Good news for Sooners: Courtney’s streak ends
Courtney Paris’ remarkable 112-game streak of double-doubles — double digit totals in both points and rebounds — ended on an historic Monday night in at the Ford Center.
And that’s a good thing for OU women’s basketball.
On the night the Sooners bounced Tennessee 80-70 (wasn’t that close), Paris’ came a point shy of extended her streak. It wasn’t for lack of trying.
In the final three minutes, the Sooners desperately tried to get Paris points. On four straight possessions, with a commanding lead, OU went to Courtney. She made one basket, bringing her total to nine, and also committed a turnover and missed two shots.
In the final minute, Tennessee fouled Nyeshia Stevenson before OU could set up an offense, then Courtney fouled out on the other end with 41 seconds to go, receiving a rousing and deserved ovation.
But the end of the streak could be the best thing that ever happened to OU and Courtney. The streak had taken on a life of its own, and nowhere was that more evident than the final few minutes of the OU-Tennessee game.
The Sooners were about to record one of the most monumental wins in school history, their victory over the giants of the sport, and yet all focus was on an individual pursuit. It all seemed a little awkward, and don’t throw stones at ESPN’s Bobby Knight for saying so. Knight was right.
Anytime individual records rise to this level, it’s not good for team chemistry. I’m not saying any Sooner was jealous about Courtney’s ample accomplishments. But when individual records trump team goals, it’s not good.
Coaches preach team, team, team. But that sermon can be compromised if an individual situation arises, even if all intentions are honorable.
And truth is, the streak had taken on a life of its own. Several times this year, OU clearly was trying to extend the streak.
Against Creighton, Paris reached double-digit points with 1:54 left, leading 64-44.
Against Missouri, Paris reached 10 points with 6:55 left and OU up 69-38.
Against Texas A&M, Paris extended the streak with a basket with 58 seconds left in a 65-54 game.
Against Saint Louis, Paris scored two baskets in the final 4:04 to reach 11 points, the first with the score 81-55.
The streak raised some eyebrows a year ago, when OU played in a tournament in Mexico and asked for a box-score change after reviewing the tape, seeking more rebounds for Paris to extend the streak. The adjustment was legit, but still, that was a sign that the streak was important in Soonerville. Maybe too important.
Anytime individual accomplishments become so central to an organization, it can throw a team off track. These Sooners are by no means off track, but OU will be much better off down the stretch focusing entirely on team goals.
Courtney, too, might be better freed from the pressure of extending the streak. She’s her usual productive self; though her numbers are down, that’s largely the result of more weapons among her teammates.
This Oklahoma season has a chance to ultra successful. But you don’t reach the Final Four and you don’t beat Connecticut without all-out commitment to the team. And OU’s fascination with the streak — even if it’s not necessariy Courtney who was fascinated with it — could have been a hurdle.
That hurdle is gone now. The streak is recorded for history and will be hard-pressed to ever be matched. But the streak’s demise could be a good for the Sooners.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
I think that it is important that the highest priority is the success of the team. However, if our players can also excel individually, I believe it should be encouraged. I see nothing wrong with trying to extend the streak as long as the team is not negatively impacted.
This not only positively affects the individual (since Courtney may ultimately be regarded as the best collegiate basketball player in history), but may serve a role in improving recruiting.
Couldn’t agree more. Basketball is a team sport. Individual streaks are important only in golf and tennis.
well the streak is over and the burden of keeping it going. now courtney can relax and play even better too help out her team in anyway. way too go lady sooners we came down from olney,tx too witness oklahoma sooner basketball in the making. when tenn was up 33-18 alot of teams would have folded, but oklahoma came back and made a game of it. my 15 year old lindsey said it best the lady sooners have the heart of a lion and a champion. we love the guys and girls teams both are rated #2 in the nation. stay together have fun and always encourage others around you. boomer-sooner.
Berry’s article was spot on. Yes it good for a player to excel and strive for individual records but not just for the sake of the record itself. Pursuing a record in and of itself will always take away from a team’s balanced approach to success. C.Paris is a great player and I’m quite sure no one on the team is less selfish than she. Like Tramel said this thing just took on a life of its own and was becoming a burden on the whole team.
let’s just set it straight. It is women’s basketball and if this was men’s 1) it would never happen 2) if it did- there would be thousands of comments of the significance of the mark. The fact that there are only this few comments speaks volumes. It was a manufactured streak and Courtney is not the ball player her sister is at the moment. THAT should be the story, how Ashley is passing up Courtney on the court.
Not that I’m a Bob Knight fan at all but he made that very comment during the last minute of the game. He stated clearly that he thought Ashley was the better player. She’s definitely the more aggresive player. As far as the “streak” it’s superficial if the rest of the players have to feed you the ball until you finally surpass the 10 points. However, I found myself not wanting to see it end as well.
So if the streak is manufactured if anyone passes her the ball, only points scored without an assist count towards such a streak? That’s ridiculous! Yes, the streak was prolonged because of particular efforts to reach it, but once the ball got to Courtney, she still had to put it in the basket. No easy feat, or else all you detractors would be on the court rather that this comment board. All that said, I am glad the streak is over as well so the focus can be on the team, rather than split between the team and the streak.
I agree. It was a wonderful streak, but it’s a good thing that it’s over. As tournament time gets closer, the Sooners need to worry about winning games, not about extending Courtney’s record.