Originally published January 15, 2008 at 12:01 a.m., updated January 15, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.
Kansas only received two first place votes in Monday’s ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ poll. That’s because Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel didn’t have a vote.
“I don’t think it’s close, I think they’re the best team in the country,” Capel said, after Kansas’ 85-55 victory.
Photo Gallery
Kansas Basketball vs. Oklahoma
Photo gallery of Kansas men's basketball game against Oklahoma Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
The 30-point margin of victory was the worst loss in the series since Kansas beat Oklahoma 91-61.
Of course, the score might have been closer if Oklahoma had a healthy Blake Griffin.
It seems Allen Fieldhouse is still a curse for talented freshmen. Last year it was Kevin Durant who sat feebly on the floor of Allen Fieldhouse with a sprained ankle. This year it was Oklahoma’s young colt, Blake Griffin. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native was leading the Sooners with 15.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, but he never got a chance to break a sweat against Kansas. Griffin injured his left knee with 15:04 in the first half while fighting for a rebound with Kansas’ Brandon Rush.
“My knee just kind of came inward,” Griffin said. “I immediately felt it, I kind of felt it pop, but I don’t know.”
Griffin, who only played five minutes and finished zero points and one rebound, said he had a sprained MCL, but he will know more when he as an MRI today.
Freshman have been making an impact all around the country this college basketball season, and Griffin has been one of the best. The McDonalds All-American was coming off the best game of his career – a 27-point, 14-rebound performance against Kansas State on Saturday. Griffin had plenty of time to think about what could have been against Kansas. For nearly two hours, he was confined to the Oklahoma bench with an ice-bag wrapped around his injured left leg. Griffin remained cautiously upbeat.
“We have a lot of guys that are capable of playing well and capable of helping this team.” Griffin said. “This could help us in the long run.”
Griffin may have made a difference against Kansas – but then again, maybe not.
The Sooners, who were also playing without academically ineligible sophomore Keith Clark, only managed to shoot 32.8 percent from the floor and 25 percent from the three-point line. The Sooners got out-rebounded 40-31, and allowed the Kansas frontcourt to run wild. Senior Darnell Jackson and sophomore Darrell Arthur combined for 31 points and 16 rebounds. Capel gave most of the credit to Kansas.
“They are the best team in the country when they play like they did tonight,” