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Basketball

No. 11 Oklahoma Women's Basketball Hosts Alabama State at Home

2024-12-07

NORMAN – The highly anticipated return of No. 11 Oklahoma (7-1) to the Lloyd Noble Center is just around the corner. On Sunday, they will host Alabama State (2-6) at 1:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. The Sooners are riding high after a road win at No. 22 Louisville and are eager to keep their undefeated streak alive in Norman this season against the Lady Hornets.

Fan Experience and Game Details

During the halftime of the contest, the program will hold its annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring as many stuffed animals as they can to donate to local children in need. Additionally, the Sooners offer an unbeatable deal with the Family Four Pack for just $48 on every Sunday in December. This package includes four tickets, hot dogs, soft drinks, and one popcorn – making it just $12 per person. Season ticket holders can also pick up their free Watch More OU Women’s Basketball shirts on the south concourse before the game. The arena doors open one hour before tip for the general public, and the Lloyd Noble Center’s clear-bag policy is in effect.

Home Winning Streak and Rankings

Oklahoma’s home winning streak currently stands at 12 games, ranking as the 12th-longest active streak in the nation and the longest during the Baranczyk era. Their last loss in Norman was on Dec. 22, 2023. This streak is the program’s longest since a 15-game run from Feb. 19, 2014, to Feb. 25, 2015, and is also the third-longest in the past 15 years of Oklahoma basketball. The Sooners enter Sunday’s contest ranked No. 13 in the latest NET ranking and 11th in the AP Poll. After their win at No. 22 Louisville and a lone loss to then-No. 13 Duke on a neutral court in overtime, they are 2-1 in Quad 1-2 games. Their 5-0 record in Quad 3-4 games showcases their dominance with an average margin of victory of 39.0.

Player Performances

Payton Verhulst, who was named SEC Co-Player of the Week on Monday after a 29-point triple-double against Duke, is on a remarkable streak. Over her last five outings, she averages 18.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game while shooting an impressive 51.5% from 3-point range. She has made four 3-pointers in three consecutive games, a feat she has never achieved before. Four Sooners score in double figures as OU pours in 90.3 points per game, good for fifth nationally. All-American Raegan Beers (18.6 PPG) leads the offensive charge and leads the nation in FG% at 71.8%. Additionally, Payton Verhulst (14.4), Sahara Williams (11.6), and Skylar Vann (10.8) also average 10+ PPG.

Upcoming Games and Follow-Up

After hosting Alabama State, the Sooners stay in Norman to face Oral Roberts on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m. CT at Lloyd Noble Center. For updates on Oklahoma basketball, follow @OU_WBBall on Twitter and Instagram, or like Oklahoma Women’s Basketball on Facebook.

Purdue basketball's 6-foot-10 senior Caleb Furst has always been a man with a heart for good causes. Two years ago, when approached about role playing Buddy from the holiday movie "Elf", he was on board without hesitation. The annual Purdue basketball food drive, which was highly successful thanks to Furst's "Elf" skits and poster giveaways, led to Sunday's game where fans receive a poster for every five canned goods donated at Mackey Arena before the noon game against Maryland. This is Furst's third year reprising the role as Buddy. While his on-court antics in the "Elf" skits may resemble his charismatic side, his coaches and teammates know that he needs to bring that same energy to the basketball court.

Coach's Perspective on Furst's Game

Purdue coach Matt Painter had high praise for Furst after his performance in the (Nov. 28) N.C. State game. "He made some really plays in that game. I thought he made some key rebounds, some hustle plays," Painter said. "However, he didn't finish in the next game against Ole Miss, and that's an area he needs to improve. He's got to be able to finish around the rim." Furst's skills and potential were evident from the start. He was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 67 overall recruit in the 2021 class and second in Indiana, behind only Purdue teammate Trey Kaufman-Renn. He edged Kaufman-Renn for Indiana's Mr. Basketball award and arrived at Purdue with a lot of promise.

Furst's Early Years at Purdue

During his freshman and sophomore seasons, Furst started a combined 33 games as a reliable and versatile two-way player. He showed his ability to contribute on both ends of the court. But last season, things took a turn. Zach Edey's emergence meant there were not many minutes available at center. Purdue's staff also decided to start Kaufman-Renn at the four last season to provide more offensive punch. As a result, Furst averaged only nine minutes per game, and those minutes were often in short bursts when Edey was on the court.

Furst's Current Role and Value

Now, due to an unfortunate circumstance where freshman center Daniel Jacobsen fractured his tibia one minute into the season's second game, Furst's experience as a former starter has become extremely valuable. "He's done a terrific job whenever he's been in the game … " Kaufman-Renn said. "There's defensive and offensive flexibility having somebody that can do those things give us a different look. The minutes he's played have been big time." Furst is one of Purdue's best hedge defenders and, despite some struggles finishing at the rim, he is drawing fouls. His current 73.9% clip from the free throw line is a career best, as is the 2.6 free throws per game he's averaging. Purdue point guard Braden Smith also recognized Furst's importance. "He understands his role and what it takes to win in this league," Smith said. "He's been doing it for four years. It's a nice thing to have for these younger guys to see. He's been through it and he understands it."

When the initial NET rankings for the 2024 - 2025 season were released earlier this week, South Carolina basketball found itself in an unenviable position. The Gamecocks were ranked a lowly 135th and firmly at the bottom among SEC teams. But by the time Friday's NET rankings update came through, a remarkable transformation occurred. The Gamecocks jumped up by an astonishing 40 spots.

From 135 to 88: A Significant Leap

As of Friday evening, South Carolina had climbed all the way up to 88th in the NET rankings. This is not the lofty position that Lamont Paris desires for his team, but it is a substantial step forward from the 135th spot. In fact, they moved up a whopping 47 spots, which is a testament to their hard work and improvement.

Road Wins and Opponent Movements

A couple of factors have contributed to the Gamecocks' more respectable end-of-week ranking. Firstly, South Carolina achieved a significant victory on the road during the SEC/ACC Challenge against Boston College. Although the Eagles are not a powerhouse team, a well-executed and decisive win on the road always gives a team a boost. It shows their ability to perform well in challenging environments.Secondly, some of the Gamecocks' previous opponents have also seen improvements in their own NET rankings. For instance, their neutral site loss to Xavier is now classified as a Quad 2 loss, and the home loss to North Florida is no longer a Quad 4 defeat. These changes in opponent rankings have had a positive impact on South Carolina's overall standing.

Upcoming Opportunities for Improvement

Carolina is set to have more chances to enhance their position in the NET rankings. Alongside having opportunities to win games, their schedule strength will also improve. Additionally, after facing back-to-back Saturday contests against East Carolina and USC-Upstate, South Carolina will welcome their arch-rivals, the Clemson Tigers, to Colonial Life Arena for a Quad 1 opportunity. This will be a crucial test for the team and an opportunity to further solidify their standing.

Next on the Schedule: East Carolina Pirates

Coach Paris and his team are now gearing up to play the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday. This is a return trip to Columbia after last year's game in Greenville. The Gamecocks and Pirates are set to tip off at 2:00 p.m., and the game will be available for streaming on the SEC Network+. It will be an important matchup as the team looks to continue their upward trajectory in the NET rankings.