“I just feel it’s disrespectful to the flag and to the nation. It bugs me,” says one Sooners fan, Dick Murphy, who served in the military before retiring to Norman. He isn’t alone. Many other Oklahoma fans are speaking out against the practice, which began earlier this decade (school officials couldn’t more closely pinpoint when it started). Oklahoma president David Boren agrees, saying,

“I strongly believe that the words to the national anthem should never be changed. Especially the word “brave” should be sung because it can be taken as a reference to those who have fought and given their lives for our country. I sincerely hope our fans will choose to sing the national anthem with the words as they are written and then shout ‘Go Sooners’ just after the anthem is finished. To me that approach is more appropriate and honors both our country and university.”

Soon, there may be as big of a group yelling “brave” as their is yelling “Sooners” at the end of the anthem. Fans note, however, that this shouldn’t have to be a shouting match. Those yelling the incorrect word likely don’t mean disrespect to the country or the men and women serving in the military today. They’ve noted that it is just fun, and that they’re “just words.”

Picture via sxc.hu.

Post from: EveryJoe

Oklahoma: Home of the…Sooners?

Image: Newscom

Now, BYU isn’t a bad team by any stretch of the imagination, but the Sooners were highly favored and things fell apart during the second half, as Bradford stood on the sidelines. So that begs the question: Can Oklahoma win without their start quarterback?

If he misses the maximum four games, the Sooners will play against the following teams without him:

1. Idaho State
2. Tulsa
3. #20 Miami
4. Baylor

In addition, it would mean that he’d be coming back, unpracticed for the most part, against #2 Texas. Ouch.

The real threat on this list of potential missed games is, of course, Miami. They defeated Florida State last week and could be an end to Oklahoma’s potential BCS bowl season. Don’t count Tulsa out of it either. They’re not a flashy team, but without Bradford, the sooners might not be able to get enough points on the board to defeat them. It’s a long shot for Tulsa…but then, Oklahoma should have been able to beat BYU too. Stranger things have happened.

Knowing Bradford, I expect him back for the Miami game. Everyone is different when it comes to healing, though, and if his shoulder still hurts significantly, I hope he doesn’t risk further damage by trying to practice and play.

Post from: EveryJoe

Can Oklahoma Win without Bradford?

Oklahoma was never even in this one as it lost to unranked Arkansas 98-88 tonight in Fayetteville, Ark.

The Sooners (10-1) trailed in the first half 53-38 and led by as many as 25, but Oklahoma made a nice run, but fell short.

Oklahoma freshman Willie Warren led all scorers with 35 points, while Blake Griffin had 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Michael Washington was one of six Razorbacks to score in double figures with 24 points and snatched 11 rebounds for his his sixth double-double this season.

And could someone tell me why Arkansas isn’t ranked?

According to a tidbit by the Associated Press, the Razorbacks (10-1) have won eight straight, including four of its last five versus ranked teams and six straight versus the Top 25 at home.

Instead, we keep seeing the same old teams like Davidson, Marquette, Kansas and Memphis come in and out of the top 25 like a revolving door.

Have the brains that vote on the top 25 realized that last season is over?

Post from: EveryJoe

No. 4 Oklahoma is no match for unranked Arkansas

–Stephen Curry LAUNCHED 15 three’s against the Sooners yesterday in a 4 point defeat. He only made 6 of them. Taking 29 shots to score 44 points isn’t the type of efficiency a team looks for from their PG.

–Bryant Barr had a lousy game, only connecting on 1-9 field goals.

–Davidson showed their explosiveness for sure. Oklahoma had a 21 point lead and in a blink of an eye Davidson had it down to 7. It was a very entertaining game to say the least, even if I was reminded of my blah high school b-ball days of actually driving past a defender (rare) to only then absolutely brick an 10 foot floater. I’m talking about you Bryant Barr.

–Blake Griffin scored 25 and pulled down 21 boards. Brother Taylor contributed quite a bit too, scoring 16. Willie Warren looked like a stud, some kind of Baron Davis, Anthony Morrow hybrid.

–Indiana squeaked by IUPUI 60-57. Indiana led by 11 at halftime against the cupcake half-brother.

– The Friars of Providence out gunned the Dartmouth… hold on… Big Green. And Friar Blog just wants to be able to watch his friggin team play some basketball.

STAT of the DAY

Seth Curry, Liberty guard and younger brother of Stephen Curry, led the team in scoring with 18, but did so on 17 shots from the field. Liberty got bit by UNC-Asheville 84-56.

Post from: EveryJoe

North Dakota State doubles up opponent

Davidson hit 10 threes en route to a 35 point shellacking of James Madison.

