Morning Hangover: D-League Draft, Malcolm Williams and Kevin Durant’s clutchness

The Morning Hangover gets you caught up on sports stories that pertain to the Austin area, every weekday morning. Because laziness is the thing to do, especially on a Friday.

Graydon Gordian of 48 Minutes of Hell – “In other news, the Toros selected Alonzo Gee in the first round of the NBA Development League draft. The 6-6, 200 lb forward was a productive member of the Spurs Summer League team. The Toros also selected guard Russell Carter (6-4, 200 Notre Dame), guard Lewis Clinch (6-3, 195 Georgia Tech), Forward Ira Brown (6-4, 200 Gonzaga), forward David McClure (6-6, 205 Duke), forward Quemont Greer (6-7, 240 DePaul), center Augustine Okosun (6-10, 230 Northwood University), and forward D’Mond Grismore (6-6, 220 Huston-Tillotson University).”

Suzanne Halliburton of the Austin American-Statesman – “And these days, the graceful, 6-foot-3-inch, 220-pound [Malcolm] Williams is enjoying catching the ball. It seems he’s finally living up to recruiting buzz that had him rated one of the top 100 prep players in the country when he graduated from Garland High School in 2007. Williams always has had a reputation as a big-play receiver. His 91-yard touchdown reception last year against Texas Tech was the longest play by any Longhorn since 2001. It is the fifth-longest play in school history. That night in Lubbock, Williams caught four passes for 182 yards. Yet, his receptions for the season totaled only 304 yards. Though recognized for his big-play ability, Williams also has been equally known for his drops. It’s the reason he didn’t earn a starting spot until two weeks ago. That’s when Mack Brown and offensive coordinator Greg Davis decided to bench two receivers and insert Williams and Marquise Goodwin alongside Jordan Shipley in the starting lineup.”

Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman – “It wasn’t until Thursday morning that Durant recuperated from the repulsive feeling of what he later realized was the toughest loss of his young career. ‘I had the game in my hands twice — and I didn’t come through,’ said a more talkative Durant on Thursday, after also being tightlipped to reporters following the game. ‘But people told me that great players have a short memory. So that’s what I have to learn how to do.’ Durant’s first opportunity to truly put Tuesday’s failures to rest comes tonight at the Toyota Center, where the Thunder will meet Houston at 7:30. Against the Rockets, Durant desperately wants to bounce back from his scoreless, 0-for-5 shooting performance in the fourth quarter and overtime. More than anything, he wants to snap the Thunder’s two-game losing streak and get back on the right side of .500. But after Tuesday’s showing, a significant sidebar has become Durant’s ability to finish games. It’s a story line that played out throughout last season and one Durant wasn’t supposed to be addressing just four games into 2009-10. The difference, though, between then and now is Durant isn’t as caught up with simply hitting the game-winner. He’s come back determined to make the right play when the game is on the line.”

Tyler Mayforth of the San Marcos Daily Record – “The Bobcats don’t go on road trips — they take business trips. Texas State, as a team, transforms into a squad of CEOs once the bus or plane wheels start rolling. ‘We take an attitude with us on the road that it’s just business,’ Bobcat quarterback Bradley George said. ‘You can focus better on the road and not worry about what’s happening Thursday or Friday night. I don’t know how many we’ve won on the road, but it’s been quite a few, so obviously it’s working.’ Texas State has actually won seven consecutive SLC games away from the friendly confines of Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats’ last loss was at the hands of Central Arkansas in 2007 — who they play Saturday night at 6 p.m. ‘I can’t even remember back to 2007,’ Texas State head coach Brad Wright said. ‘I know we didn’t do well, but these are two completely different teams on the field now.’ “

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