View the slideshow from OU's first two games of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma advanced to the Sweet 16 Saturday with a 73-63 win over 10-seed Michigan.
The two teams faced off in an intense atmosphere with strong fan support for both teams present in the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
It was a very physical game, as evidenced by the blood on sophomore center Blake Griffin’s elbow and the nose plug he had to stop the bleeding. Griffin said the injuries weren’t as bad as they looked.
“It was a tiny little cut on my elbow, and it just wouldn’t stop bleeding,” Griffin said. “I just got hit in the nose, and I’m a bad nose-bleeder so that always happens.”
Griffin dominated the game finishing with 33 points and 17 rebounds. He gave credit to his guards for opening things up for him.
“The main reason I was successful was the way the guards played,” Griffin said.
OU got strong play from their starting backcourt of senior guard Austin Johnson and freshman guard Willie Warren. Johnson finished with 12 points and Warren had 16 points and four assists.
“We knew all our guards had to make shots so they couldn’t just sit in a zone,” Warren said.
OU held Michigan’s leading scorer, sophomore guard Manny Harris, to only 11 points in the game. Harris fouled out with two minutes left in the game when junior guard Tony Crocker drew a charge.
“It’s tough, we ask a lot from [Harris],” Michigan guard Stu Douglass said. “And we asked a lot from him in the game today and he did great, but one man couldn’t just do it well. We played together, but Oklahoma is a great team.”
Michigan opened the game playing an aggressive trapping zone defense in an attempt to disrupt the OU guards. The Wolverines were double-teaming Griffin whenever he touched the ball in the post.
The Sooners took advantage of Michigan’s traps and double teams by moving the ball around the perimeter and getting open shots.
OU forced Michigan into several turnovers early in the first half resulting in a couple of breakaway dunks for Griffin. Timely outside shooting by the Wolverines prevented the Sooners from pulling away, however.
“They made a lot of three’s,” Crocker said. “We knew coming in that they were a team that made a lot of 3-point shots, we just tried to contest as much as we could. They got a lot of open looks in the first half and we came out in the second half and just tried to strap down.”
OU took a 30-29 lead into halftime.
The Sooners began the second half by scoring six straight points, forcing a Michigan timeout. OU scored two more points after the timeout before the Wolverines stopped the 8-0 run with a basket at around the 16 minute mark.
OU extended their lead to double digits, but Michigan was able to withstand the run and claw back to within three points with six minutes left in the game.
Led by Griffin’s 20-point second half, the Sooners were able to pull away once again and cruise to a double-digit victory. Head coach Jeff Capel was pleased with his team’s effort in the game.
“I thought the guys fought today, and played hard every possession,” Capel said.
The Sooners will face the winner of Sunday’s game between Arizona St. and Syracuse on Friday, March 27.
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OUguy 3 years, 2 months ago
Hey, what is your name? April?
April, SHUT UP!
What is this crap? Go Blue? Yeah right. Michigan sucks.
shavedmarmoset 3 years, 2 months ago
OU didn't deserve the win, April? There's no bias in that statement at all. Do you even know the difference between a block and a charge? If anything, Blake drew more fouls than were called. He was bleeding from the nose and the elbow for crying out loud.
Maybe YOU need to step back and realize that you're wearing Maize and Blue goggles.
AprilKellman 3 years, 2 months ago
Wow, I don't mind winning when it is "our" team winning. But, this game was won by the officials. It was quite obvious to me that Griffin was given preferential treatment throughout the game. He had at least 5 fouls that I seen. He charges and the officials foul Michigan. What is up with that? Our team did not "deserve" this win. Come on Oklahoma- wake up. WE need to step back and realize we are not a good team. Go Blue!!