedlam Round 1 appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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The Daily Bullets are brought to you by Hoboken Coffee: Get 20% off your first order. 

Mrs. Bullets left town for a work trip at 5pm on Thursday – here’s a live shot of yours truly getting out of bed this AM to corral three kiddos:

Steven Adams tried it pic.twitter.com/4vU8XbBWNO

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 25, 2021

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Scores

Baseball: Pokes 3, Illinois St 2
Softball: Cowgirls beat LSU twice

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Three Thoughts

• Bedlam Basketball is just so much fun – today’s game in Norman will be a terrific prequel to Cade’s final chapter in Stillwater

This is Bedlam.@Phillips66Gas I #NewEra pic.twitter.com/IgcWkDRBSe

— OSU Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) February 27, 2021

• ESPN listed their top-60 college quarterbacks since 2000 and Mason Rudolph made an appearance at No. 53 one spot AHEAD of Patrick Mahomes!

• Gosh I would love it if the Pokes could get back in on this guy – four-star, 2021 safety from Beggs who was let out of his NLI by Texas A&M

Two Quotes

• It’s not the best news that Isaac Likekele has another injury:

#OKState coach Mike Boynton said junior guard Isaac Likekele's foot is better, but added Likekele hurt his hand Monday against Texas Tech and has been limited in practice this week ahead of Bedlam.

— Cody Nagel (@CodyNagel247) February 26, 2021

• Here’s the Cowboy coaching alum who would have been perfect to bring in for special teams – I imagine Georgia could have outbid the Pokes though:

Source: #Georgia is hiring #Louisiana special teams coordinator Robby Discher as a special teams analyst. Previously held special teams roles at Toledo and Oklahoma State. Nice addition for Kirby Smart and Scott Cochran. @ChrisVannini first reported the move.

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) February 26, 2021

One Question

• For the 2020-21 athletic season, would you rather: win both Bedlam basketball games or just the Bedlam football game?

Most Viewed of the Week

• No. 1: OU lands OSU tight end target

• No. 2: Five thoughts on the OT win over Texas Tech

• No. 3: Big 12 hammered the Pokes with this reschedule

• No. 4: The implications of winning Bedlam Wrestling

• No. 5: Gundy offered a 2023 quarterback from Austin

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Non-OSU Bullets

• Fun list of inspirational Dr. Seuss quotes – could see half of these up on the walls of Michael Scott’s office

• Not really my jam but interesting thoughts from a societal perspective on “how to get rich” (NYT)

• Solid short, faith-based piece from Ed Welch on the Psalms and spiritual staleness

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise; seek what they sought. Seek the meaning behind their footsteps, and not upon the steps themselves”.

Matsuo Bashō

The post Daily Bullets (Feb. 27): Most Viewed of the Week, Beat the Sooners appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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Justin Campbell has made firsts in O’Brate stadium with his arm and his bat.

Campbell hit a walk-off single Friday night to give Oklahoma State a 3-2 victory against a previously unbeaten Illinois State squad. That comes after Campbell threw the first pitch in O’Brate Stadium in OSU’s Wednesday win against Little Rock.

Campbell was at the plate as a pinch hitter. Dom Johnson, a freshman out of Edmond-Santa Fe, scored the game-winning run from first. Johnson drew a full-count walk to get to first, and started a steal attempt on Campbell’s game-winning swing. Campbell shot the ball up the middle, and the speedy Johnson didn’t even need to slide at home.

WALK IT OFF JUSTIN CAMPBELL!@juhjuh162710 gives the Pokes the 3-2 W over the Redbirds#MakeItHappen #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/cEPHz3AkRT

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) February 27, 2021

“Great victory — walk-off win on Friday night, awesome moment in time,” OSU coach Josh Holliday said. “That was a clutch hit by Justin. Good job by Dominic to reach base and get that foot speed on the bases. You’re playing right there to try to win that thing and not have it run all night long on you.”

Friday was the first time in the Cowboys’ four-game season that the Pokes have been truly tested. The Cowboys got in and out of a bunch of jams, as the Redbirds left 12 runners on base. Seven of those runners were in scoring position.

“I think we have a pitching staff that has a lot of powerful pitches,” Holliday said. “Even if you’re able to get on base against them, sometimes scoring is tough because they have some pitches they can go to to strike guys out.”

Cade Cabbiness’ defense saved a handful of runs for the Pokes.

With runners on first and second in the third inning, Cabbiness made a sliding grab in right. Both runners assumed the ball down and had to turn around and head back to their bases.

It's just slight work for @CadeCabbiness #MakeItHappen #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/mPy4y25vff

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) February 26, 2021

In the fourth, Cabbiness gunned down Joe Butler. Butler tried to score from second, but Cabbiness coolly fielded a ground ball and threw a rope to home plate.

MAMA THERE GOES THAT MAN AGAIN @CadeCabbiness #MakeItHappen #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/DaLFfDFiMc

— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) February 26, 2021

Illinois State had the bases loaded in the seventh with two outs when Bulter flied out to right field, but the play was more difficult for Cabbiness than it appeared in the box score. The ball was hit between Cabbiness and second baseman Matt Golda. Cabbiness called Golda off, but Golda kept going and crashed into Cabbiness, who was able to maintain the catch and keep the Redbirds off the board.

“I think Cade is one of the best right fielders I’ve ever seen,” Holliday said. “He’s a game-changing player defensively.”

Justin Wrobleski started on the mound for the Pokes in their first weekend series of the year. He threw five innings where he allowed one run off five hits while walking three and striking out three.

OSU pitching coach Rob Walton used Trevor Martin, Zach Cable and Brett Standlee out of his bullpen. That group gave up a run on four hits while walking four and striking out six.

The Cowboys and Redbirds play Game 2 of their three-game series at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The post Recap: Cowboys Beat Illinois State in O’Brate’s First Walk-Off appeared first on Pistols Firing.

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