Daily Bullets (May 29)

Bedlam Semifinal

As the Pokes reigned in stroke play, is there a chance for some Bedlam domination in match play?

Although there is no guarantee, if there is going to be a Bedlam meeting in match play, it’s going to happen in the semifinals.

Host and top-ranked Oklahoma State garnered the first seed and will face Texas A&M on Tuesday morning in the quarterfinals. Oklahoma, which is ranked third, will face Auburn in the 4-5 matchup. The winner of each match will face each other in the semifinals.

The talk all season has been about whether the Sooners could defend their national title on the Cowboys’ course while going through the home team. They might get their chance Tuesday, but it wasn’t easy getting there. [NewsOK]

Setting aside a Bedlam final, cutting short the Sooners’ repeat-bid on the way to winning on your home course would be storybook – an idyllic ending for a fantastic season.

#OKstate & #Sooners could meet in the semifinal. Bring me Bedlam. It would be like the Ryder Cup at Karsten Creek. pic.twitter.com/O4GRjSX86T

— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) May 29, 2018

Pay Day Coming Due

Marcus Smart is contesting what he’s worth on the open market that he’s about to enter – as a restricted free agent where Boston has the right to match his offers.

Smart, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, was told that Boston might not be able – or willing – to afford the $12-14 million a year price tag that he reportedly has been seeking.

“To be honest, I’m worth more than 12-14 million,” Smart told ESPN. “Just for the things I do on the court that don’t show up on the stat sheet. You don’t find guys like that. I always leave everything on the court, every game. Tell me how many other players can say that.” [ESPN]

Bargaining 101 is going high when the other side of the table goes low, which appears to be the case here. $12 to $14m is perfectly reasonable for a guy like Smart – OKC’s Andre Roberson makes $10m, providing roughly ten percent more defensively and 40 percent less offensively.

For context, take a look at the list of guys earning in that range and you’ll see Smart’s agent won’t have to work hard to get his point across.

OSU and NCAA Notes

Big 12 is a golf conference – filling four of eight seeds in match play….Bama’ winning the title = LeBron winning the title….Schedule for the DeLand Baseball Regional (where the Pokes are headed)….California looking at passing a law limiting “non-faculty staff salaries” to $200k….Over/unders for every CFB team

Rudolph just seems like a pro-level guy – enjoyed him explaining why Washington has an edge.

Mason Rudolph talks about the strides he's made since rookie minicamp, working with the veterans, throwing to Antonio Brown and more. pic.twitter.com/pmv2QMilnp

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 28, 2018

Pokes react to their seed – somewhere between “nine seed in Duke’s region” and “four seed against a Shaka Smart team”.

Nothing like hearing your name called on NCAA Regional selection day! #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/JpPt32TAhL

— Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) May 28, 2018

Described my thoughts exactly watching last night’s game – would have felt unamerican to cheer for the Warriors. The closest thing would be pulling for Iceland in Mighty Ducks 2.

Seeing a team drilling threes over these Warriors is like seeing somebody finally hit the school bully back. We're intrigued and hopeful but also extremely worried for them

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger_sherman) May 29, 2018

What You Missed on PFB

• Porter with great context on Pokes’ match play struggles, plus a killer quote on today’s opponent
• Pokes cruise to stroke play win, grab No. 1 overall seed in match play
• Catch pics of the Pokes in the NCAA Tourney at Karsten
• Cowboys headed to DeLand Regional for the baseball tourney
• Great Q&A with incoming freshman defesnive back

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• Letters from soldier’s children to their fallen parents – a painful but worthwhile Memorial Day read
• Excellent journalism – detail around the Vegas shooting and it’s effects
• Read through this series in May, fun fiction reads: sort of a cross between John Grisham and Jack Reacher
• WSJ on Daryl Morey’s plan to beat the Warriors (pre-game five) was good

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