Monday, June 8, 2020

Kelly Kerr

Joshua cleary

Anthony Quattrocchi

Adam Luther

COMMITTED COWBOYS Despite a postseason ban next season, some OSU basketball players plan to stay with the program.

C OV E R S T O RY

C o w b oys Bas k e t ba l l

‘A pebble in the road’: Donovan Williams pitches in on NCAA sanctions C h ris B ec k er , Digital editor,

@ B h ris_cecker 31 6

Cowboy signee Donovan Williams normally receives a call from coach Mike Boynton every few days checking in, but when he picked up the phone on Friday morning, things were different.

“You know he just called me, and I thought he was just checking up on me,” Williams said. “He checks up on us every two to three days.

When he told me that, I was just like, ‘Man seriously? This was supposed to be our year.’ When someone tells me something like that, my first response is going to be, ‘why, like what happened?’ He explained it to me. The pieces just don’t go together, there has to be something else. That reasoning just doesn’t make any sense.”

Williams was originally committed to his close to home Nebraska, but de-committed a few months later.

Williams’ recruitment process was a close fight until the bitter end between OSU and Kansas State.

While many are curious if any of the players will transfer out with the one-year postseason ban loomMONDAY, JUNE 8, 2020

Joshua Cleary/O’Colly

Although OSU won’t be able to partake in next year’s tournament, Donovan Williams and others are still committed to the program.

ing, Williams said he will remain a Cowboy.

“I’m going to stand on 10 toes at the university that I committed to and I’m not going anywhere,” Williams said. “I’m just ready to get to campus and get to work; got to be productive no matter what.”

Oklahoma State men’s basketball players are faced with an uncertain future after the NCAA levied sanctions against the program, but Williams told the O’Colly it’s just a small bump in a long road considering the adversity he’s had to deal with throughout his young career.

“(Overcoming adversity) helps me a lot because it just like a little stumble in the road like a little pebble in the road that you run over it, and it really doesn’t do anything to you,” Williams said. “Just keep driving. I’m not going to let a little stumble in the road affect the whole journey.”

Williams spoke to OSU’s only instate commit, Rondel Walker, for 30 minutes after the news of NCAA sanctions broke and both had similar notions about the decision to stay/leave.

Neither are expected to be one and done

players in college basketball, which played a part in their respective decisions. And look forward to what will come after the ban is over.

“He was like, ‘I’m not going anywhere either,’” Williams said.

“Neither of us are one and done. I mean if I have a good year possibly, but probably not one and done. This is only a year thing for us. The next two years we could still try to get back to the tournament.”

Walker told the O’Colly he found out the same way the other players did when he received the call from

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Boynton.

“Coach B called me, and broke it down to me,” Walker said. “All I could do was just appreciate him more for him making it a point to let me know before I found out anywhere else. I feel like (the penalties) are definitely unjust and all we can do is leave everything in God’s hands.

I just hope the appeal goes through.”

Isaac Likekele was one of the hottest players in the country at the beginning of last season before missing a month due to an illness. He is expected to be second-round pick in the 2021 NBA

Draft depending on his performance in the 2020-21 season.

Likekele could transfer and be immediately eligible at any school but went to Twitter to support coach Boynton after the sanctions were levied.

“I talked to my man (Likekele), he was the first one I talked to, because he’s the person I’m closest to on the team so far,” Williams said. “He told me he can’t leave coach B, ‘We’re like one.’ That’s all we talked about really.”

Fans and people near the OSU program were quick to start doubting the future of the program, which seemed bright until recently, but Williams wants people to stay positive and said the team won’t change because of the small setback.

He said he thinks they could have made the tournament if the ban wasn’t stopping them, but the team will still play hard in order to prove people who think the team won’t try wrong. He has one message for Cowboy fans.

“Just stay with us,” Williams said. “I put a picture on Instagram and said, ‘If you were with us stay with us -- and I mean that to my teammates too -- if you were with us, stay with us.’”

The O’Colly is now publishing a daily newspaper online. To check out our edition online go to www.ocolly. com If you would like to place a display ad please email ads@ocolly.com To place classified advertising email lori@ocolly.com

Horoscope

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (06/08/20). Work together for lucrative gain this year. Disciplined practice leads to satisfying educational discoveries. Resolving an issue with your partner leads to a lucrative boom phase. Adapt strategies for new financial priorities this summer, before personal growth leads to new levels of partnership and romance.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — Share what you’re learning.

