The best kind of loss for OU
OU’s 73-68 loss at Texas on Saturday night was the best kind of defeat a team can have. No matter what Jeff Capel said about wanting no moral victories, the Sooners grew as a team down in Austin.
They were staggered with two mighty blows: 1) the loss of Blake Griffin, first for foul trouble in the first half and then with a concussion for the rest of the game; and 2) a Texas run that appeared to make the game primed for blowout. And yet OU did not wither.
The Sooners rallied from a 41-29 deficit to take a 43-41 lead. And after Texas led 50-50 midway through the second half, the Sooners stormed back for a 61-56 lead. So in the second half, against a good team that was playing for its life in front of a frenzied crowd that smelled Sooner blood, OU had runs of 14-0 and 11-0. all without its bellcow.
That will help OU in so many fronts, while hurting on none, other than the sting of a solitary defeat.
1. The game did not hurt OU in the Big 12 standings. The Sooners were going to need to beat Kansas on Monday night no matter what happened in Austin, Texas. Oh, I guess if OU beats KU, then loses at Missouri, and KU wins out, then that game in Austin will loom large, but that’s a bunch of ifs. The big conference game is Monday night at the Lloyd Noble Center.
2. The game did not hurt OU in the NCAA Tournament seedings. First of all, the Sooners — along with Pitt, UConn and North Carolina — still seem in great shape for a No. 1 seed. And the NCAA committee, for better or for worse, microscopes games, so that it will know that OU lost Griffin for most of the Texas game. That loss won’t be held against the Sooners.
3. Best of all, this game will fortify the Sooners. OU comes away from this game with more confidence than if it had beaten Texas with a healthy Griffin. Knowing they can play well without Griffin will be a great confidence boost for this team. OU seemed to be lost early without Griffin (with him, too, frankly) but found its bearings and went to the wire with Texas.
The Longhorns played well. A.J. Abrams got hot and seemed to make every big shot down the stretch. Damion James was dominant inside. And yet OU almost won.
Tony Crocker’s tying 3-pointer bounced off in the final five seconds, and just before that Dexter Pittman rebounded a Texas miss and put in a shot that gave UT a 71-68 lead. Give OU that rebound — or heck, give Taylor Griffin a foul, since he was trying to hack Pittman — and who knows how the game ends.
OU found a ballplayer who could produce. Ryan Wright was solid in relief of Griffin, playing 20 minutes (Juan Pattillo played only 14; Wright got after it more than did Pattillo).
All in all, an excellent night for the Sooners. No victory, but just about anything else OU could have asked for from a ballgame. So long as Blake Griffin is healthy for Kansas.
-------------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
The disease that is spreading is you, David. Two years removed from not making the NIT and you want to start the fire the coach parade. Get some perspective on how far the program has come. We got blown out, with Blake, just last year in Austin. There are worse things in sports than losing bcs title games and having to sit on your couch today breaking down the game tape from Austin after you finish off a twelve pack. Get rid of your sense of entitlement and appreciate what Joe C. Has built down in Norman.
David seems like a glass half empty kind of guy. We knew we had a coach before the Texas game, and now we know we have a team. These guys can play and now the TEAM knows it too. Great effort on Saturday night. There’s no QUIT in these guys! See you at the final four David!
David is definately a glass half empty. Heart, soul. And brain half empty too. I am not quite sure what team he has been watching. Anyhow, bravo to the Sooners as they played a solid game w/o the key player.
What about Willie Warren’s 27 points?!? Don’t leave him out.
Also up top with the former OU football players, could you include Leon Heath? I go back a long way & he was my guy.
You do such a good job with your columns & blogs.
Thanks,
Carolyn
Circle the wagons cause it is all down hill from here. I am just saying don’t get your hopes up. The past 18 years have been mediocre at best. The last great game was a cold, icy day in Norman versus UNLV. If Mookie didn’t try to be a glory grabber in the NC game in KC things would have been different. When you settle for second place, this is what you get.
Before the game started we all knew they were going to lose. The disease has spread to basketball. Don’t expect a Final Four run-you will just be disappointed again. One man shows rarely workout. You need a team. Coach to win. Win on the foul line, get the easy bucket, call a timeout and play defense not pray for a three point shot to go in. This script has been played out… is anyone else had enough of it?