Thursday, July 2, 2020

On-field pressure MIKE GUNDY FACES ONE OF HIS MOST CRUCIAL SEASONS IN HIS LONG OSU CAREER

C ov e r S t o ry

O S U F oot ba l l

‘Mike Gundy has made that program into what it is today’: Joe DeForest talks about Gundy, 2020 expectations S u dee p Tum m a , Sports Editor, @as k tu m ma

It’s easy to see why Stillwater faithful are enamored with Mike Gundy.

The longtime OSU football head coach has turned this program around and made it a formidable force.

He’s turned in a 129-64 (.668%) record the past 15 years, staying above .500 every season after his first in 2005. He’s also won at least 9 games in eight of his 15 seasons.

That consistent success has brought a bright light to Stillwater and this OSU program. And he’s not any ordinary coach either.

Gundy played and starred as a QB for OSU back in the 1980s — setting records and taking them to two 10-2 seasons.

It’s a true hometown story.

But even with all that success, fans want Gundy to take that next step and push this program further along.

OSU, under Gundy, is routinely considered a program that’s “good, not great.”

Fans want that leap to great to be taken. And it’s no coincidence the chants are growing ever so loud this season.

With Tylan Wallace and Chuba Hubbard returning for one more year, all but one starter on defense returning and Spencer Sanders expected to take a step forward, this roster has an eerily similar feel to that 2011 team that was THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

Mike Gundy faces a critical year in his career.

inches from making it to a National Championship.

Which brings up one simple but important question: is the hype real?

“Well, I believe they’re very talented. I don’t know the personnel as well as I did when I was on staff, obviously,” former OSU assistant coach Joe DeForest told the O’Colly. “According to the film I’ve watched on them and the tape, I think they got a very talented group. And I think they got a great coaching staff in place to make a run.”

DeForest, who was the associate head coach at OSU during that 2011 run, held that job title from 2005-2011 after spending the four years prior as an assistant at OSU. DeForest is currently North Carolina State’s safeties coach.

As a whole, DeForest

has spent a little over a through the doors, and Dedecade with Gundy, which Forest circled the reasoning gives him insight into what for that back to the “I’m a Gundy is all about. man, I’m 40” rant.

“Mike’s got a special per“When that happened, sonality, as we all know,” he endeared every single DeForest said. “I think the parent, every single mother kids feed off of Mike and he to Mike Gundy and how feeds off the kids. He stays he takes care of his own,” young and he stays in the DeForest. “I think that kids’ view of a young guy was a critical time in Mike who likes to dance and likes Gundy’s career and in the to have a mullet and all Oklahoma State program’s those things. I think that’s history. I know it sounds part of Mike’s big success. silly, but it was a big part of It’s his relatability to the people recognizing him as kids. a player’s coach who takes “That’s why he can recare of his own.” cruit, and that’s why he can As a young coach, that get the players there. And was the event that pushed I think the players enjoy Gundy toward the national playing for him.” spotlight. But more imporThat type of personality tantly, it showed people meshes well with the smallwho he was. town persona of Stillwater.

DeForest, who’s gotten And frankly, Stillwater is a to know Gundy well, said tough place to recruit. that public perception of a But talent keeps coming coach — who takes care of OCOLLY.COM

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his players — is an accurate portrayal of who Gundy is.

And for the most part, it’s resulted in winning seasons.

But still the worries continue to grow louder by the day. Fans continue to expect more out of their head coach. And many point to the lack of recruiting as a reason for Gundy failing to take that next step.

But should that be a concern?

“There’s a combination of recruiting and developing players,” DeForest said.

“There’s a percentage of players that I don’t think stars mean anything, and I don’t think fans should worry about the stars. It’s all about developmental players. We’ve had some big-name guys come through there in Dez Bryant and Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon.

“We’ve had great players come through there. I think the credit goes to him and his staff for developing the players that are so-called two and three stars.”

Gundy has done a tremendous job finding diamonds in the rough, making a mockery out of the star system.

Just on this current roster, All-Big 12 safety Kolby Harvell-Peel, All-Big 12 Amen Ogbongbemiga and All-American Chuba Hubbard were all 3-stars out of high school.

Gundy has done an excellent job recruiting and developing talent, but still he’s taken heat for his 2-13 record against Oklahoma, lack of Big 12 titles and so on.

Which begs the ultimate question — is there pressure on Gundy to reach the College Football Playoffs this season?

“That’s a question for Mike Holder,” DeForest said. “Everybody wants to get to the College Football Playoffs. Unfortunately, there’s only four of them to get there out of 130. I think he’s got a nice program there at Oklahoma State, he’s got opportunities there to win a championship.

He’s done a good job of competing for them every year.

“Mike Gundy has made that program into what it is today. We have never had that kind of prolonged success that he’s had.”

