Duke Miles paves the way for OU basketball staying perfect
While the college basketball world, rightfully so, could not stop talking about OU freshman guard Jeremiah Fears from Wednesday night, there was another development.
Perhaps an even bigger development going forward for the Sooners. Fears hit the shot everybody remembers, but Duke Miles had his best half since arriving at OU.
He used that momentum and took it to the next level. On a day where it took OU a while to maintain solid intensity, Miles was there.
Time and time again. Miles had his first big-time scoring effort in an 89-66 victory for the Sooners against visiting Central Arkansas on Sunday afternoon at the Lloyd Noble Center.
Miles was known as a high-volume scorer at High Point last season, routinely going over 20 points. His role, of course, was going to change a bit at OU. But when he’s playing like he did against the Bears? It makes everybody’s life a lot easier.
“Making big-time shots always boosts your confidence,” said Miles about his second half against Michigan. “You just have to stay ready. Whatever it takes for the team to win, I’ll do it. If that means making big-time shots, making defensive stops. Whatever the case may be, it helps with the confidence.”
Miles had 20 points in the first half on his way to a 29-point outing. It’s easily the most he has had at OU and second-best in his career.
If Porter Moser can get those types of performances from Miles in the SEC? Just adds another dimension for OU.
“It shows our depth. Those three guards have each had a game over 20 points this year, so it gives you some depth. Different guys can contribute like that, scoring wise. Duke, I think gets it going defensively too. His aggressiveness defensively has been impressive.”
Top 10
- 1
Duce Robinson commits
FSU lands highly-rated transfer WR
- 2Hot
Kirk Herbstreit
Shot fired at First Take, Stephen A. Smith
- 3New
Ohio State vs. Oregon odds
Early Rose Bowl line released
- 4
Updated CFP Bracket
Quarterfinal matchups set
- 5Trending
Paul Finebaum
ESPN host rips CFP amid blowout
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
OU Game No. 12 Takeaways
*Another game where Fears just sort of works his way into it. Four points and four assists at halftime, and then he came alive in the second half.
Showing the arsenal, too. Making a deep 3-pointer on one possession. Then driving the hole and dunking it in traffic on another.
Fears scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half.
*Moser wants OU to keep shooting the 3-pointer. All those guys are being given the green light. And they’re not afraid.
Another game with the Sooners making more than double-digit attempts from downtown. Miles had four, and Kobe Elvis was just behind that with three made 3-pointers.
*It wasn’t the cleanest game for OU, but the active hands made a difference. The Sooners had eight steals, including two apiece from Miles, Jalon Moore and Sam Godwin. OU scored 18 points off turnovers.
Moore poured in 17 points and five rebounds.
Up next
Time to wrap up the non-conference season. No. 14 OU (12-0) hosts Prairie View A&M next Sunday at 1 p.m. OU gets a week off between games. And then after PV A&M, OU gets almost another week to get ready for the SEC. The grind begins at Alabama in 2025.
