What is your most memorable Bedlam game or moment?
Here is one of mine:
March 4, 2000
Stillwater, Oklahoma
The stage was set. It was the final game of the "old" Gallagher Iba Arena. The construction crew was lined up outside the complex ready to begin major renovations as soon as the building emptied.
Six Cowboy seniors, including star forward Desmond Mason and passing specialist Doug Gottlieb, were going to taste victory for one final time in front of their beloved fans.
OSU was riding a 16 game winning streak. It was to be a glorious ending that would usher in new beginnings for Oklahoma State basketball. And for the first 28 plus minutes of the game, everything was going according to script. The Pokes had built a 46-33 lead. Seniors Brian Montonati and Joe Adkins were beating the Sooners from the inside and outside respectively. OU's top two scorers, Eduardo Najera and J.R. Raymond were both ice cold from the field. Yes sir. Things looked mighty fine for the folks in Orange.
There was only one problem. Nobody told Nolan Johnson how the story was supposed to end. And with an impressive combination of dominant defense on Mason (held scoreless from the field) and isolation dribble drive finishes using his strong upper body and soft left-handed touch, #5 in Red willed his team on a masterful 23-6 run that led to the 59-56 Sooner stunner.
Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't all Johnson. Sharpshooter Kelley Newton hit two three pointers. Young Hollis Price scored several midrange jumpers and lay-ups. Najera grabbed three key steals over the stretch run and knocked down some clutch free throws.
But it was Johnson that took the team on his broad shoulders. Playing all 40 minutes, the junior college transfer netted a season high 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting. And during the stretch run that caused the game to turn, everyone in the building, including the ghost of legendary Coach Iba, knew what OU headman, Kelvin Sampson wanted to do on offense. It was simple really. Get the ball in Johnson's hands and spread out as far away from him as possible.
The Sooners did it over and over and over again during the second half, and not even the double and triple teams by cowboy defenders could stop the determined Mr. Johnson. The result was over 6000 long faces walking out of the "old" GIA doors for the final time, and six highly accomplished seniors having their last home rodeo ruined.
It was as gutsy of an individual performance as this poster has ever seen from an OU basketball player, and led to yet another epic moment in the Bedlam basketball series.
After the game, Coach Sampson had this to say about his team's performance: "This team has become really, really good at what we do. That's a tribute to this group of kids. They're really, really tough. I know that a lot of people get excited about talent, but talent without toughness doesn't mean much. Our kids are really tough."
Perhaps this mindset is one that the 2010 Sooners should take to heart before taking the floor for year's first round Bedlam match-up in Norman.
Here is one of mine:
March 4, 2000
Stillwater, Oklahoma
The stage was set. It was the final game of the "old" Gallagher Iba Arena. The construction crew was lined up outside the complex ready to begin major renovations as soon as the building emptied.
Six Cowboy seniors, including star forward Desmond Mason and passing specialist Doug Gottlieb, were going to taste victory for one final time in front of their beloved fans.
OSU was riding a 16 game winning streak. It was to be a glorious ending that would usher in new beginnings for Oklahoma State basketball. And for the first 28 plus minutes of the game, everything was going according to script. The Pokes had built a 46-33 lead. Seniors Brian Montonati and Joe Adkins were beating the Sooners from the inside and outside respectively. OU's top two scorers, Eduardo Najera and J.R. Raymond were both ice cold from the field. Yes sir. Things looked mighty fine for the folks in Orange.
There was only one problem. Nobody told Nolan Johnson how the story was supposed to end. And with an impressive combination of dominant defense on Mason (held scoreless from the field) and isolation dribble drive finishes using his strong upper body and soft left-handed touch, #5 in Red willed his team on a masterful 23-6 run that led to the 59-56 Sooner stunner.
Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't all Johnson. Sharpshooter Kelley Newton hit two three pointers. Young Hollis Price scored several midrange jumpers and lay-ups. Najera grabbed three key steals over the stretch run and knocked down some clutch free throws.
But it was Johnson that took the team on his broad shoulders. Playing all 40 minutes, the junior college transfer netted a season high 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting. And during the stretch run that caused the game to turn, everyone in the building, including the ghost of legendary Coach Iba, knew what OU headman, Kelvin Sampson wanted to do on offense. It was simple really. Get the ball in Johnson's hands and spread out as far away from him as possible.
The Sooners did it over and over and over again during the second half, and not even the double and triple teams by cowboy defenders could stop the determined Mr. Johnson. The result was over 6000 long faces walking out of the "old" GIA doors for the final time, and six highly accomplished seniors having their last home rodeo ruined.
It was as gutsy of an individual performance as this poster has ever seen from an OU basketball player, and led to yet another epic moment in the Bedlam basketball series.
After the game, Coach Sampson had this to say about his team's performance: "This team has become really, really good at what we do. That's a tribute to this group of kids. They're really, really tough. I know that a lot of people get excited about talent, but talent without toughness doesn't mean much. Our kids are really tough."
Perhaps this mindset is one that the 2010 Sooners should take to heart before taking the floor for year's first round Bedlam match-up in Norman.