S p o rt s

O S U Bas k e t ba l l

Column: Donvoan Williams’ skillset and versatility a perfect fit for OSU Su dee p Tum m a , Sports Editor, @as k tu m ma

If you ask any OSU fan what the Cowboys’ most glaring need was last season, the answer is almost always the same.

Shooting.

The Cowboys ranked 276th in the nation in 3-point shooting last year.

So something clearly needed to change.

Insert Donovan Williams.

The 4-star prospect from Lincoln North Star High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, rounded out OSU coach Mike Boynton’s top5 recruiting class. While there were some rumblings of Greg Brown or JT Thor possibly swooping that last spot, Williams may actually be the better fit for this roster.

First off, Williams is a lethal scorer. Despite tearing his ACL in April of 2019, Williams came back his senior year and dropped 28.1 points per game.

He’s deadly from beyond the arc. Although he only shot 30% from distance, turn on the tape and you’ll see the magic.

Whether it’s off a pass, off the bounce, contested, however you want, Williams knocks down triples.

And he has serious range — Williams can pull up several feet behind the arc.

The degree of difficulty on these shots cannot be THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

overstated.

You hand him the ball with an inch of space and he’ll pull up on you. Wiliams has a quick trigger and an attacking mentality.

If you’re not glued to him when he has the ball, you best believe he’s going to pull it.

They’re not only tough, contested shots, but the volume is off the charts as well. Williams shot 10.3 3-pointers a game, which makes keeping efficiency up an arduous task.

Williams didn’t get to that 28.1 mark on his shooting alone. The guy can flat out attack and succeed at all three levels — 3-pointers, mid-range and at the rim.

The 6-foot-5 shooting guard has a good feel for the game. He moves without the ball well to get himself into prime position to score.

Whether it’s just subtly moving on the perimeter or backdoor cuts, Williams finds a way to get open, which meshes perfectly with the playmaking ability of Cade Cunningham and Isaac Likekele — two floor generals who always find the open man.

When Williams does have the ball in his hands, it’s a scary proposition.

He can pull up off the bounce at any time. When he puts the ball on the floor, Williams has an explosive first step, which allows him to get past defenders easily. But it’s not

Donovan Williams will add explosiveness to the Cowboys

just athleticism, Williams uses crossovers effectively to work past his defenders.

In the pick-and-roll game, Williams is so difficult to contain when he gets going downhill because of his explosiveness and his shooting prowess.

Defenders have to choose to defend the drive or the shot.

Then you combine that with the fact that Williams plays under control and understands when to attack, and you have a deadly scorer.

On drives, he doesn’t need to cleanly beat you either. If he gets just an inch of space, Williams has the strength to finish through contact. He plays with tremendous body control and changes speeds well, which helps him at-

Anthony Quattrocchi

tack the rim.

He’s savvy on the drives, he consistently splits through defenses and navigates his way through the paint to score at will.

The scariest part? Lincoln North Star coach Anthony Quattrocchi told me that Williams hasn’t even regained full explosiveness in his leg yet.

Yeah, let that sink in.

That shotmaking talent will be welcomed to an OSU team that ranked No. 244 in offensive rating last season.

Like we talked about, that scoring will come in a multitude of ways. Now add the fastbreak game to the game. Williams shows extra burst when he runs the floor, which will pay dividends with — once again — Likekele and

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Cunnigham.

And with the way modern basketball is going — a positionless style — versatility is even more key.

You can never have enough scorers. But what happens when your scorer gets double teamed and trapped? You need a guy who’s enough of a passer to get out of that situation.

Williams is an underrated playmaker who finds his teammates and is wise enough to pass out of bad situations.

And that has lasting effects that go beyond the assist column. It keeps defenses from collapsing on scorers. And if the defense is forced to collapse anyway, Williams finds open guys who can either shoot or attack an out-of-place defense.

Williams is a serious talent, but the guard pool is deep at OSU. Conventional wisdom would expect the Cowboys to throw out a lot of guard-heavy lineups this season, but you still need the right guys in place to make that happen.

At Lincoln North Star, Williams played a lot of 4, which means he had to cover a lot of big men.

Much of that was out of necessity considering how small the roster was — Williams was their tallest player — but it’s also a testament to his strength.

Williams benches 285 pounds, which is an excellent mark considering he’s

only 6-foot-5.

That strength helps Williams’ post defense but also with his rebounding.

Williams boxes out well and uses body leverage to grab 8.1 rebounds a game as a senior.

Now we look at this OSU roster, which is flush with guard talent, but the big men depth is lacking — even more considering the departure of presumed starting center Yor Anei.

So by fifth-grade logic, we can assume Williams’ ability to cover bigger guys combined with his rebounding prowess will allow him gobble minutes at the 4 and have an extended role as a freshman.

