JimBob
01-15-2008, 07:57 AM
OU will take big hit if it loses rookie star
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist
1/15/2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. — That pop Blake Griffin felt in his left knee Monday night might turn into an explosion — Oklahoma’s basketball season blowing up.
Initially, Griffin was the only who one knew something was drastically wrong when OU’s sensational freshman forward landed wrong on his left leg in the first four minutes of OU’s game against Kansas. But it didn’t take much longer for the repercussions of the injury to rattle around a sold-out Allen Fieldhouse and to those watching the nationally televised game on ESPN.
KU 85, OU 55: It tells you all you need to know about how the Sooners competed without Griffin. And it makes you wonder how competitive the Sooners will be if Griffin isn’t along for the ride the rest of the season.
OU figured to be in for a long Big Monday with or without Griffin. The streaking Jayhawks entered the Big 12 Conference game ranked third in the national polls and one of only three undefeated teams left.
But the addition of the 6- foot-10, 243-pound Griffin to OU’s lineup this season had reenergized the Sooners.
The team’s leader in both scoring and rebounding, Griffin had just started to blossom on the college scene as OU posted five straight impressive wins.
Not even a heartbreaking two-point loss to Kansas State last Saturday in the Big 12 opener had dampened OU’s optimism about the league race. With the precocious Griffin hitting his stride, prospects of returning to the NCAA Tournament seemed like a reachable goal after the Sooners stayed home last season.
But where are they headed now? The answer to that question could come as early as Tuesday. Griffin is scheduled to have a MRI on the knee, and the initial diagnosis is a sprained medial collateral ligament.
If it’s indeed only a sprain, it’s possible that Griffin could be back in the lineup within a couple of weeks. But a torn MCL usually requires a minimum of six months rehab.
Judging by the subdued demeanor of coach Jeff Capel and the OU medical staff after the blowout loss, it seemed apparent they were not feeling optimistic about what the MRI will reveal.
“Obviously if he is out at all, going forward, it is going to deplete our roster and our team,” Capel said. “We would be losing our best player. I am hoping that is not the case.”
Instead of hoping, Capel might consider praying. That’s what OU’s second year coach appeared to do when he called his first timeout of the second half. Capel looked skyward as he signaled to stop play as another KU surge had bloated the Jayhawks’ 40-20 halftime lead to 51-25.
The timeout didn’t halt the Jayhawks. KU (17-0, 2-0 Big 12) toyed with a Sooner team that seemed to play in shock after Griffin was hurt as the Jayhawks’ 30-point victory margin was third largest in the series.
It wasn’t like the Sooners were rolling with Griffin on the court. OU trailed 11-2 when its budding superstar fell to the floor clutching his left knee with 15:04 left in the first half.
Griffin was battling for a defensive rebound with KU forward Darnell Jackson off a missed shot by Jayhawks’ guard Russell Robinson. “I went up for a rebound and I came down kind of funny,” Griffin said. “I kind of got pushed and I came down wrong and I twisted it or something and I felt it sort of pop.”
Griffin attempted to put a positive spin on things. “We have a lot of guys capable of playing well and helping the team,” Griffin said. “This could help us in the long run. We’ve got to look at this as a positive.”
Other than the play of center Longer Longar, it was difficult to find anything positive the Sooners could take from this embarrassing loss, which dropped them to 12-5 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12.
Longar, who finished with 21 points, appeared to be the only Sooner who wasn’t intimidated by KU’s legendary atmosphere.
But Longar also played 38 minutes. The Sooner senior could find himself playing at least that many minutes in every contest the rest of the way of he can stay out of foul trouble. Griffin’s injury, coupled with the loss last week of forward Keith Clark because of academics, means OU’s already suspect depth is now almost nonexistent.
“We started out 0-2 last year (in the Big 12),” Capel said. “So we’re going to be all right.”
OU actually got off to a 1-1 league start last season. And if Griffin is lost for the season, it is impossible to see how the Sooners are going to be all right.
