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Grudge match
OSU seniors Eaton, Harris feel pressure in rivalry match

Photo illustration; photos by MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World (left); Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press (right)

 
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 1/26/2009  2:19 AM
Last Modified: 1/26/2009  3:29 AM

Related story: Blake Griffin eager for first taste of Bedlam in Stillwater

STILLWATER — If Oklahoma State basketball players are judged by how they fare in Bedlam games and whether they go to NCAA Tournaments, the Cowboys' senior class has a stained resume.

"As of right now I've got two negatives," said point guard Byron Eaton, who is 1-5 against Oklahoma.

"I haven't reached the tournament yet and I haven't done a great job of beating those guys, but we definitely can change it around this year. It can be a good year for us. We've got a chance to beat those guys twice and we've got a chance to make it to the tournament."

Fixing one problem could solve the other. A victory over sixth-ranked OU might prove significant when the NCAA selection committee begins sifting through applications.

The first of this season's two Bedlam meetings will occur Monday, when OU and ESPN visit Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Sooners have won three straight in the series (their longest streak since winning four in a row from 1989-91) and have won twice in their last three Stillwater trips.

Senior guard Terrel Harris, asked if a lack of Bedlam success eats at him, said, "Yes. I was just thinking about that. When is the last time we beat OU? They beat us twice last year. I need to get

me a win against these guys. I believe this game is going to mean a lot to a lot of people in this state."

It obviously means a lot to Obi Muonelo, who averaged 20 points in two Bedlam defeats last season.

"Everybody talks about this from when you are a little kid," said Muonelo, who grew up in Edmond. "You know, OU vs. OSU."

Muonelo said he chanced upon OU's Blake Griffin at a Kanye West concert. Their conversation shifted from "How are you doing?" to the inevitable subject.

"It got into a pretty heated argument about how they beat us twice last year and how they won without him," Muonelo said.

"We were just arguing about it for a little bit. I really don't want to lose to him because I know how he talks. He is a big talker. We played on the same AAU team, so I don't want to lose to him."

Asked about the encounter, Griffin said, "I thought the whole thing was a joke. We were just messing around, going back and forth. And then I got a few calls, like, 'Did you and Obi get into a fight at the Kanye West concert?' I was like, 'No, man, not at all.' It was just one of those things where we were both talking, just having fun as far as I thought. Maybe he took it more personally than I did."

Griffin, a national player of the year candidate, is expected to be Bedlam's alpha male. But, said Muonelo, "I have more weapons, I think, than he has on his (team)."

Freshman guard Keiton Page said Muonelo "has been jacked up since the horn went off last night at Nebraska talking about this game."

Page, a longtime Bedlam spectator, will participate in his first Bedlam game. So will Ford. When Ford was first hired, he didn't realize Bedlam was the term used to describe the OU-OSU rivalry.

"I didn't even know what they were talking about," he said. "You learn quickly. It doesn't take long."

Bedlam Recap



Oklahoma has won five of six Bedlam basketball meetings in the last three seasons:

OU 68, OSU 56 (March 5, 2008): Tony Crocker scored a career-high 25 points and was 5-of-5 from 3-point range to help the Sooners win in Stillwater without injured post beast Blake Griffin. OSU entered Bedlam riding a five-game winning streak.

OU 64, OSU 61 (Jan. 28, 2008): Taylor Griffin scored 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting and Blake Griffin's three-point play broke a 57-57 tie in the final minute. OSU lost despite getting 25 points from Obi Muonelo.

OU 67, OSU 60 (Feb. 7, 2007): Nate Carter scored six of his 18 points in a late flurry to help OU pull away. OSU trailed by three points with 3:15 remaining and hit only 5-of-14 free throws.

OSU 66, OU 61 (Jan. 22, 2007): Byron Eaton scored 17 points in his only Bedlam victory. OU trailed by nine in the second half and got within one on an Austin Johnson 3-pointer with 25.9 seconds left. Mario Boggan and Tyler Hatch sank game-clinching free throws.

OU 67, OSU 66 (Feb. 27, 2006): Jamaal Brown hit two free throws that gave OSU a one-point lead with 4.5 seconds left. But Byron Eaton was whistled for a blocking foul on Terrell Everett near midcourt with 0.6 seconds left and Everett won the game by swishing two free throws.

OU 73, OSU 65 (Feb. 8, 2006): Terrell Everett scored 23 points and OU led by as many as 18 points in Stillwater. OSU rallied to get within six in the final minute.



Jimmie Tramel 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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11 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
Pawhuska1965, (1/26/2009 6:38:48 AM)
Byron has had his chance at Bedlam. 1 win and five losses speaks for itself. Bench Byron and let Paige run the team. Byron is still over weight and shows no interest in getting in shape or learning that basketball is a team sport.
Report Comment
shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (1/26/2009 8:31:59 AM)
Amen Pawhuska, I am a Sooner fan but have never understood the love fest for Byron. They need to let Paige take the reigns and go. He is going to be a special player for the Pokes.
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (1/26/2009 9:04:24 AM)
Keep the bad weather away. This game is going to be good.

BOOMER SOONER!!!!
Report Comment
Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (1/26/2009 9:06:06 AM)
When do the lines come out?
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (1/26/2009 9:09:55 AM)
The bad weather is even money!!

Since it is on ESPN, the team will take off for Stillwater early.
Report Comment
MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (1/26/2009 9:58:07 AM)
Cant wait. Bloodlust has taken over.....Boomer!
Report Comment
Dobcott, (1/26/2009 12:17:15 PM)
American Psycho, you sir are an idiot. Anybody who talks that way about Coach Sutton doesn't deserve to refer to the program as "we". And why exactly are you blaming him for the recent struggles against OU? He won 4 of his last 6 against OU... Besides that, all he did for Oklahoma State was 13 NCAA Tournament bids, two Final Four appearances, three regular-season conference titles and three conference tournament championships.
Report Comment
thistle3583, Fulton (1/26/2009 4:14:45 PM)
Bench Byron!!! Bring on the Pawhuska Pistol!!!
Report Comment
T!ger,, Owasso (1/26/2009 6:25:42 PM)
OU has won 5 of last 6 matchups and with your Man Blake Griffin OU is sure to have a win! Sooners are doing good this year and i believe they could get at the very least close to a Basketball championship this year!

If you look at it.. OU is basically the best school in SPORTS! lol

BOOMER SOONER!
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (1/26/2009 11:38:54 PM)
Night all. Drove to Stillwater....got a nice, FREE seat....came back a winner....that would be to Tulsa...

Roads were tough, but the game was perfect!!!

Thanks to Mike Holder and the OSU department fort my seat......and thanks to Eskimo Joes for keeping the fans away!!

BOOMER SOONER!!
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (1/27/2009 12:42:16 AM)
Oh...forgot....BOOOOOOOOOMER SOOOOOONER!!!!!
 

 
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