High Noon Highlights(2/20): Athletes named to award watch lists

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Austin Eckroat named to Ben Hogan Award watch list:

Oklahoma State golfer Austin Eckroat has been named to the 2020 Ben Hogan Award watch list. The junior appeared in last year’s National Championship.

The Ben Hogan Award is given annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or II, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during a 12-month period from June to May.

A native of Edmond, Okla., Eckroat was named a second-team All-American a year ago by Golfweek Magazine and a third-team pick by the GCAA. The junior was named a first-team All-Big 12 selection as well as an Academic All-Big 12 honoree. {Okstate.com}

Vivan Gray on watch list for Wade Trophy:

Cowgirl Basketball’s Vivian Gray is also on watch. She has been named to the Wade Award watch list.

The distinction adds to a list of recent honors for the native of Argyle, Texas, who last week was named one of 10 finalists for the Cheryl Miller Award, which is presented to the nation’s top small forward.

Gray ranks among the Big 12’s leaders in numerous categories. She currently ranks third in scoring at 19.8 points per outing, ninth in assists at 3.7 per game, third in free-throw percentage at 84.5 percent, ninth with her 1.8 steals, 15th with her 1.5 made 3-pointers per game and eighth in assist-turnover ratio. Additionally, she is limiting her defensive assignments to just 29 percent shooting from the floor and 9.4 points per outing. {Okstate.com}

Jim Knowles Big 12 adjustments:

There’s a really cool X’s and O’s piece on the adjustments made by OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles in 2019.

The main adjustment that Knowles made from 2018 to 2019 was to play a base dime by spinning safety Malcolm Rodriguez down to weakside linebacker. The Cowboys also changed their lineup by promoting Amen Ogbongbemiga to starting linebacker, which proved a major boon to the unit.

With dime personnel and a three-down pre-snap alignment the Cowboys had the ability to disguise who’d be where when they played bracket quarters, match 3 (pattern-matching cover 3), or blitzing. {sportstreatise.com}

Around the Big 12:

Texas Tech should go after grad transfer

Big 12 should follow ACC

Around Sports:

How the Golden Knights drove Vegas mad

How the Miracle on Ice happened

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