Wow. Just wow.
Even though I bleed Crimson…there was a part of me which knew this was coming after watching every one of Cade’s games this season. You knew at some point Mike Boynton and his staff would turn Cade loose for forty, or in this case forty-five minutes and the college basketball world would see what this kid is about.
Cade’s line speaks for itself…40 points on a Durant efficency-like 12-21 shooting game. 11 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and just a truckload of leadership and poise as he steered his young teammates to their biggest win of the season.
I’ve seen Danny Manning in Lloyd Noble. I saw Kevin Durant. And today while I’m still breathing I saw Cade Cunningham…and again…wow.
OU has been a solid defensive team this season and they had no answer for Cade…as in none. And Elijah Harkless is a defensive stud–keep that thought in mind.
It’s a shame the Thunder have screwed around and won too many games to be in the Cade Cunningham sweepstakes, but whover get this kid is perhaps drafting the next generational player in the NBA.
Late in the game…did you see him cheating on defense to bascially become a rim protector every time Austin Reeves tried to get to the rim?
Cade can defend all five defensive positions. He can probably play all five offensive positions. His body is NBA ready at 19 years of age. He makes his free throws. He’s not a Wild Thing like Westbrook or a social media insecure like Durant. Cade is the whole package and it kind of pisses me off Presti didn’t even allow the Thunder to be in the hunt for Cade.
But as a fan of the game–this was a day I will not forget. Of course–I still want OU to win on Monday night in Bedlam II in Stillwater, but after that I’ll be rooting for Cade the rest of the season to go Danny Manning on the NCAA tournament field.
The thing is though…Cade is a more complete package than Danny Manning was in 1988. He’s a stronger player on the interior on both ends of the court.
Can’t wait for Big 12 Monday Night.
No sports for me tomorrow except for maybe the NHL NBC Sunday Game of the Week. I watched too much basketball this week. I need to be fresh for Bedlam II. This song puts me to sleep in five minutes without fail. Have a nice Sunday.
School of Rock Students Perform “California Dreamin'” by The Mamas & The Papas – YouTube