Tramel's ScissorTales: Sooners' transition from Sherri Coale to Jennie Baranczyk 'perfect'
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Perfect is a powerful word. But that’s the word I trotted out to both Sherri Coale and Jennie Baranczyk.
Perfect transition from Coale to Baranczyk. Seamless, even, for OU women’s basketball.
Said Coale, “I think it’s about as close as you can get.”
Said Baranczyk, “I think you could use that word very easily.”
Coale, 25 years on the job, didn’t finish strong as the Sooner coach – 32-52 in her final three years, no NCAA Tournament appearances. Unless you count leaving a firm foundation for her successor.
Madi Williams. Taylor Robertson. Ana Llanusa. Skylar Vann. Nevaeh Tot. Liz Scott. All Coale recruits. All OU loyal. All now Baranczyk players who have helped launch a Sooner renaissance.
OU plays Portland at 8 p.m. Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, with the winner likely playing host UCLA. OU also made the NCAAs in Baranczyk’s first season a year ago, and the future looks bright.
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But the future looks bright not just because the Sooners hired a sharp, energetic, ambitious coach. But because that coach was given a blastoff by her predecessor’s eye for talent and character.
“It’s been fantastic,” Coale said. “Been a dream come true to see them have success.”
Coale coached OU to three Final Fours and six Big 12 championships. She made OU a destination for players and fans in women’s basketball.
Eventually, Baylor began dominating the Big 12, Coale’s recruiting waned and the pixie dust was gone. But Coale never lost her coaching chops; her final team went 12-12 in the pandemic-stricken season, with nine players total and often just seven available.
Then those players bought into Baranczyk’s vision.
“I’ve enjoyed watching them have success for sure,” Coale said. “You recruit them, they’re like your own. I’ve tried to follow from a respectful distance, I certainly keep tabs on how they’re doing.”
This is Williams’ and Robertson’s fifth season at OU. Llanusa’s sixth. They have gone through hard times to reach this success.
“That group of kids, they were so young and had to carry the weight of it … it’s so hard when you’re all really young,” Coale said. “But when you all get old, it’s awesome.”
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Baranczyk has coached them up quite well. It’s still not an elite Sooner roster – no elite point guard, no dominant post player – but this team of wings and hybrids has excelled. Even won a Big 12 co-championship this season.
But Baranczyk’s best coaching move was getting them to stay. Keeping players out of the transfer portal is a key to success for any coach in the 2020s.
Credit Baranczyk. Credit the players, too.
“They were the kind of kids from the word go, they were coming to Oklahoma,” Coale said. “They bought into the institution, the loyalty. That’s the kind of people they are.
“It’s fun, when that turns out to be that kind of story. Not that that needs any adornment. Being an upstanding person and being loyal, but when they’re super successful on the court, that’s really fun to witness.”
Baranczyk has honored Coale and her legacy. Coale has lauded Barancyzk but also kept her distance.
“Jennie nor them needed my presence,” Coale said. “My support, yes. My presence, no.”
Coale said she’s enjoying retirement. More than she thought. Helps that she’s got a 2-year-old granddaughter. Helps that she’s got an outlet; the former English teacher has penned another book, Rooted To Rise, about some of the people who have impacted her life.
Coale has spawned a lot of stories. The latest is this group of Sooner veterans who she brought to Norman.
“Sherri was here for so long, and for her and I to have the same vision for the program to continue to get better, that's not typical,” Barancyzk. “So for her to cheer us on, and us to come in and honor that and be able to have this incredible culture, yeah, I would say perfect is the absolutely right word.”
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Seminole State makes juco national tournament
Seminole State College has a proud basketball tradition.
Great teams: four trips to the junior-college national tournament.
Great players: Greg McDougald, Willie Smith, Anthony Bowie, Gerald Paddio.
Add another chapter to the book. The Trojans are headed back to Hutchinson, Kansas, for the national tournament for the first time in 16 years.
Seminole State, 25-7, beat Western Oklahoma State 103-82 to win the Region 2 championship.
