OU, like Kansas last year, can crash an exclusive party
Published: 2/13/2009 8:00 AM
Last Modified: 2/13/2009 8:00 AM
I realize Duke-North Carolina is a very big deal. Wednesday night in Durham, it was big enough that Bob Stoops, Kevin Wilson and Joe Castiglione attended. So did Bill Cowher. So did the President. And the Pope, I believe.
But, really, did ESPN SportsCenter really need to devote half its time to Carolina's win? Did they really need to break it down frame-by-frame a la the Zapruder film?
I'll bet they give similar treatment to UConn-Pitt Monday night. It's a Big East showdown, see, and anything that carries so much weight in the mighty Big East is deemed of national importance.
This is the kind of stuff that drives you nuts this time of year. If college basketball royalty like Duke, Carolina, UCLA or anyone in the Big E(SPN)ast is in national title contention, they're getting all of the run in the national media.
If you're stuck in the Big 12, Big 10, Conference USA, Pac-10 (outside of UCLA) or even the SEC (outside of Kentucky), you're pretty much on your own. That's what made the Kansas-Memphis title tilt of a year ago so sweet -- Carolina and UCLA got locked out in the national semis. Same with the recent runs by Florida, Ohio State and Michigan State.
Which brings us to Oklahoma, this year's under-the-radar representative in the championship chase. And to a terrific piece submitted to FOXSports.com by Jeffrey Martin of the Wichita Eagle.
"Don't let everyone else hear, but there are — gasp! — a couple of teams outside (the ACC and Big East) that — gulp! — if things fell just right, which is what has to happen in order to win six consecutive games in March, might emerge as the nation's best," Martin writes. "Why not Michigan State? Or Memphis or UCLA, which were Final Four teams a year ago?
"Or, perhaps the most-slept-on viable contender in recent memory, the second-ranked team in the country with undoubtedly the nation's best player, Oklahoma.
The Sooners' main crime, en route to a 24-1 record, seems to be playing in the Big 12, which doesn't receive (or deserve, to be fair) the same acclaim as those other leagues. But last time we checked, the defending national champion does indeed reside in the conference."
I didn't blame OU fans for rooting against the Jayhawks last year. They're conditioned to do so when it comes to basketball. I get that.
But looking at it from this angle, KU did the Sooners, and everyone outside college hoops' holy land, a big favor. Maybe OU can return it this year.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