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist
1/15/2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. — That pop Blake Griffin felt in his left knee Monday night might turn into an explosion — Oklahoma’s basketball season blowing up.
Initially, Griffin was the only who one knew something was drastically wrong when OU’s sensational freshman forward landed wrong on his left leg in the first four minutes of OU’s game against Kansas. But it didn’t take much longer for the repercussions of the injury to rattle around a sold-out Allen Fieldhouse and to those watching the nationally televised game on ESPN.
KU 85, OU 55: It tells you all you need to know about how the Sooners competed without Griffin. And it makes you wonder how competitive the Sooners will be if Griffin isn’t along for the ride the rest of the season.
OU figured to be in for a long Big Monday with or without Griffin. The streaking Jayhawks entered the Big 12 Conference game ranked third in the national polls and one of only three undefeated teams left.
But the addition of the 6- foot-10, 243-pound Griffin to OU’s lineup this season had reenergized the Sooners.
The team’s leader in both scoring and rebounding, Griffin had just started to blossom on the college scene as OU posted five straight impressive wins.
Not even a heartbreaking two-point loss to Kansas State last Saturday in the Big 12 opener had dampened OU’s optimism about the league race. With the precocious Griffin hitting his stride, prospects of returning to the NCAA Tournament seemed like a reachable goal after the Sooners stayed home last season.
But where are they headed now? The answer to that question could come as early as Tuesday. Griffin is scheduled to have a MRI on the knee, and the initial diagnosis is a sprained medial collateral ligament.
If it’s indeed only a sprain, it’s possible that Griffin could be back in the lineup within a couple of weeks. But a torn MCL usually requires a minimum of six months rehab.
Judging by the subdued demeanor of coach Jeff Capel and the OU medical staff after the blowout loss, it seemed apparent they were not feeling optimistic about what the MRI will reveal.
“Obviously if he is out at all, going forward, it is going to deplete our roster and our team,” Capel said. “We would be losing our best player. I am hoping that is not the case.”
Instead of hoping, Capel might consider praying. That’s what OU’s second year coach appeared to do when he called his first timeout of the second half. Capel looked skyward as he signaled to stop play as another KU surge had bloated the Jayhawks’ 40-20 halftime lead to 51-25.
The timeout didn’t halt the Jayhawks. KU (17-0, 2-0 Big 12) toyed with a Sooner team that seemed to play in shock after Griffin was hurt as the Jayhawks’ 30-point victory margin was third largest in the series.
It wasn’t like the Sooners were rolling with Griffin on the court. OU trailed 11-2 when its budding superstar fell to the floor clutching his left knee with 15:04 left in the first half.
Griffin was battling for a defensive rebound with KU forward Darnell Jackson off a missed shot by Jayhawks’ guard Russell Robinson. “I went up for a rebound and I came down kind of funny,” Griffin said. “I kind of got pushed and I came down wrong and I twisted it or something and I felt it sort of pop.”
Griffin attempted to put a positive spin on things. “We have a lot of guys capable of playing well and helping the team,” Griffin said. “This could help us in the long run. We’ve got to look at this as a positive.”
Other than the play of center Longer Longar, it was difficult to find anything positive the Sooners could take from this embarrassing loss, which dropped them to 12-5 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12.
Longar, who finished with 21 points, appeared to be the only Sooner who wasn’t intimidated by KU’s legendary atmosphere.
But Longar also played 38 minutes. The Sooner senior could find himself playing at least that many minutes in every contest the rest of the way of he can stay out of foul trouble. Griffin’s injury, coupled with the loss last week of forward Keith Clark because of academics, means OU’s already suspect depth is now almost nonexistent.
“We started out 0-2 last year (in the Big 12),” Capel said. “So we’re going to be all right.”
OU actually got off to a 1-1 league start last season. And if Griffin is lost for the season, it is impossible to see how the Sooners are going to be all right.