Trouble in paradise for Sooners
The apparently-temporary absence of Blake Griffin was supposed to make the Sooners stronger mentally and emotionally. You know, one of those let’s-all-put-together moments that can make a team more resilient.
So why is Juan Pattillo getting suspended? The Oklahoma supersub, whose insertion into the rotation from redshirt status gave the Sooners a huge lift in mid-January, will miss the Sooners’ game Saturday at Texas Tech for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
So much for pulling together. Just when the Sooners need Pattillo most — a two-game losing streak in Griffin’s absence, compounded by his uncertain status down this homestretch — Pattillo does something to get in Jeff Capel’s doghouse.
This is where the wheels could come off. Some seasons arrive at a crossroads. Things are going great, special things appear on the horizon, then here comes a bump. Adversity arrives. The special teams fight through it, the weak teams succumb to it and the unlucky teams suffer through the unavoidable loss of a key member.
Right now, the Sooners aren’t fighting through it. Capel called out starters Austin Johnson and Tony Crocker for their dazed play against Kansas, and now OU goes to Tech without Pattillo and probably without Griffin.
There is plenty of time to regroup — March doesn’t arrive until Sunday — but that plenty status starts decreasing and soon. Griffin must return physically. Johnson and Crocker must return mentally. Pattillo must return physically and mentally.
As is, OU’s front line of Taylor Griffin and Ryan Wright, I guess now with Orlando Allen off the bench, should be enough against Tech, which is weak inside. But the Red Raiders played tough at Texas on Wednesday night, and an OU defeat in Lubbock would officially proclaim this Sooner team into free-fall.
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.
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Comments
I’ve been a Sooner fan for over 50 years in every possible sport. Over the past 20 years, I’ve lived in hostile environments outside of OK. I love to irritate people with OU this and OU that… This season has been special for OU basketball in both men and women!! Blake is truly a great player but I see several other great players when they choose to play team basketball and contribute. Saturday it is time to see Johnson, Cricker, Warren, Taylor and the Elk City rising star step up and get it done. Blake we look forward to your return when you are healthy.
The Paris girls need to rally the team and get er done this week!!
I understand Barry has to come up with something to write about, but this is a stretch to me. One guy is injured and one guy gets suspended for one game. This is supposed to signal the end of a dream season? I don’t think so. Griffin will be healthy come Big 12 Tourney time. Patillo, if he as any brains at all, will realize the stupidity of his actions and this team will regroup and regain its dominance over the conference. I would file this column by Barry in the category of sensationalistic journalism. It has no factual basis and he has no inside information to suggest that there is any turmoil other than Patillo’s one game suspension. I, like most Sooner fans will continue to focus on the positive and look ahead to the post season where I know OU will hit its stride. Boomer Sooner!!!
Earl, Berry is right. This team could fall apart any minute. Without the leadership they need from their starters (AJ and Crocker) they will fall apart. These two guys are losers who accept themselves as roll players and don’t want to step up to make any plays when it’s on them. All they did on Monday was sit and watch Warren try to make some moves. Sounds like this team needs some leaders and I hope someone steps up soon! Maybe Taylor will…
I trust in Capel. The man has a plan. He sat some starters at the end of the Kansas game to make a point – even if he danced around that question in the post-game. There is no guarantee all will be fixed. The Missouri game will be viewed as the current litmus test for this club – a team that may have built up its resume against less than stellar competition. Win at Missouri – something Kansas couldn’t do – and the Sooner Schooner will have plenty of media along for the ride. Individual games or a couple here and there just don’t matter that much until March.
Why do they have to write such moronic articles? Any Sooner faithful knows that if we had Blake in the last 2 games, We would have won them both. I am currently in Wichita, Ks and can’t stand KU, But after the win they act like they have won it all and the OU bashing began. Play us with our full team and see what the outcome is Jayhawks and maybe some of these sports writers should move up here, they would fit in with all the OU bashing. BOOMER SOONER
Berry (or jenni) why dont you patrol the OU chatboeard and find out why he got suspended? Heard something about Warren also.
Yeah and the Bulls didn’t do so well while Jordan sat out either…Capel has control of his team, no need to worry.
sooner players someone has too step up until blake gets back, this is a team effort and you guys quit standing around and waiting for someone too take charge. just do it and play oklahoma basketball. see you in lubbock. my family will be there for your support, i do not want too see any sooner players feeling sorry or pointing fingers at each other. play like a (25-3) team should do. make plays and have fun and encourage each other. will you are a special player and leader on the floor. juan keep doing what you do best and austin handle the ball more better and not throw the ball away forcing it in will hurt alot of teams on turnovers. show the tech fans oklahoma came too play. they will e hostile there so you might as well be ready for them and take it out on the court too tech. lets get back on track. boomer-sooner-ou-johnny.