As a defender, Williams has a propensity to create turnovers. Circling back to his feel for the game, Williams sniffs out steals. He understands when the ball is exposed and attacks it to create transition opportunities.

He’s truly an adept talent.

When you watch Williams play, it’s easy to fall in love with him after about three shot attempts.

Or two.

He’s an exciting talent whose recruiting ranking doesn’t do justice to his skill level. Obviously, as a freshman on such a stacked roster, it remains to be seen how many minutes he plays. But one thing is definite — he’s got the tools to make a splash

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

Horoscope

FOR RELEASE JULY 2, 2020

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Todays Birthday (07/02/20). Raise your partnership to new levels this year. Social changes redirect your plans. Dream about future journeys. You’re in the spotlight this summer, before resolving a challenge with your partner. Pull into your shell this winter, to energize your health and work. Coordinate for common gain.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 9 — Saturn retrograde settles back into his Capricorn home sign today, until Dec. 17. Professional ambitions and career accomplishments flourish with discipline. Make long-term plans.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Plan ways to expand your territory with Saturn in dutiful Capricorn until Dec. 17. Exploration, education and research earns respect and recognition with disciplined action.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Coordinated collaboration produces shared financial growth with Saturn retrograde backing into Capricorn. Persistence and diligence produce lucrative gains. Work together for steady savings.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — With diligent focus, you and your partner grow in capacities, respect and influence with Saturn retrograde in Capricorn. Strengthen bonds by showing up.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Saturn backs into Capricorn for five months, favoring disciplined attention to your health and work. Regular, steady exercise routines build strength, coordination and skills.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Steady efforts raise the level of your game, with Saturn retrograde in Capricorn until Dec. 17. Grow a romantic relationship with dutiful attention, respect and love.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — The next five months, with Saturn retrograde in Capricorn, favor disciplined coordination with home improvement.

Renovate or relocate? Lay solid foundations for beautiful results.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Create a masterpiece, with Saturn retrograde in Capricorn until Dec. 17. Persistent action focused on communications, marketing and networking builds profits, recognition and influence.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Take charge to realize lucrative ventures over five months, with Capricorn Saturn retrograde. Success and profits come through fulfilling responsibilities, duties and obligations.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Realize personal goals, ambitions and dreams with disciplined efforts over five months, with Saturn retrograde in your sign. Fulfill aspirations with persistent practice.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Seemingly impossible dreams come true with planning and dedication now that Saturn is in Capricorn for five months.

Listen for your purpose calling.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Team efforts thrive over the next five months, with Saturn back in Capricorn. Disciplined coordination pays. Practice consistently. A major prize rewards dedication and focus.

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes

Level 1

2

3

4

7/2/20

Solution to Wednesday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

ACROSS 1 Indian noblewoman 5 Pressure meas.

8 Little lies 12 Like port, usually 13 W. alliance since 1948 14 Southwestern grassy plain 16 “No idea” 19 Make a minister 20 Soft drink nut 22 Flings 26 “No idea” 28 Cost of preventing deterioration 30 Adhesive 31 Protein-rich bean 32 Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo __ 37 Blueprint detail, for short 38 [No idea] 39 Charity 43 Wearing away gradually 45 Greek earth goddess 46 Autocrats of old Russia 49 100 agorot, in Israel 51 “No idea” 56 Dancer Castle 57 Strait-laced 58 Storywriter known for irony 60 “No idea” 66 Pasta often served alla vodka 67 Louis XIV, par exemple 68 Unnerve 69 Hides the gray, maybe 70 “Atlas Shrugged” writer Rand 71 Mattress spring DOWN 1 “Go team!”

2 Back in the day 3 Still in the package 4 Fake __ 5 Not up to snuff 6 Mecca native

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By Paul Coulter

7 Religion of Mecca 8 Low-tech fire starter 9 Breed 10 Supervisor at a financial institution 11 Busybodies 15 Young hooter 17 One may wind up on a fire truck 18 Bad-mouth 21 Beverage suffix 22 Use bad words 23 Informal pricing words 24 Largest of the Inner Hebrides 25 Japanese ritual with an iron pot 27 Org. with an Odd News web page 29 Baja bread 33 Scholar’s deg.

34 __ Lanka 35 Winery cask 36 French toast maker’s need 40 Victoria, for one 41 Appearance 42 BOGO event 44 Cape Town’s country: Abbr.

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

46 Pointed end 47 Narrow piece 48 Tolerated 50 Breezy greeting 52 Big name in raingear 53 “Use your inside voice” 54 Comedian featured in Jerry Stiller’s “Married to Laughter”

7/2/20

55 Official representative 59 Horse rider’s strap 61 Shreveport-toLittle Rock dir.

62 Ozone-depleting chemical 63 Language of Southeast Asia 64 Special forces weapon 65 Unagi, e.g.