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LAS VEGAS -- As Buddy Hields range ballooned past the 3-point arc over his college career -- with his big smile winning over teammates and administrators alike around Oklahomas Norman campus -- Lon Kruger made sure all that went into being Buddy wasnt lost along the way.Not the late-night workouts with reggae music booming off the gym walls. Not the unwavering self-confidence that fueled his transition to a knockdown shooter.Our message to Buddy all year was, Dont change, dont change, said Kruger, the Sooners head coach, in a phone interview. When you start getting those national accolades and recognition and player of the year conversations, dont change, dont change.Even when he received the awards, we said dont change anything. When you get drafted, dont change anything. Youve got something unique and special as a personality. When you get to the NBA, dont change anything.Such a player would seem like an easy fit in a league trying to cash in on an everyman capable of superhuman shot-making. Like?Stephen Curry, Buddy enters his pro career with a ready-made persona,?a backlog of big-game highlights -- including besting a Mini-LeBron in?Ben Simmons?with the almighty 3 -- and the ability to walk the line between charm and confidence. Hes a supremely gifted athlete who also pulled himself up by the boot straps.Hes your buddy, but hes also an on-court killer who idolizes -- and now shares an agent with -- Kobe Bryant.The qualities Buddy has are the ones youd want everyone to have, Kruger said. What I think balances it is sincerity and maybe the work ethic. His peers like him, the coaches like him, the administration likes him, the people in town like him. Its not like he flaunts anything. Its not like he gives off that hes entitled. Its not like hes expecting anything back. Buddys a giver. Which is pretty rare when you think of a player with those abilities.The Buddy brand also comes complete with three self-given alter egos: Buddy Fresh, which hes prone to belt out to spark self-motivation; Buddy Love, which is for the ladies, as he recently told The Starters; and Buddy Buckets, which on draft day lined his suit jacket in Bahaman colors.Ive got good branding skills, he said with a smirk. Attracts the crowd a lot too.Even Buddy is an alias. His mother, in what is now Hield lore, saw a likeness between her infant son and the character Bud Bundy from Married ... with Children, and so his given name Chavano became Buddy.Those who know him well agree it fits.Hes always had that swag, said Sacramento Kings rookie Isaiah Cousins, Hields former roommate at Oklahoma. Its just a part of his culture.His first taste of the NBA, though, hasnt exactly aligned with expectations. In five games at the Las Vegas Summer League, Hield shot worse from the field (32.7 percent) than he did from behind the 3-point arc (46 percent) in his meteoric senior season at Oklahoma.His healthy scoring average of 16.8 points per game places him near the top in Las Vegas, but even Hield admitted after his games here that he hasnt shot this poorly in years.Ill be fine, he said after his fourth game in Las Vegas, in which he went 5-for-17. Its just a learning curve for me. Im not worrying. Im just a little pissed off right now. I didnt get summer league how I wanted it to go. But I gotta keep grinding, man.Hield has shown a willingness to pass, as the sharpshooter has notched five assists in each of the final three games at summer league. And he always seems to be the one loudly encouraging a teammate -- or himself -- on the court.But Hield struggled to handle the ball in the face of pressure and to get separation off the ball. While Hield gives effort on defense, one NBA scout questioned Hields impact on that end of the court -- given his lack of length and instincts.Both Hield and assistant Robert Pack, New Orleans head coach at summer league, noted the extra attention defenses are posting against Hield, given his notoriety and the options around him. In the petri dish that is summer league, the Pelicans used Hield at times to operate the pick-and-roll, but hell more likely be asked to spot up and stretch the floor for the big league club.Everybody just guarding me tight, Hield said. Ive been getting attention as soon as I stepped onto summer league. Everyones just been guarding me tight. Im just trying to find my way. It is what it is, man. Keep grinding, keep getting better. Thats what summer league is for: to learn.When we get back to training camp, guys like Anthony Davis will open the floor more for me. So Im not worrying about it. Ill be fine.The early struggles present a familiar arc. Though Hield said he was always a shooter, Kruger explained that Hield arrived at Oklahoma as more of a slashing, attacking guard. In four years, he grew from a 24 percent 3-point shooter on less than one attempt per game to 46 percent on almost nine such shots a game.He knew from the start that he wanted to improve the shot, improve