Bedlam Breakdown
By John Helsley
This Big 12 Tournament may lack intriguing story lines, especially today in the first round, but at least for us, there’s Bedlam.
And for Cowboys fans, this is surely a Bedlam pairing to savor.
In boxing terms, the Sooners are out on their feet, losers of eight straight and headed toward their worst season in decades. Decades.
Things have deteriorated rapidly since Blake and Taylor Griffin left Norman. And coach Jeff Capel has been forced to push every button imaginable in an effort to goose a squad that has revealed chemistry issues, flat performances and an aversion to team defense.
Willie Warren is out with an injury. Tiny Gallon could be limited by injury.
And by all indications, the season can’t end soon enough.
The Cowboys are here to oblige.
With the Soones wobbling against the ropes, the Cowboys could create a KO with one decent blow, unless Bedlam stirs something extra — something seldom seen from the Sooners of late — in their arch-enemy.
“They’re here for a whole different purpose and we’re here for a purpose and both teams are going to get after it,” said Cowboys star James Anderson.
OSU’s purpose: Publicly, a Big 12 Tournament title, which won’t come easy with the grind of four wins in four days needed. But mainly, the Cowboys can improve their NCAA Tournament seed with two wins, rising off that dreaded 8-9 spot in the bracket that everyone seems to have them occupying. Oh, and the joy of a Bedlam beatdown for the like of Anderson and Oklahoma natives Obi Muonelo and Nick Sidorakis and Keiton Page.
OU’s purpose: Presumably the spoils — or spoiler — of Bedlam, although frankly, I’m not sure many in this Sooner roster appreciate the rivalry yet.
The Cowboys should have posted a regular season Bedlam sweep, if not for a head injury that took Anderson out of Round 1 in Norman. They blistered the Sooners in Stillwater in Round 2.
Now Round 3 brings Cowboys fans something to savor.
Keys to the game
1. Get off quick. The Cowboys go as their shooters go. If Anderson, Muonelo and Page show some stroke from the perimeter early, the rout could be on. If not, the Sooners could find some confidence and some reason for hanging around.
2. Slowing TMG. Sooners guard Tommy Mason-Griffin popped the Cowboys for 30 points in Gallagher-Iba Arena, more than any player scored on OSU this season. He’s capable of keeping OU in it.
3. Inside presence. One of the keys to OSU’s stretch run has been the emergence of Matt Pilgrim. He’s capable of neutralizing Gallon and doing his own damage in the paint.
Prediction: Cowboys 85-72
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Comments
Even worse Karma: Recruiting athletes full of talent and lacking brains and class. OU is reaping what Capel sowed when he recruited those boneheads. Go Pokes.
This is one of those games where all indication are that OSU should win comfortably. The lines I just checked had OSU -6.5 or -7. Vegas was built on other people’s money. That indicates to me it may just be an OU win. I wouldn’t bet on OU, but I’ll at least watch and see what happens.
This will most likely be a good game. I like how the Oklahoman is setting themselves up for the “they were suppose to win…. what an easy game” articles, and praying for the “even a strugling OU team can beat the pokes” Title.
Cowboys by fifteen. Ford will clear the bench to save strength for tomorrow and K state. Sooners won’t even get an invite to the NIT or CBA. This is their last game this season.
The outcome may matter to some but it will not change much. Next week OSU will be playing in the NCAA and OU won’t be. Maybe OU can play Wapa-chatta-arrow for the state crown? Then maybe they could learn that teamwork trumphs one-up-manship.
Good job to John Helsley! Not only did your three factors play huge parts in the win, but the final score was close as well. Not too shabby, sir.
Baaaaad Karma!
All of the negative talk about OU is not a good sign for the cowboys. OU will be relaxed and ready to go all out and OSU will be uptight about how bad it would be to lose to OU..
This so like the tournament last year when OU was knocked out by OSU in the first round it is scary.
The deal is not that the cowboys will be over-confident but they will be nervous..
Basketball is a funny game. Forget the records– this is bedlam which makes the intangibles even more evident.