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Daily Bullets (February 8)

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A Sense of Belonging

Regardless of running out of gas Tuesday night against Baylor, these words from the Tulsa World’s Guerin Emig post-Kansas point accurately to Mike Boynton’s place in the league.

I remember watching Boynton walk onto the Sprint Center court for a picture with the other nine league coaches at Big 12 Media Day last October, seeing him among guys who’d won national titles and been to Final Fours and Elite Eights. He smiled. He seemed to be enjoying himself. That was nice to see.

I just couldn’t tell if he belonged. Who could? We were just getting to know this 35-year-old coaching novice with more Brooklyn in his voice than Stillwater.

We know Boynton a little better now. And if we weren’t convinced he belonged before Saturday, we sure as heck are now. [TulsaWorld]

A first-year coach is going to have growing pains – whether that be learning how to motivate for an 18 game league schedule, learning how to work the refs (coaching against guys who’ve been to the highest places in the sport), or finding your place on the recruiting trail. But the things that Boynton has accomplished this year, even the potential he’s shown in losses, promises a competitive fit in this hornet’s nest of a basketball league.

First Impressions

Before we get too far from the hiring of Jim Knowles, some comments from the hiring process and some made by a Duke insider seemed encouraging.

(Robert Allen) understand(s) that when defensive coordinators interviewed, at least some of them, including Knowles, interviewed with the Cowboys offensive staff and they were put in situations and asked for solutions. The word is Knowles impressed. He has a reputation of getting more results out of less (star-ranked) talent.

According to our interview with Duke Blue Devils Network color analyst and former Duke offensive guard and center Dave Harding Jr., Knowles revamped Duke’s recruiting on defense and the type of athlete they were working for on the road. The Duke defensive depth chart became more athletic. [Go Poke$]

Getting picked over by Yurcich, Josh Henson and Kasey Dunn seems like a pretty good litmus test for a defensive hire. But it’s the second part that’s encouraging – getting more from less that’s most encouraging.

Successful coaches in college football are either a) coaches that can go get horses/dogs/grown men and win games or b) coaches that consistently dig through the heap of talent, find system fits, develop them over years and win. Oklahoma State hasn’t had a lot of the first type (Marcus Arroyo, Les Miles?) but the second are those tend to fit well in the culture and fit the norm.

OSU and NCAA Notes

The All-Name Team for the 2018 recruiting class….It will take a team a significant package to land Marcus Smart….A quick look at OSU’s 2018 class that’s locked up….Take a look at where the Oklahoman’s Super 30 Oklahoma high school players are headed for the next step in their career….Dabo Swinney says the new discussed transfer rule would be chaos

Big fan of this guy, a treat for those who made it out to GIA on Tuesday.

Markel getting some run with the Rockets – a contender!

Baker trolling a high schooler. Get outta your own way and go make millions.

Congrats to Cowgirl Tennis on the massive win.

…and the same to Cowgirl Basketball.

All the Playoff teams (so far) average top 15 classes (per research discussed in this pod) – so theoretically – here’s your pool of teams.

Signing Day Highlights:

The surprising

The funny

…and the creepy:

What You Missed on PFB
Other Stuff I’m Reading

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