the mechanics, raise it up a little bit -- and then just spent time, Kruger said. Theres no shortcut with anything. Buddy invested the time and put up the shots.One Pelicans staffer said he is bound to learn reggae by the amount that has been bumping at the practice facility court leading into the New Orleans rookies first minicamp. Hield also told Sports Illustrated that hes not looking to take any time off before the start of training camp, in order to rectify his disappointing debut.Amid his summer league slump, Hield was asked if he ever reverts back to the downhill player he was when he arrived at Oklahoma. He proceeded to talk up a 39-point effort against Iowa State in last seasons Big 12 tournament, during which he made just two 3-pointers.Then the usually fast-talking Hield paused.I just find the way in life, he said.Soccer Jerseys . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Fake Soccer Jerseys . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. https://www.cheapsoccerjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford. Authentic Soccer Jerseys .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. Replica Soccer Jerseys . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others.LUBBOCK, Texas -- Skyler Howard and his West Virginia teammates have had a goal all season to score at least 40 points.They did it and then some on Saturday as the 20th-ranked Mountaineers shut down Texas Tech 48-17. Howard ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to keep the Mountaineers unbeaten and in the hunt for the Big 12 title.It shows that we can do it, Howard said. It all goes back to the confidence.The Mountaineers (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) held Texas Tech (3-3, 1-2) to its lowest offensive output this season, just 379 yards, and harassed quarterback Patrick Mahomes most of the day. He threw for 305 yards, his second-lowest passing total of the season, and was replaced in the fourth quarter by Nic Shimonek.A 14-point turnaround in the second quarter helped the Mountaineers gain momentum. Sean Walters interception at the West Virginia 11 led to a TD pass from Howard to Justin Crawford at the other end of the field to put the Mountaineers up 17-7.We made some plays, got a good lead, Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen said. We were able to control the ball and shorten the game. Thats, in a perfect world, what we wanted to happen and thats what happened.Howard completed 21 of 31 passes for 318 yards. Rushel Shell, who finished with 104 yards rushing for West Virginia, scored two rushing TDs in the fourth quarter as the Mountaineers pulled away.The Mountaineers got solid play from their defense all game, adding to the mojo the offense felt, Howard saidIts always good when the other side of the ball is doing great, he said. The whole team has confidence.Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said his teams performance was embarrassing and not what he expected.Its the worst Ive seen since Ive been associated with Texas Tech, he said. We seemed intimidated and they took it.Kingsbury said some missed practices might be affecting Mahomes rhythm with the team. Holgorsen, though, thought the juniior quarterback was off a bit physically.ddddddddddddMahomes, he needs to get healthy, Holgorsen said. You can tell hes not quite 100 percent right now. But the way he keeps it alive, Ive never seen anything like it. He keeps his eyes down field, makes any throw that you want him to. I mean, hes a fantastic player.TAKEAWAYSWest Virginia: The Mountaineers improved their success dramatically in the red zone. Coming into the game, West Virginia had found the end zone on just eight of 18 trips inside opponents 20 (44 percent). They scored on each of their eight trips there Saturday.Texas Tech: The Red Raiders streak of nine home games with at least 50 points -- an NCAA record -- ended with this loss. Their offense was stymied in every facet by West Virginias defense. Texas Techs run game, which typically sets up the pass, was nearly nonexistent. They finished with just 34 rushing yards.POLL IMPLICATIONS: Its not likely that West Virginia will move up much in The AP Poll after downing an unranked team. But one never knows. They moved up two spots after a bye last weekend.TOO FEW POINTSTexas Techs 17 points were the fewest the Red Raiders have scored since falling to Texas 34-13 in 2014. The second-quarter shutout by WVU snapped a streak of 28 straight quarters in which the Red Raiders have scored.INTERCEPTION STREAKWalters interception was the first of his career, and the team now has one in four straight games. The Mountaineers have forced a turnover in all five games this season and in 10 of their last 11. Walters interception was WVUs sixth of the season.UP NEXT:West Virginia: The Mountaineers host TCU next Saturday.Texas Tech: The Red Raiders host Oklahoma, which is led by former Texas Tech QB Baker Mayfield.---This story corrects spelling of Skyler Howard. ' ' '