Bieniemy, Reynolds disruptive on defense 3 takeaways from Sooners’ win at UTSA
Oklahoma moved to 2-0 with an 87-67 win at UTSA on Monday night. The Sooners trailed the Roadrunners 52-51 with just over 13 minutes left, but OU outscored UTSA 36-15 the rest of the way.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
Freshman point guard Jamal Bieniemy and grad transfer guard Miles Reynolds have at least two things in common: non-stop motors and length. Those motors sometimes have them looking out of control offensively, but coach Lon Kruger has to be pleased with what they’re doing on the defensive end.
Bieniemy isn’t going to be fun to play against. He had five of OU’s eight steals and was a menace on defense. His lanky 6-foot-4 frame allows him to defend point guards and shooting guards.
Bieniemy is OU’s only freshman, but Kruger already trusts him to close games. He finished with eight points and four assists on four of six shooting.
James one-ups himself
Christian James had 28 points in OU’s opener Friday, but he was more efficient Monday night. James had 24 points on eight of 10 shooting. The senior guard was 3 of 5 from behind the arc and made all five of his free throws.
James nailed contested jumpers, turning questionable shots into points. The season is only two-games old, but James has already established himself as OU’s go-to scorer.
Pounding it in the post
The Sooners, especially in the first half, were intent on getting the ball to Jamuni McNeace in the post.
The 6-10 senior center had a size mismatch against a smaller UTSA side, but he forced things early. McNeace missed his first four shots, but he closed the half with four consecutive makes.
It’s not a bad game plan against smaller non-conference foes, but it slowed OU’s offense. The next step for McNeace, when he encounters a double team, is to use his position in the post to kick out to capable shooters on the wings.
He took just one shot in the second half as OU employed a smaller lineup. The Sooners still dominated points in the paint 52-32