Blake Griffin was indifferent.

The man was just too much for the smaller, weaker Michigan Wolverines.  And the officials were too much for them as well, but I don’t like to make excuses.

Image: Newscom

The Sooner starting five is splendidly well rounded and can score inside and out.  There’s not too much to gripe about between that bunch.

But the bench.

It’s been lacking all season.

Against Michigan 18 minutes total for the Sooner bench.   No field goals made and no real influence on the game.  It wouldn’t be a big deal if it didn’t happen so often.  But it does.

Jeff Capel is to blame.

You can’t win the whole thing without a competent bench.  How is the bench suppose to be effective if they don’t get any minutes?   Forward Juan Pattillo is capable of playing extended minutes. He’s athletic and extremely active on defense.  In 15 min/gm he averages over a 6 points and a block.

Yet Capel has fallen in love too much with his starting five, especially the Griffin bros.

You know, I really don’t blame him much.

But come the round of 16 where a likely matchup with Syracuse looms, don’t expect for the Sooners to survive the Orange big men without some contributions from other big(s).  It’s probably up to Mr. Pattillo.  I think Capel has given up on Ryan Wright.

Post from: EveryJoe

Poster Material

The 15th annual John Wooden Classic at the Honda Center (formally the Pond, a much cooler name) in Anaheim, CA, Dec. 13, will feature UCLA facing off against DePaul, and in a sleeper, San Diego State will play St. Mary’s in the doubleheader.

I could never figure out why the organizers just make this a two-day tournament, or even an 8-team tournament. The Wooden Classic has attracted top teams in the past and turning it into a tournament would give it bigger prestige as the only top preseason tournament out here on the west coast.

Now if you want to talk about prestige and top teams, West Virginia, Texas, Villanova and last year’s NCAA tournament darlings Davidson will play in the Jimmy V Classic Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Villanova reached the Sweet 16 losing to eventual champion Kansas. Davidson, which came within a basketball of reaching the Final Four also lost to Kansas in the Elite Eight. Texas reached the Elite Eight and lost to runner-up Memphis, and West Virginia, the only team not to lose to Kansas or Memphis, reached the Sweet 16 losing to Xavier.

Post from: EveryJoe

John Wooden and Jimmy V Classics Announcements

Knight has been terrific on ESPN as an analyst, and I hope he keeps it going.

Post from: EveryJoe

Bobby Knight discusses the Sweet 16 teams