What If…..
By Chandler Vessels • on March 9, 2010
When the Oklahoma Sooners entered the 2009-10 NCAA basketball season they were ranked in the top 20 and expected to make their 3rd straight NCAA tournament appearance. Looking at the Sooners now those statements seem laughable. The Sooners are 13-17(4-12), 10th in the Big 12 conference standings, and have lost 8 straight games. That being said, what if Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament, and actually did make that 3rd tourney appearance that people expected in the pre-season?
The fun doesn’t stop there Sooner fans, what if the Sooners were able to win a few tournament games and become a sweet sixteen or elite eight team? It’s a long shot, but anything is possible, anyone remember the Georgia Bulldogs of 2007-08? The Bulldogs despite being the last seed in the SEC tournament, won four straight games, two of which came in overtime, to eventually win the championship. Georgia made the NCAA tournament by default, and lost in the first round to Xavier. Speaking of Xavier, anyone remember the 2005-06 Musketeers? They were seed 10th of the 12 Atlantic 10 tourney teams but, still won their conference tournament. Xavier also lost in the first round of the tourney to Gonzaga 79-75. One last example, how about the 05-06 Syracuse Orange? Seeded 9th in their conference, the Orange, guess what they did, they won their conference tournament! The Orange, like the other teams, lost in the first round of the real tourney.
Okay so we know winning the conference tournament is possible, but what about making a run in the NCAA? Well, just ask George Mason. The Patriots didn’t even win their conference tournament, but it didn’t matter to them, they got by Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State, and Connecticut, before losing in the Final Four to eventual champion Florida. Now, when someone mentions the Patriots, three words come to mind: Greatest Cinderella Ever! Other that come to mind are 7th seeded Tulsa to the elite eight in 2000, 12th seeded Missouri to the elite eight in 2002, and 10th seeded Davidson to the elite eight in 2008.
Great, but how will the Sooners be able to make a run? Well, it obvious Oklahoma has talent, otherwise they would not have been ranked the 17th team in the nation to begin the season. They featured a recruiting class ranked 7th overall by Rivals, 4 of their 5 newcomers being ranked in the Rivals150. In fact one of those freshmen, Tommy Mason-Griffin, was named to the All-Big 12 Rookie and 3rh team All-Big 12. Because of their youth however, the Sooners bring a lot of inexperience with them every time they step on the basketball court (with the exception of Tony Crocker and Cade Davis). They may bring a lot of inexperience, but they also bring a lot of talent. If Jeff Capel can get these freshmen to play together and use their natural talent, the Sooners could be a dangerous team. I know it sounds ridiculous, but as a Sooner fan, I can only dream.
The Sooners will begin their journey Wednesday against their rival, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Oklahoma split their season series with the Cowboys, so winner gets bragging rights! Oklahoma definitely can win this game, but will they? Better yet, will they follow in the footsteps of Georgia, George Mason, Davidson and all the other great stories of past Cinderellas in the big dance as well as conference tourneys? If they do, just imagine how big of a turnaround it would be for this basketball team over a one month period. For now however, we will just have to wait and watch. Well, that’s all for now! See ya next article! Boomer Sooner!
