ESPN’s Jay Bilas: No one can stop Blake Griffin

ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas is expecting a big season from OU standout Blake Griffin. Bilas discussed the Sooners in a recent conference call with media writers:

Willie Warren is going to be a huge boost to that team because of his ability to score in the backcourt and stabilize their ballhandling. I think the one big guy in the country that can challenge (North Carolina forward) Tyler Hansbrough for player of the year status would be Blake Griffin. I had a chance to work with him this summer at the Amare Stoudemire Academy and he is just a stud. He is just a strong athlete that no one guy in college basketball can stop. I think he’s going to have an ubelievably good year.

Are the Sooners good enough to reach the Final Four?

I wouldn’t put them among the Final Four favorites to start the season, but I think they are a top 15 team for sure.

Green Dan: In honor of NBC’s “Green Week,” Dan Patrick of “Football Night in America” says he has been helping the cause: “I’ve been recycling lines I used at ESPN.”

Barkley’s advice: TNT studio analyst Charles Barkley has some advice for Shaquille O’Neal regarding his ongoing feud with Kobe Bryant:

 “I’m going to call out one of my favorite people, one of my five greatest players ever that I love watching, Shaquille O’Neal. Shaquille O’Neal, you know I love you. I know your mom and my mom are best friends and I know I’m going to get in trouble because you’re my favorite player.”

“You’ve got to let this thing go, man. You have been one of the greatest players in NBA history and (one of the) greatest players ever. You are one of the nicest (guys) people are ever going to meet and you are great for charity. Hey, man, finish your career as that guy. You don’t want to be a bitter, angry guy going out the game. You are too good of a person. Let this thing with Kobe go. The rap thing last summer, now you’re going back between fields. Hey man, you are too good of a person to finish your career like that. Just be one of greatest players ever, one of the nicest guys ever, let all that crap with the Lakers go and let it go.”

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