1. The last OU team to make the Elite 8 went 6'7/6'8 on the front line and the first big off the bench was 6'6 (the Griffin Bros. before Blake's late growth spurt and Patillo). I won't say that Spangler and Buford are for-sure NBA players, but Buford's face up game is more advanced than Taylor's was and Spangs is a better post defender than Blake was. Even though the 08 team had a 6'3/6'4/6'5 backcourt, Woodard is more active on the glass than AJ was and Cousins is a more committed defender than Willie Warren. I'm just saying, in college ball size gets trumped by motor and overall skills rather frequently.
2. Even so, the second point is dead-on. However, Memphis has a puncher's chance in a pretty deep conference (SMU isn't a tourney factor anymore but UConn, Louisville, SDSU, and Cinci figure to be) and I think it's forgivable to play your hot hand in a road game that could give you a quality win for bracketology purposes. Lattin was ineffective and McNease got into foul trouble while Buford stepped up tonight. I imagine that prior to Wisconsin the other bigs will get more run; whoever looks most ready will get the minutes in that one. And then we'll know who's the likely guy next to Spangs.
