OUstud
3/23/2009, 11:27 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney09/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=4007346#tabtop
No. 2 Oklahoma
How did the Sooners get here? Oklahoma outclassed Morgan State in the opener, winning by 28 and then holding off a gritty Michigan by 10 in the second round.
Oklahoma played some of its best stretches of basketball in Kansas City for the first time since national player of the year favorite Blake Griffin returned from a concussion suffered in late February. The Sooners looked the part of a potential national title team in stretches of the two games at the Sprint Center. They had the requisite balance needed to feel confident they can advance.
Who's hot? Griffin. The Big 12 has been on quite a run of late, with Texas' Kevin Durant and Kansas State's Michael Beasley as featured tourney players in consecutive seasons. But neither reached the Sweet 16. It would have been a shame if Griffin was out before the second weekend of the tournament. He has a shot to be in uniform when the awards are given out at the Final Four. Griffin poured in 33 points and grabbed 17 boards in the win over Michigan.
Who's not? Tony Crocker's offense hasn't clicked despite doing an outstanding job on Michigan's Manny Harris (3-of-9) defensively. Crocker was 0-of-4 on 3s and got his four points from the line in the win over the Wolverines.
What does this mean for the program? Oklahoma has a rich history in hoops and Jeff Capel has the look of a coach who isn't going to fade away, assuming he stays in Norman. But this is easily the best chance the Sooners have of winning the title since they were in the 1988 title game under Billy Tubbs. OU had to at least get to the Sweet 16 with Griffin still in the lineup.
Drama factor so far? There was some in the Michigan game as the Wolverines trailed by only one point at the half. OU started to click midway through the second half as it stretched a five-point lead with five minutes left into a seven- and then nine- and then 12-point lead over a four-minute period. The drama was when Morgan State's Ameer Ali flipped Griffin in the first round. Griffin's acrobatic move to land on his tailbone and not his neck was the most angst-ridden moment for this squad and its fan base.
No. 2 Oklahoma
How did the Sooners get here? Oklahoma outclassed Morgan State in the opener, winning by 28 and then holding off a gritty Michigan by 10 in the second round.
Oklahoma played some of its best stretches of basketball in Kansas City for the first time since national player of the year favorite Blake Griffin returned from a concussion suffered in late February. The Sooners looked the part of a potential national title team in stretches of the two games at the Sprint Center. They had the requisite balance needed to feel confident they can advance.
Who's hot? Griffin. The Big 12 has been on quite a run of late, with Texas' Kevin Durant and Kansas State's Michael Beasley as featured tourney players in consecutive seasons. But neither reached the Sweet 16. It would have been a shame if Griffin was out before the second weekend of the tournament. He has a shot to be in uniform when the awards are given out at the Final Four. Griffin poured in 33 points and grabbed 17 boards in the win over Michigan.
Who's not? Tony Crocker's offense hasn't clicked despite doing an outstanding job on Michigan's Manny Harris (3-of-9) defensively. Crocker was 0-of-4 on 3s and got his four points from the line in the win over the Wolverines.
What does this mean for the program? Oklahoma has a rich history in hoops and Jeff Capel has the look of a coach who isn't going to fade away, assuming he stays in Norman. But this is easily the best chance the Sooners have of winning the title since they were in the 1988 title game under Billy Tubbs. OU had to at least get to the Sweet 16 with Griffin still in the lineup.
Drama factor so far? There was some in the Michigan game as the Wolverines trailed by only one point at the half. OU started to click midway through the second half as it stretched a five-point lead with five minutes left into a seven- and then nine- and then 12-point lead over a four-minute period. The drama was when Morgan State's Ameer Ali flipped Griffin in the first round. Griffin's acrobatic move to land on his tailbone and not his neck was the most angst-ridden moment for this squad and its fan base.