Friends can make interesting connections. Stick close to basics and build a collaborative effort on strong foundations. Experience pays.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Forge ahead with a professional project. Your work is gaining respect. Master the rules before breaking them. Smile for the cameras, as the spotlight shifts your way.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Investigate the possibilities. Dig deep and discover a hidden truth. Research and exploration engage your intellectual curiosity. Avoid distractions. Learn new tricks from a master.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Manage financial obligations with your partner’s support. Focus on practical priorities. Strengthen foundational elements. Self-discipline contributes to your shared cause. Coordinate to share the load.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Negotiate and compromise with your partner. Romance can kindle, especially after the chores are done. Find creative ways to reward their practical efforts. Collaboration wins.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Prioritize your physical health and labor. Nurture yourself with good food, rest and exercise. Revise routines with practices for strength and endurance. Pamper your immune system.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Prioritize family fun. Play games and relax. Practice your favorite sports, arts and crafts. Heed wisdom from children.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Household matters call. Strengthen foundational systems with repairs or upgrades. Dedicate disciplined efforts for a beneficial home improvement. Share a feast with the crew.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Get creative. Use your persuasive charms. You can learn what you need to know. Follow directions carefully. Stay cool in chaotic moments. Ask for what’s needed.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Your morale appreciates positive cash flow. Discipline is required. Abundance is available with focused attention and dedicated energy. You can get the necessary resources.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Pamper yourself with small kindnesses. Don’t worry about money, but don’t spend much, either. Savor hot water and fragrant bubbles. Focus on what you love.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 6 — Tranquil settings inspire your imagination. Avoid noise or chaos and find a peaceful hideaway. Meditate on eternal questions. Notice the present moment. Make plans.

MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2020

FOR RELEASE JUNE 8, 2020

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6/8/20

Solution to Saturday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

ACROSS 1 Dada pioneer Jean 4 Closes 9 Newborn horses 14 Keep out of, with “from” 15 Basic belief 16 Boutros-Ghali’s U.N. successor Kofi __ 17 *Plot of a movie, say 19 Sam of “Jurassic Park” 20 Animated film mermaid 21 Give it a shot 23 Docs’ org. with a noted journal 24 Pennsylvanie, par exemple 25 *Single-layer dessert 28 Gridiron pitchout 31 Caught, as a butterfly 32 Kingston Trio hit with the lyric “Fight the fare increase!”

33 Supreme Norse god 35 Equals on a jury 36 *Stock buying or selling directive with a specified price 39 Bingo-like game 42 Dressed in 43 Freshly painted 46 Glue brand 48 London’s theatre district 50 *Nintendo income source 53 Feed bag bits 54 Pince-__ glasses 55 Gangster’s gun 56 Penniless 58 Playful swimmer 60 Temporary ... and how both ends of the answers to starred clues might be described 63 Half-and-half half 64 Giggle sound 65 “The Matrix” hero 66 Fruity desserts 67 Casino lineup 68 ’80s missile prog.

6/8/20

By Kurt Krauss

DOWN 1 Stomach muscles, briefly 2 Machine gun sound 3 Like a fair share 4 Eye affliction 5 Satan’s realm 6 Prefix with cycle 7 First extra inning 8 Cubic meter 9 Devotee 10 Play sans intermission 11 Bring to life 12 Calif. NBAer 13 NBC’s “Weekend Update” show 18 Confirmation, e.g.

22 Japanese money 24 Stately tree 25 “Freudian” oops 26 Flap-doored homes 27 Masthead list, briefly 29 Helicopter parts 30 Big fuss 34 “This minute!”

36 Pooh-pooh 37 Lettered theater locations

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

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38 Dr. of rap 39 Plead with 40 Hyundai sedan 41 Electrical measuring device 43 Loses strength 44 Went in 45 NFL six-pointers 47 Droop 49 Friendly honk 51 Endures

6/8/20

52 Six-decade actress Barrymore 56 Writer Harte 57 Rd. map lines 58 Fall mo.

59 Real estate ad abbr.

61 “Caught you!”

62 Miss Piggy catchword

MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2020

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