The Trojans had a different 30-point scorer in each of their three Region 2 wins – Midwest City’s Israel Hart scored 30 points against Northern, New Lima’s Micah Lena had 32 points in a 97-85 victory over top-seeded Northeastern A&M and Chase Farmer of Detroit had 32 points and 10 assists in the title game.
Braydon Redd of Houston was joined by Farmer and Lena on the all-tournament team, and Lena and Hart were named all-region.
Seminole State is coached by Donny Tuley, in his 10th year with the Trojans after an iconic high school career at Capitol Hill.
Seminole State plays Ranger at noon Tuesday in the first round.
The public is invited to a sendoff for the Trojans at 1 p.m. Sunday, behind Raymond Harber Field House on the SSC campus.
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The List: NCAA Tournament individual records
College basketball statistics aren’t as gaudy as they once were. Here are the current NCAA Tournament single-game records in a variety of categories, ranked by difficulty of breaking:
1. 61 points: Sixty-one points by a team will win you a lot of March Madness games. But Notre Dame’s Austin Carr scored 61 points against Ohio U. in the 1970 first round. Without the 3-point line or a shot clock, Carr averaged 38.1 points a game that season. In a 112-82 victory over the Bobcats, Carr made 25 of 44 shots. Carr averaged 52.7 points in three NCAA Tournament games. In the 21st century, Syracuse’s Gerry McNamara holds the NCAA Tournament scoring record, with 43 points.
2. 34 rebounds: Temple’s Fred Cohen took advantage of a crazy game in 1956 in which the teams combined to miss 114(!) shots. Temple beat Connecticut 65-59; the Owls made 27 of 81 shots, the Huskies 23 of 83. The teams even combined to miss 19 foul shots. Cohen himself made just five of 21 shots. But teammate Hal Lear scored 40 points, making 18 of 27 shots. Take away Lear’s shots, and the teams combined to make 32 of 137 shots. Even in these defense-dominant days, it’s hard to replicate that misfiring. And of course, these days, rebounding is much more equitable across teams and games.
3. 11 blocked shots: In three seasons at Louisiana State, Shaquille O’Neal blocked 412 shots — wait; Shaq played three years at LSU? — and his best game came in the 1992 first round, his final college season. LSU beat Brigham Young 94-83 in that 1992 game.
4. 18 assists: Mark Wade signed with OU and Billy Tubbs in 1983 but barely played. He transferred after one season to Nevada-Las Vegas and became Jerry Tarkanian’s quarterback. Wade was the sixth-leading scorer on the Runnin’ Rebels’ 1987 Final Four team but averaged 10.7 assists. In the national semifinals against Indiana, Wade scored just four points but produced a tournament-record 18 assists (IU’s Keith Smart had set the record of 15 earlier in the tournament). UNLV lost 97-93.
5. 11 3-pointers: This record is vulnerable. Memphis’ Roburt Sallie made 10 3-pointers in a 2009 game and Purdue's Carsen Edwards did the same in a 2019 game. But for now, Loyola Marymount’s Jeff Fryer remains the king, with 11 in that historic, 149-115 rout of Michigan in the 1990 second round. That was LMU’s second game after the death of star player Hank Gathers. The Lions eventually reached the West Regional final, where it lost to UNLV.
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Kansas City remembers its rivers
Kansas City is a river town. Actually, a two-river town.
The mighty Missouri River, which forms part of the border with Kansas, you probably know about. Home to those riverboat casinos north of downtown.
The smaller Kansas River, known as the Kaw, which flows into the Missouri and also serves as the defacto border between the states.
But Kansas City historically has not embraced its rivers. While cities like San Antonio and Oklahoma City have taken small rivers and produced big things around them, KC largely has ignored its big river.
That is changing.
“Kansas City turned its back on this river,” said Jon Stephens, president and CEO of PortKC, a Missouri port authority designed to grow the economy of Kansas City through transportation, logistics and revitalization.
