Romero Osby now clearly OU's difference-maker
Published: 1/22/2013 12:17 PM
Last Modified: 1/22/2013 12:17 PM
Romero Osby stewed after Oklahoma's loss at Kansas State last Saturday, and that set the stage for Monday night's victory over Texas. That's how the Sooners' most disappointing moment of the season became their most important just 53 hours later.
"It's always hard to lose," he said. "I knew we were going to have to bounce back today, because it was such a quick turnaround against a really good team. And I was frustrated about my play. I didn't play up to par, or where I need to for us to win games.
"I wanted to come out and be more aggressive."
Osby was an aggressor all right. He was the game's top scorer (a career-high 29) and rebounder (8). He had more steals (3) than anybody, and tied for the most blocked shots (2). He made 9 field goals in 15 shots, 10 free throws in 11 attempts, and was one of two Sooners to make a 3-pointer.
He took Texas' bigger but slower defenders outside and shot over them. Then he hedged, pumped and drove right by them to finish layups and three-point-plays.
It was quite a show, and it was recognized afterward as students chanted his name and ESPN asked for an interview.
Osby has been lauded as OU's steadiest, most dependable player all season, but this was something different. This was star treatment after a spotlight performance.
It felt different for the Sooners as well. Now they had established that as deep and balanced as they have become in Lon Kruger's second year as coach, they also had a guy who could rise above the sum of their parts and carry them to victory. Osby provided glimpses of that in earlier games at Arkansas and West Virginia. It was on full display against Texas.
"This is what you want out of your leading scorer," Kruger said, "and a guy that everyone else is kind of rallying around."
It didn't quite happen in Manhattan last Saturday – although 12 points and 8 rebounds isn't a slouchy statline – and Osby knew it. He knew it, and he did something about it against Texas.
"It's not just me. I have a lot of help," he said afterward. "But you know, you put a lot of time in over the summer, running, getting in shape, trying to best player you can possibly be. That gives me the chance to step up for my team, and that's something I cherish."
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
