Daily Mullets (December 17)

Do we have anything to talk about?

OSU-Wichita State Tonight

Mark Cooper on the similarities.

When Oklahoma State and Wichita State take the floor Saturday at Wichita’s downtown Intrust Bank Arena, two of the more balanced teams in the country will square off. Shockers coach Gregg Marshall has gone to his bench more than any coach in the country. No Wichita State player averages more than 10.5 points per game. Ten average more than 5 per game. No Shocker averages more than 22.3 minutes per game, but 10 average at least 13.5. As Oklahoma State (8-2) goes for a signature road win late in its nonconference schedule, its bench is becoming nearly as reliable. [Tulsa World]

I’m fired up about this game.

CMU’s Big Miss

Berry Tramel is still writing about how badly CMU whiffed on doing the right thing vs. Oklahoma State.

Like Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of porridge, Central Michigan sold the chance of a lifetime for five days in Miami Beach. Coach John Bonamego would have had eternal job security. University fundraisers would have been inundated with donors wanting to be associated with such a school. Professors would have flooded CMU with applications, wanting to work in such a place. [NewsOK]

I don’t necessarily disagree with Tramel, but I’m certainly not as adamant about it as he is. And I don’t really think CMU conceding a win would have had long-lasting effects (although that’s not a reason to do or not do something).

OSU’s Hard-Hitting Safeties

On Tre Flowers, Jordan Sterns and the long line of big-time safeties at OSU.

But OSU does what it can, especially in practice, to limit the possibility of a head-on collision. Proper technique instruction is followed by team scrimmage periods where, as Spencer puts it, “You don’t let them tee off on the scout team guys.” Same goes for starter-on-starter series. Receiver Austin Hays refers to it as “mutual respect” to prevent excessive contact.

“It’s fun watching them play,” Hays said. “They come down, and they hit you. I know being a receiver, it’s not fun. I know you get hit once, and even if you don’t show it, in the back of your mind it’s like, ‘Do I really want to go over there again?’ [NewsOK]

I think that’s a good way to put it.

Baylor losing streak could reach 10

Baylor might not be good at football for a while.

You mentioned Baylor’s opening three games (Oklahoma, at Kansas State, at Oklahoma State), Max. I’ll extend it to the first five in league play for the Bears, which include October home games against West Virginia and Texas. That’s quite an indoctrination to the Big 12 for the new Baylor coaching staff, getting the top four finishers from 2016 — plus the Longhorns — all before Halloween. And if Mason Rudolph returns at Oklahoma State, four of those opponents might feature experienced quarterbacks in addition to hyped transfer Will Grier at West Virginia. Baylor enters 2017 on a six-game league losing streak. It might reach double figures. [ESPN]

Mixon video released

Ben Kercheval sums it up nicely here.

As a redshirt sophomore, Mixon is eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft. With the video out for everyone to see, Mixon might strongly feel like moving on from Oklahoma, if he didn’t already feel that way. [CBS Sports]

We have much to discuss here, but one way or another, Mixon has played his final regular season game for OU.

More PFB

Here is the Joe Mixon punch … OU recruits show solidarity … Four Cowboys asked for NFL grades for the 2017 Draft … Jawun Evans to the NBA is a thing that is happening … New podcast talking football and hoops with OKC Dave … Sources (hashtag): Jelani Woods is still going to enroll early.