Upon their arrival to campus each fall, Oral Roberts head coach Paul Mills makes all his players make 20,000 shots. He gives them six weeks to do it.
This season, Kevin Obanor completed the challenge in six days.
For Ohio State on Friday, it might have felt like Obanor and teammate Max Abmas made 20,000 in two hours. ORU’s dynamic duo combined to pour in 59 points and lead the Golden Eagles to a stunning 75–72 first-round upset over the No. 2 seed Buckeyes.
It was a moment only March Madness could provide: A pair of underrecruited, slightly undersized stars leading an Oklahoma private school of just over 4,000 students past one of the largest brands in college sports.