GETTING EVEN
2017 Bedlam disappointment fuels Sooners
NORMAN — The Oklahoma men’s basketball team does not have many memorable moments from last season.
But seared in the mind of sophomore guard Kameron McGusty is the image of Oklahoma State fans waving brooms at the Sooners following a 96-92 Cowboys win Feb. 18 in Stillwater.
“Mad, disrespectful” is how McGusty describes the scene.
McGusty and the No. 7-ranked Sooners host this season’s first edition of Bedlam at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Lloyd Noble Center.
There doesn’t figure to be any brooms waved at the game, but there should be plenty
of energy. The game has been a sellout for a couple weeks, the Sooners’ first sellout since the 2016 Final Four run.
“It’s definitely a motivator for everybody else on the team last year,” McGusty said. “We’re really looking forward to that. It’s going to be a lot of energy, high-energy, (a) great atmosphere to play in.”
That game in Stillwater last February came a few days after a big milestone that set the course for the season so far for the Sooners.
Norman North High School star Trae Young committed to the Sooners two days before that game.
While Young wasn’t on the team last season, he’s definitely heard his teammates talk about how they felt last year when Oklahoma State swept the season series.
“I know the team felt
disrespected when they brought out the brooms at Oklahoma State, so it’s definitely something that’s been talked about and been on their mind,” Young said. “I definitely want to win this, not only for myself but for my teammates.”
There are also plenty of Sooners who remember last season’s game in Norman. OU led late before a series of events culminated in Phil Forte’s game-winning 3-pointer before McGusty’s 3-point try was blocked in the closing seconds to seal a 68-66 Oklahoma State win.
“That was a huge learning experience,” McGusty said. “That was the second game that we had thrown away really. We had it in the bag when we played them here at home and then (had) a couple turnovers here in the end.
“We don’t like that they got the broom out on us so we’re looking forward to get them twice this year.”
Although that memory burns bright, the Sooners are also turning the page to this year.
They’ve got bigger goals than just revenge, as they’ve risen steadily from being unranked in mid-December to being a top 10 program.
“We’re concerned about this week, last year doesn’t really factor too much with what’s happening this year,” Sooners coach Lon Kruger said.
“Guys gained some experience last year, but you don’t stop and talk about it in practice or anything.”
The Sooners are enjoying their success to this point but working to keep the improvement going.
“It’s just a blessing,” McGusty said. “It’s crazy to see how much we’ve grown as a team and all the success we’ve accomplished in a short amount of time.
“We’re just going to keep pushing until the Final Four comes. That’s our goal. That’s where we want to see ourselves, and hopefully a national championship.”