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Don’t Let The Loss Fool You, The Oklahoma Sooners Are For Real

By J.P. Scott

Nov 19, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) signals the bench against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Creighton defeated Oklahoma 65-63. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) signals the bench against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Creighton defeated Oklahoma 65-63. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite losing at Creighton, the Oklahoma Sooners are still one of the most dangerous teams in college basketball.

You may have seen the highlights on Sportscenter or Fox Sports Live of Creighton coming back from a 18-point deficit to upset the Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday night. Hopefully, you haven’t written off the Sooners as a serious contender because of it.

I was in the arena for that game, and for more than a half of basketball, I watched one of the best teams in college basketball play like it. The Sooners came out, made their shots, played adequate defense and controlled the tempo. They took the home crowd out of the game and had most of the 17,000-plus thinking this was going to be a long night.

Nov 19, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners players watch the last shot from the bench against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. The Bluejays won 65-63. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners players watch the last shot from the bench against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. The Bluejays won 65-63. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

You know the rest of the story. Shots fells for Creighton in the second half, and when they did, that crowd was there to let the Sooners hear about it. It was one of those “you had to be there” moments. I’m not sure anyone was going to come out of the CenturyLink Center with a win over Creighton that night.

When the clock hit zero, the first thing I remember thinking was “I don’t think any less of Oklahoma right now.” They literally have all the right parts in all the right places to makes a serious run at the national title this season.

It all starts with 6-4 junior guard Buddy Hield. He is, without question, an NBA talent and quite possible the best pure shooter in college basketball. He is that guy that every team needs — the one who can get you that tough basket. He’s money from from beyond the arc (10 of 14 through two games) and attacks the rim with confidence and ease. If you foul him on his way, he’s a career 78 percent shooter from the charity stripe.

Hield will be the key for the Sooners down the stretch. Had he not fouled out against Creighton, it may have been Hield who took the final shot and we are likely singing a different tune about the game.

Manning the middle for Oklahoma is a big-bodied traditional power forward named TaShawn Thomas. The Houston transfer is built like a bigger version of Charles Barkley and his play reminds me of Corliss Williamson in college. He’s got a decent stroke for a big man and is an absolute rock in the paint, making it tough for opponents to operate. There was a noticeable difference in Creighton’s confidence in attacking the rim during the nine short minutes Thomas was on the bench.

The third key piece of this Sooner squad is Ryan Spangler. Just when you think you have Hield locked down on the outside and a good bead on Thomas down low, this hybrid forward-center starts cleaning the glass (11 rebounds against Creighton) and then making three point shots, dragging the opponent’s center out beyond the arc to guard him. He is a matchup nightmare reminiscent of Creighton’s Ethan Wragge a season ago.

Perhaps the most dangerous asset the Sooners have is head coach Lon Kruger. Kruger is one of the most underrated coaches in the game. Kruger has been to the final four, coached his teams to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances and spent time as a head coach in the NBA. He was also an assistant on the 1998 U.S. men’s national team. Quite simply, Kruger knows how to coach and win at every level.

I know Sooner fans had to be disappointed in the outcome Wednesday night, but what they and the rest of the country needs to understand is that beating Creighton at home in front of one of the most loyal and raucous crowds in the game is easier said than done. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that the Sooners would have won that game had it been in Norman or a neutral court.

And that’s why I think this team can go deep and compete for a title this season. Championships are won on neutral courts. They are won by upperclassmen who get tough buckets, shoot effectively and dominate the glass. They are won, more often than not, by coaches with plenty of tournament experience.

Oklahoma has all of those things, and because they do, they’ll be a tough out in March.

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