And the Missouri is a “fantastic river,” said Tim Cowden.
Cowden and I met almost a decade ago. He’s an Edmond Memorial and OU graduate who now is president and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Area Development Council, which seeks to boost the economy of the two-state, 18-county region of 2.5 million.
For several years now, part of my trip to KC for the Big 12 Tournament has included a half-day with Cowden, who peels back a layer of his adopted city. I assume Cowden is Kansas City’s biggest cheerleader; I can’t imagine anyone with more enthusiasm for the old city that has been a stopping point for OU and OSU athletics for going on a century.
And last week, Cowden alerted me to Kansas City’s desire to make its riverfronts vibrant. Including a sparking new soccer stadium that will be home to the Kansas City Current, which joined the National Women’s Soccer League as an expansion franchise in 2021, and an abandoned railroad bridge being turned into a public park.
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I had lunch with Howard, Stephens and a group put together by Cowden, at the historic Brick in downtown KC, a former newspaper hangout across the street from the famed Kansas City Star building.
Also joining us were Martin Rucker, a former Missouri football star who now owns a trucking company in KC; Ben Walnick, an OU graduate and former Oklahoman intern who is co-founder (along with former Tulsa sportscaster Andrew Carter) of Let It Fly Media, a booming digital sports marketing company; Dani Welniak, an OSU graduate and the Current’s vice president for communications; Molly Kerr, an Edmond native and now a Bank of Oklahoma executive in Kansas City.
“We all dress like tourists,” Cowden cracked. “There’s a lot of pride here. We wear it on our sleeves.”
We had a robust discussion of all things Kansas City, then Cowden and I headed for the river.
The Current’s 11,500-seat stadium is under construction hard by the Missouri River. The project is part of an amazing success story.
The Current’s stadium is scheduled to open next March. It’s billed as the first major stadium constructed for a female-team tenant. Howard sees it as a community gathering place for not just soccer, but a variety of events.
She has been in KC about a year; the Current hired her from the Los Angeles Lakers, where she was a vice president. Howard made the trip to Kansas City and “was so inspired by everything.”
Oklahoma City is building its own soccer (and multipurpose) stadium. The most recent MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects) vote included funds for a $37 million stadium, with a seating capacity of 8,000 that could be expanded. The site has not been selected, though downtown, Wheeler Park or the riverfront between those two areas have been prominent suggestions.
The OKC soccer stadium would be used by the minor-league Energy FC, which has suspended operations in part because of a lack of a stadium. Major League Soccer requires a minimum capacity of 20,000, but the Kansas City Current project could make OKC rethink its soccer goals. Would the NWSL work?
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It’s working in Kansas City.
The stadium is part of Berkley Riverfront Park, and the KC riverfront is starting to percolate after a century of stagnation. New apartments have been built next to the river, with more planned, and the residents are the riverfront’s first in 100 years. A new hotel is going up along the riverfront, the first since the Coats Hotel in the 1880s.
But the stadium is the crown jewel. From idea conception to completion is about 37 months, a remarkable speed.
The Current is owned by the Longs, Angie and Long, and the Mahomes, Brittany and Patrick. The Longs are Kansas City financiers. Brittany Mahomes is a former college soccer player. Patrick Mahomes plays quarterback for the local football squad.
Ownership is building the stadium, with a price tag of about $145 million. The stadium construction fits in nicely with the 2026 World Cup, which is being staged in North America, and Kansas City is one of the hubs that will host games.
The World Cup is part of a Kansas City sports explosion. The NFL Draft will be held at KC’s grand Union Station this spring. The World Cup 2026. An expected new downtown baseball park at the end of the decade. And oh yes, the Chiefs are reigning Super Bowl champions.
“Kansas City is not just on a roll, but on a rise,” Cowden said.
Kerr noted that when she first got to Kansas City in the late 1980s, “downtown was blighted.” That certainly matches my KC experience; I started coming to the Big Eight Tournament in 1992, and KC’s downtown transformation is as dramatic as Oklahoma City’s.
