Daily Bullets (May 3)

Share the Rock

One of the more interesting aspects of the Cowboy offense next fall will be how the offense takes advantage of the stable full of running backs. Some comments made around the spring game brought some food for thought.

Junior Justice Hill ran the ball once on the day, allowing Chuba Hubbard, J.D. King and L.D. Brown to take a bulk of the carries. King finished with seven carries for 22 yards and two of the Cowboys’ touchdowns, Brown nine carries for only three yards and Hubbard stealing the show with 11 carries for 85 yards. Hubbard’s longest carry came late in the game when he broke a 49-yard run into the red zone.

“Well we got four running backs right now, and we are going to use them,” said Gundy. “We would like to be able to limit Justice Hill’s carries in a game to 15 or so. I think we’re going to be able to do that. I feel good about where we’re at from a depth standpoint.” [GoPokes]

Gundy usually likes to have one guy with roughly 20 to 25 carries, another with eight to twelve and another in spot duty. But going from a wasteland depth chart post-Desmond Roland to Arroyo’s gold mine have to affect the loads, right?

(Close to) Worst to First

While the loss on Tuesday night in Tulsa killed the win streak, Cowboy Baseball’s early-season struggles have pretty clearly been left behind.

They’ve won seven straight games and 16 of 20 since a series loss to the Longhorns dropped them to 11-10-1. OSU is as high as No. 12 in the major polls this week and No. 21 in the RPI.

“The results early on don’t indicate what you believe you can become over the course of the season,” sixth-year coach Josh Holliday said. “We put our heads down and worked really hard to get better.” [NewsOK]

Non-conference has been a bit of an Achilles heel for the Pokes with losses to ORU (x2), Wichita State, Eastern Michigan and Seton Hall. But being able to consistently turn it on in league play has been incredibly impressive.

OSU and NCAA Notes

Kalib Boone named Oklahoma’s Mr. Basketball….Tramel rains a bit on the “Big Ben->Rudolph” succession plan idea….USAToday has the Pokes in their post-spring top 25….X’s and O’s talk here on what CFB teams do in passing coverage….Big 12’s numbers improved in the draft….Find where the Cowboys are projected in college golf’s regional fields

Not shockingly, a high correlation with recruiting rankings and making an NFL roster.

Recruiting rankings DO matter, episode #476.
% of CFB recruits making an NFL Roster, by 24/7 Sports composite rating:#CFB #NFL #recruiting #NFLDraft #collegefootball pic.twitter.com/adMlZKsyKF

— CFB Data Lab (@redmondlonghorn) May 2, 2018

Really neat to see Gundy’s investment in the community, guy put his money where his mouth is.

Richmond Elementary has never been safer! We love Officer Marvin. Thank you @CoachGundy @onwardpioneers @ScottLemingSF #richmondSTRONG pic.twitter.com/Tp5aHXgdQ3

— Richmond Elementary (@richmondelm) May 2, 2018

Same here, Jeff. Same here.

Still surprised that Oklahoma State duo of Tavarius Shine and Yankuba Sima decided to sign with agents.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 1, 2018

What NFL running backs should look like.

??? pic.twitter.com/OwdVEJVZ90

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 2, 2018

Impressive numbers.

Big 12 meetings….ESPN shared @Big12Conference had highest men's bb viewership of any conference, hosted 4 of 8 College Game Days and had most viewed championship game in 16 years. #big12strong

— Jamie Pollard (@IASTATEAD) May 1, 2018

What You Missed on PFB

• Series of fortunate events that led to Mason Rudolph in Pittsburgh
• Mike Boynton’s bringing in a 6’4″ point guard prospect for 2018 this weekend
• The search for a 2020 quarterback is currently down to two
• A rare draft quirk that led to Rudolph and Washington teaming up
• 2018 power forward set an official visit date to come to Stillwater

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• The Atlantic looks at altering video online and “infopocalypse’
• The Ringer takes a look at the Carmelo Anthony in OKC situation (plus they “exit interviewed” the team)