Bear down!!

In a match that had been billed as an offensive shootout, it was Oklahoma State who came out "pistols firing" in a 59-24 rout of the Baylor Bears; a performance that pretty much mirrored last year's "showdown" between these two teams.

Last November, both schools came into the game tied atop the Big 12 South standings.  The Cowboys jumped to 34-0 lead en route to a comfortable 55-28 win.  This time, the Cowboys ended the contest early, leading 35-0 lead at halftime, and were up 42-0 before Baylor got on the scoreboard.

Just like last year, it was the Cowboy's defense shutting down a potent Baylor offense, while the offense just kept rolling.

Let's proceed to The Breakdown, shall we?

Offense

In a match-up between an offense that scores a lot of points, and a defense that gives up a lot of points, the outcome will more than likely be in favor of said offense.  Such was the case as the Bears defense struggled to keep up with the Cowboys.


Justin Blackmon was back to his dominant self, catching 13 passes for 172 yards and 2 TDs, while Joseph Randle followed up last week's performance against Mizzou with yet another 4 TD performance.  Brandon Weeden's numbers may not have been "flashy", but the Pokes had only 2 scoring drives that required 10 or more plays; so it was a case of Weeden being at his efficient best.

Fans also got a preview into the future, when running back Herschel Sims took a hand-off and raced 81 yards for a score.  Sims was a highly touted prospect out of high school, but is having to wait his turn behind Randle and Jeremy Smith; just a little thing called "paying your dues".  From the looks of it, the tradition of good tailbacks in Stillwater will continue.


Defense

An 8-0 start is surely a cause for celebration for both
Markelle Martin and the Cowboy Nation.

Baylor's opening drive stalled at the 1 yard line when the Cowboys mounted a goal-line stand, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon.  By the time the Bears finally crossed the line, the game was no longer a contest.


The Bears controlled the clock, ran more offensive plays and even racked up more yardage than their opponents, but just couldn't score.  Maybe it was me, but the Bears seemed to be allergic towards Oklahoma State's end zone; turning over the ball three times (on downs, an interception and a lost fumble).

The Cowboys defense has a little "Jekyll and Hyde" theme going on this season.  They rank very low in terms of yards given up, yet they lead the nation in turnover margin; bend but don't break.  They might bend, but they snap back with a vengeance.


They forced 5 turnovers (2 INTS and 3 fumble recoveries) along with 2 "4th down" stops, resulting in change of possession; that might as well bring up the tally to 7 turnovers.  They also sacked Bears QB Robert Griffith III twice, severely limiting his ability to impact the game with his feet (RG3 could only muster 27 yards on 16 carries).


Overall


Once again, Oklahoma State managed to turn a "potential shootout" into a blowout thanks to yet another solid defensive effort.  Not that Baylor is a bad team; in fact the Bears are in the midst of some of the best seasons in years, but the Cowboys were just too much to handle.


Next up


Oklahoma State will be at home at against Kansas State in a prime time match up.  The Wildcats unbeaten run came to a cruel halt against Oklahoma, who exposed their inability to defend the pass; something that should bode well for the Cowboys.

2011: A Baylor Odyssey.

In a previous article, I already covered a budding star in Oklahoma freshman Aaryn Ellenberg (read "In Ellenberg we trust").  During Sunday afternoon's game between Baylor and OU, there was another star freshman on the court; Baylor guard Odyssey Sims.

When covering the Lady Bears, usually all the attention is turned - and understandably so - toward 6'8" Brittney Griner, who no doubt is a force to reckon with.  Defensively, teams have to find a way to account for her and Sunday was no exception.  Every time she touched the ball, there were no less than three defenders crowding her.  She still managed to put up 21 points, which is right about what she is averaging this season.

However, the star of the game was Odyssey Sims.  She scored 37 points including the go ahead jumper with 8.3 seconds left that turned out to be the game winner.  Baylor needed every single one of those points as they edged OU by a final score of 82-81.


Griner should dunk more often

When the Sooners were crowding Griner, the perimeter was left open and Baylor went 13 of 27 from the 3-point line.  Sims alone converted 9 of them, tying a school record.  She was coming of two sub par games (against Texas A&M and Kansas State) in which she was a combined 2-13 from the field.  Judging by the way she played, you could not have guessed it (unless you follow Baylor basketball, in which case you'd probably know a lot more than I do).


Her 14 points (13.8 if you're really keeping score) currently rank second on the team behind Griner (22 points).  If anything, Sunday's game served notice to those who thought that Baylor is composed of Brittney Griner and 4 other players (I am guilty as charged).  In an earlier season loss to Connecticut, Sims put up 17 points (second on the team behind Griner's 19) as Baylor nearly ended the Huskies winning streak (which at the time stood at 79).

Baylor, who made the national semis last season, will be a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament.  They are looking every bit like a team capable of bringing home another national title; their first since 2005.  Should Griner and Sims team up like they've done for most of the season, who's to say that it' can't happen?

In Ellenberg we trust.

At season's end, Oklahoma will bid farewell to senior guard Danielle Robinson; a player who's had as big an impact as any to have come through the program.  Robinson has been a great leader for the team; especially in the last couple of seasons, following the the departures of the Paris twins (Courtney and Ashley).  Anyone who's followed Robinson's career will appreciate what she's meant to Oklahoma.  In my opinion, she can be a starter for ANY team in the country, right now.

In Aaryn Ellenberg, the future is here.  The OU vs Baylor game was the first time I really got to watch her play.  I'll admit it, I haven't watched a lot of women's basketball this season.  However when I watched that game on Sunday afternoon, I saw a player that was poised and fearless.  She may be a freshman, but she sure didn't play like one.


Ellenberg and Robinson; the present and the future



Whenever Oklahoma needed a spark from anyone beside Danielle Robinson, Ellenberg stepped up to the plate.  She made key baskets that kept Oklahoma in the game whenever Baylor seemed to run away with it.  Ellenberg and Robinson finished with 25 points each (tied for the team lead), and the Sooners might have won the game had Robinson's lay up at the buzzer fallen through the hoop.  She and Robinson were also the only OU players that were on the court for the entire game.

Ellenberg, who was highly rated out of high school, chose Oklahoma over Baylor, Arizona State, California and Connecticut.  Not a bad group, especially when you consider that Connecticut was in the mix (and everyone knows that UConn don't just recruit anybody).  After watching her play, I can now see why her talents were in such high demand.

There is no doubt that we'll miss Danielle Robinson dearly.  Ellenberg certainly offers hope for tomorrow as Oklahoma continues its quest for a national championship.  I'm very confident that she will be for this team tomorrow, what Robinson is today.  And hopefully when her time in Norman is up, she will have led this team to that increasingly elusive next level.