Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Asi’s minutes increasing, Shematsi’s points decreasing Noah Weber Staff Reporter
Wildcats and a better stat for the Cowgirls. And now, OSU has a chance for revenge. OSU opened conferThe Cowgirls loss ence play with a 15-point against the Wildcats loss against Kansas at earlier this month was home and a 14-point loss headlined by a monstrous on the road against Kan- performance from Wildsas State. cat forward Sarah ShemLess than an ideal atsi. She finished with 25 start to conference play points and 11 rebounds. for coach Jacie Hoyt and The Cowgirls couldn’t the Cowgirls. But since seem to stop her. then, the Cowgirls have Since then, Shemwon three of their last atsi has averaged just 4.4 five, and the Wildcats points. have lost four of their last The loss against the five. Wildcats was also a game A bad stat for the that Anna Gret Asi played
two minutes as she was battling an ankle injury. Since, Asi has seen a consistent increase in minutes per game and has dropped 41 points combined in the past two games. She also knocked down seven threes in the narrow Bedlam loss on Saturday; a feat that she said she hasn’t achieved in the last five years. Asi will look to keep her hot streak alive on Wednesday evening as the Cowgirls battle the Wildcats. sports.ed@ocolly.com
Chase Davis OSU guard Anna Gret Asi enters Wednesday’s game versus Kansas State averaging 5.5 points per game.
OSU hires former Gannon DC Nardo entire process and for trusting me with this responsibility,” Nardo said in a statement. “I am extremely excited to join the rich tradition of Oklahoma State Daniel Allen I can’t wait to Staff Reporter football. get to work and continue to build upon all For the second of the great things that time in as many seahave been done here sons, the Cowboy dethroughout history.” fense will be embarkPrior last season, ing on a fresh season Nardo spent two years with a new coordinator. as the linebackers On Tuesday after- coach at Youngstown noon, OSU announced State and eight as the the hiring of former defensive coordinator Gannon University at Emporia State from defensive coordinator 2012-19. Bryan Nardo. In 2022, OSU’s Nardo spent the defense ranked No. 2022 season with Gan- 115 nationally in total non, where his defense defense and seventh in ranked No. 24 nation- the Big 12 conference, ally at the Division-II a drop in overall prolevel. The unit surduction from its 18 per rendered an average game average in 2021. of 22 points per game The Cowboys and 287.4 yards per return five different game — a significant starters on defense improvement from the heading into the 2023 Golden Knights’ 393.3 season. The unit has yards allowed per game garnered four defensive in 2021. transfers, two of which “I cannot thank hold three or more coach Gundy and years of experience as the rest of the staff a starter at their previenough for their open- ous schools. ness throughout this sports.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy of Gannon Athletics On Tuesday, Oklahoma State announced Bryan Nardo as Co-Defensive Coordinator along with Joe Bob Clements. Nardo, from Gannon University, will help replace the void of former defensive coordinator Derek Mason, who stepped down in January.
What does Bryan Nardo bring to OSU?
Gabriel Trevino Sports Editor
the national championship game, Kansas State won the conference and Iowa State is consistently a top-ranked defense in the country with the scheme. With three down lineman and five defensive backs, the defense emphasizes stopping the pass, and if done effectively, can also stop the run, albeit it is easier for offenses to run against a 3-3-5. It requires a lot of speed and athleticism to rush the passer and make open field tackles, but this defense is flexible and rising in popularity across football. Nardo’s defense emulates Iowa State’s under Jon Heacock, the No. 2 ranked defense in yards per game in the country last season, and No. 8 in 2021. Entering next season, OSU brought in five defenders from the transfer portal, and retained five starters from last season. The Cowboys defense next season will be a new look in many ways: scheme, personnel and the play caller.
OSU football and Mike Gundy chose a younger coach to fill in as defensive coordinator. Bryan Nardo, OSU’s new defensive coordinator, was a part of the American Football Coaches Association’s 35 under 35 list in 2019, meaning he isn’t yet in his 40s. “He’s a young energetic, bright football coach who brings 10 years of coordinating experience with him,” said Gundy in a statement. “He’s been successful and his innovative system has helped win games everywhere he’s been.” That system, a 3-3-5 base, has seen success in recent years in the sports.ed@ocolly.com pass-heavy Big 12. TCU went to
Projected defensive starters: DE: Collin Oliver DT: Anthony Goodlow (transfer) DE: Kody Walterscheid or Ben Kopenski LB: Justin Wright (transfer) LB: Xavier Benson LB: Nickolas Martin or Donovan Stephens CB: Korie Black CB: Cam Smith CB: LarDarius Webb Jr. (transfer) S: Kendal Daniels S: Sean Michael Flanagan or Lyrick Rawls
Mackenzie Janish Oklahoma State will have a second defensive coordinator in as many years. The Cowboys hired Bryan Nardo of Division-II Gannon University.