Hence, now, the Davidson-Oklahoma dandy.

The winner will take on the winner of Arizona-UAB game.

Oklahoma is favored by (3.5)

Both teams are deep and certainly capable of putting a pounding on one another. Andrew Lovedale on Blake Griffin will be an important matchup to watch. Keep Blake under control and allow it to be close going into the last 5 minutes… let the Stephen Curry show take over.

It’s not often you get to watch two fifths of the AP All-America Team battle it out.

From the NewsOK

As for the matchup of All-Americans, Curry said he didn’t know much about Griffin.
“I know he’s a preseason All-American,” he said, “and one of the best returning guys in college basketball.”
That description fits two tonight inside Lloyd Noble, creating a matchup that has drawn requests from 18 NBA scouts.

STAT of the DAY

Monday night featured a couple of upsets, but none were as interesting as the Oakland Grizzlies victory @ Oregon. Not only did Oakland not have the service of their leading scorer and rebounder (Derick Nelson), but they had to depend on 5′11 point guard Johnathon Jones for buckets, 13 of them in fact, to sneak out an overtime victory out west.

This win also was the Summit League’s first win over a DI team this season.

Note- Here’s a recap of the Cornell-St. Johns game that I wrongly predicted.

Post from: EveryJoe

Davidson @ Oklahoma 9:30 ESPN 2

In no particular order and in no particular feeling of confidence either:

**** Scoff at it, just get mad at it UofA fans. Your team will lay an egg this year but totally get hot and win the NIT.

^ Addition by subtraction in Texas—ludicrous to say maybe, but D.J. and A.J. were beguiling wonders on the court that irrevocably held back the Longhorns from placing more impactful punches against stronger fighters.

$ The Spartans will further cement themselves as the college version of the 21st century Detroit Pistons. Each has won one championship, yet both fan bases are becoming impatient with the standstill success. So much talent yet so little to show for it.

#!#@ Calling Conference USA a power conference was a little wishful. That statement, although made while sober, still feels dirty, but it could end up alright. Just hoping Vaden or some other power conference guy can make a run at the scoring title.

? Calling Northwestern a NIT team was an undemonstrative springboard to tomfoolery, as this season I will probably be glued to all news NW basketball, akin to the energy I gave them during the Jitim Young and Tavaras Hardy days.

(Preview of Big Ten season)—Probably the most accurate prediction of the Big Ten season as you will find, minus the Michigan placement. No Big Ten quality pg will be available to suit up for the Wolvies until the second semester.—-

% Hasheem Thabeet is ready for a monster year and a long run into the tourney. It would not be surprising to see the Huskies stay in the top 5 for the entire season, especially if Thabeet can average 14.5ppg, 9 reb and more than 4 blk. Just think about the terror an offensively skilled Thabeet would be.

高人 Speaking of impact big men, one should keep an eye out for UNC-Asheville’s Kenny George. When fresh, he’s really not much different than your rudimentary 7 foot center, except for the fact George can regularly hit free throws and, while this might not seem feasible, still surprises many guards with his length. After awhile you’d think they would find new ways to attack a 7’7 dude, but often they make the same mistake over and over. However the time to attack George is when he’s sucking major air. Not exactly an original idea, yet, for huge guy, the opportunities present themselves much more frequently.

It’s almost as of George has decent enough foot speed to move laterally and react, but it’s the body that often takes awhile to catch up. If the coach can really substitute him frequently and wisely, UNC-Asheville will be the best in the Big South.

The next two are direct matchup predictions.

$$$ The Big Ten will once again fall to the superior ACC and it will, as it has always been, be because of the significant back of the conference weakness’s of the Big Ten. Need I go further?

\&/ The Fighting Irish will beat the Tar Heels in the finals of the Maui Invitational.

So with that out of the way,

#1

My pick to win the whole enchilada.

Discuss.

photo credit: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Ahhh Finally

Here are the latest victims of the injury bug:

Florida State guard Isaiah Swann tore his left ACL in the Seminole’s victory over Miami on Wednesday night and will be out indefinitely. Swann was a regular starter for the Seminoles and his absence will definitely hurt the Noles in their ACC battles.

Oklahoma center Longar Longar broke a bone in his right leg and will be out indefinitely. Longar was the Sooners’ second leading scorer at 13.2 points per game.

Arizona point guard Nic Wise suffered a torn meniscus last week and underwent knee surgery on Wednesday. Doctors anticipate Wise could be out of action four to six weeks. Wise is the Wildcats’ only true point guard, and his injury will drastically change how Arizona runs its offense.

Post from: EveryJoe

Injury update – February 8th