And the Missouri River is not the only river makeover. Down in the West Bottoms, across American Royal Drive from the old Kemper Arena, sits the Rock Island Bridge, which once took trains back and forth from Wyandotte County, Kansas, across the Kaw River.
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The Rock Island Bridge was built in 1904-05 and spans 702 feet. The railroads stopped using the Rock Island Bridge around 1970, and it’s sat unused since.
But Mike Zeller, CEO of Flying Truss LLC, had a vision of turning the bridge into an entertainment district over the river. And danged if it’s not happening.
Rock Island Bridge is becoming a double-decked public park. Flying Truss is teaming with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County on the project, and the space eventually will be home to a coffee shop, three bars, two commercial kitchens, 11 restrooms, bicycle lanes connecting the states and a private event center.
It’s believed the Rock Island Bridge will become the world’s first cross-river park.
“Kansas City has not done anything with our river,” said Flying Truss chief financial officer Mike Laddin. “Part of our goal is to activate the Kaw River as a social destination.”
Wyandotte County officials hope the park spurs economic development on the Kansas side, since Wyandotte is less affluent than its Johnson County neighbor, plus offer recreation to all residents.
Lannin calls the bridge a “structural battleship” that’s in great shape. It spans 25 feet wide, and 12 feet on each side will be added.
Fishing docks and a zip-line business are planned. Lannin envisions concerts, weddings, live music, art shows, even chess-club meetings on the bridge.
“To be able to have the first of its kind in the world is huge for us,” said Cheryl Harrison-Lee, administrator for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. “This will serve as a catalyst project.”
The Rock Island Bridge sits a mile or two south of the Kansas City Current stadium site. Two rivers, two riverfronts, two big reminders that Kansas City is a river town.
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Mailbag: Thunder & officiating
For the Wednesday ScissorTales, I wrote about the Thunder’s seemingly-solid relationship with NBA referees, and how I hope that continues as OKC develops into a contending team.
Tony: “I appreciated the insights into the Thunder's approach to officials and officiating, and the role that Al Horford had in helping establish and sustain it with the team. I don't watch many televised games anymore since they switched to Bally's for Thunder games. So I was a little surprised that you called out Michael Cage’s incessant complaining during broadcasts. I say ‘surprised’ only because I can't imagine he's worse than Matt Pinto is on the radio call. Matt can whine mid-play and just continue his play-by-play without missing a beat. I can tune in and know within a few seconds how things are going based on his tone! It really detracts from the game for me as a listener and his shtick has grown quite old with me as it pertains to his endless complaining!! Don't get me wrong, I respect anyone who can fly solo for an entire game, but doggone he's such a homer, he's a turnoff to me even as a Thunder fan.”
Tramel: I don’t listen to the radio broadcasts much; I’m either at the arena or watching the television broadcasts, live or taped. So I can’t comment on Pinto, other than to say I agree that doing radio solo, for 15 years, is quite an achievement.
On Cage, what drives me nuts is that he’s incredibly fun to talk to. All kinds of stories, played forever in the league, I’m sure knows the game.
But on the broadcasts, it’s mostly banal insight and questioning the whistles. So I have to believe that’s a directive from the organization. Sort of a passive-aggressive approach.
I remember at least a decade ago, the Thunder (and most teams) staged a preseason officiating clinic for the media. Went over rule changes, explained why certain things are called, that sort of thing. It was really insightful.
NBA referees conducted the meeting, and I sat in with Ken Mauer, a veteran ref. In a question-and-answer period, Brian Davis, the Thunder’s television voice at the time, asked Mauer what the announcers could do to help the public better understand the rules and the officiating.
Mauer said something along the lines of, quit telling everybody how bad the officiating is.
And Mauer is right. The players’ constant complaining, and the television broadcasts’ frequent negative critiques of the referees, cut into the credibility of the league.
Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sherri Coale built OU's women's basketball; Jennie Baranczyk lifted it
