The Harkless run.....

[thebigabd]

Let's start on January 12th against TCU. OU has won 6 of the last 7 in that stretch, with the only loss being at Tech by a few points and OU was very short-handed.

1/12 against TCU.... 6 points/4 rebounds/2 assists/1 steal
1/19 against KSU... 8 points/13 rebounds/6 assists/3 steals
1/23 against KU.... 7 points/7 rebounds/3 assists/3 steals
1/26 against UT.... 11 points/4 rebounds/2 assists/3 steals
1/30 against Bama... 14 points/5 rebounds/1 assist/3 steals
2/1 against Tech... 7 points/7 rebounds/1 assist
2/6 against ISU... 19 points/6 rebounds

Totals in this run:

10.2 points
6.5 rebounds
2.1 assists
1.8 steals

I haven't checked all the stats, but getting 10+ points and 6+ rebounds out of a 6'3'' guard has to be rare. The points won't be rare, but the combo of points, rebounds, and steals has to be rare.

That is, of course, in addition to all the plays that don't show up.. Taking charges, hitting big shots, playing great defense, being a pest, etc.

The way this season has turned for OU is really stunning... We looked so average, and then conference play comes around and these guys are a legit team. This is the kind of team you don't want to play in March.

Harkless is such a huge part of that.

 

[CoachTalk]

Pretty special kid. Changed a lot of culture from early June to this day.

I wouldn’t say so average but I see your point.

 

[sheepdogs1]

Both he and Gibson have been the spark and helped improve the team overall versus last year. The starters are stronger as a whole and the bench has more serviceable bodies to boot.

 

[vbdad]

Absolute toughness is a great quality and he has it!

 

[thebigabd]

Here is a press blurb of Nolan Johnson from 2000.

Johnson, who averaged 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists while starting in 31 games for the Sooners last year, is one of six seniors on the all-star squad. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native shot an impressive .559 from the field (.627 in league play) and scored in double figures in 13 of Oklahoma's last 15 games. He averaged 13.2 points and 6.1 boards over those final 15 contests.

Harkless is the second coming of NJ. One of my favorites to ever play at OU.

 

[OU92Grad]

Love his energy and everything he has brought to the team. But after watching the replay he lost his guy which resulted in at least 4 open threes. Even announcer said Harkless went “Rogue” on one late possession and left a shooter wide open.

 

[thebigabd]

Love his energy and everything he has brought to the team. But after watching the replay he lost his guy which resulted in at least 4 open threes. Even announcer said Harkless went “Rogue” on one late possession and left a shooter wide open.

I move that anyone who speaks ill of Elijah Harkless receive a 1 week ban from the forum for the first offense. And a one month ban for each offense thereafter. However, your sentence can be reversed with an apology, and by recognizing him as the second coming of Nolan Johnson.

 

[OU92Grad]

Ha Ha. I agree! I apologize! I won’t bring anymore facts into this thread!!

 

[WichitaSooner]

Ha Ha. I agree! I apologize! I won’t bring anymore facts into this thread!!

Lol this made me chuckle. I love EJ but it has occurred to me that he and Reaves are polar opposites when it comes to the reaction on the board. Reaves can lead the team in every category and clearly make our offense far better, but gets heat for every poor decision he makes. EJ, on the other hand, has already reached the point where it’s almost blasphemy to mention it when he does something wrong. His defense definitely wasn’t up to his usual high standards yesterday, but he made a lot of clutch plays offensively down the stretch.

 

[thebigabd]

Lol this made me chuckle. I love EJ but it has occurred to me that he and Reaves are polar opposites when it comes to the reaction on the board. Reaves can lead the team in every category and clearly make our offense far better, but gets heat for every poor decision he makes. EJ, on the other hand, has already reached the point where it’s almost blasphemy to mention it when he does something wrong. His defense definitely wasn’t up to his usual high standards yesterday, but he made a lot of clutch plays offensively down the stretch.

I wouldn't say its almost blasphemy.. It is blasphemy.

 

[Sooner04]

Harkless changed the ceiling, narrative, tenor, however you want to put it, of this team. Before he established himself this was looking like another .500 team in the league and a double-digit seed in the dance if we were lucky enough to qualify at all.

I'm trying to temper my enthusiasm. My fandom heart is looking for the warts on Bamuh and Texas and Kansas, but I REALLY like what I've seen from this team since the calendar flipped. So far it hasn't completely translated away from Lloyd Noble, but there's time.

Harkless is one tough hombre.

 

[AdaSooner]

Harkless gets my vote as the team MVP! He may not be our best player, but he has transformed our season in a way I never dreamed possible.

I doubt if anyone on this board in the “before Harkless era” thought our defense could be this good. I know I didn’t. That team played soft sometimes. Oh, we saw brief spurts of toughness that made us wish for more, but nothing like we see now.

Elijah may lead the league in floor burns and playing defense on his back, on his knees and in every position you can name in setting the example for toughness. Now, every player on the team is doing it. It’s a beautiful thing!

 

[Speedy17]

The one stat left off that list is Harkless shut McClung for Texas Tech. McClung did not even make one basket from the field during the entire game.

 

[Soonerinkc]

he has been a great addition...Mo is hitting his stride.

I'm curious about next yr...bringing in the 2 guards...plus if Reaves and Manek come back..

 

[scrybe]

Harkless has, indeed, been a huge part of this team's success.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Lol this made me chuckle. I love EJ but it has occurred to me that he and Reaves are polar opposites when it comes to the reaction on the board. Reaves can lead the team in every category and clearly make our offense far better, but gets heat for every poor decision he makes. EJ, on the other hand, has already reached the point where it’s almost blasphemy to mention it when he does something wrong. His defense definitely wasn’t up to his usual high standards yesterday, but he made a lot of clutch plays offensively down the stretch.

ding ding ding we have a winner

 

[ousooners1baby]

It has seemed to me that since Harkless has been playing much more and turned this corner we get every defensive rebound. I like that.

 

[SoonerJK12]

I love the pace at which he plays -- sometimes gets a little out of control as his ball handling skills are a little shy of how fast he like to move once gets a rebound...but he stays in control for the most part. And it has led to some easy buckets in transition. Puts a lot pressure on defense to get back, and the pace at which he pushes things just keeps the team playing hard I think. Really just brings the same edge to offense as he does to the defense, and I love it.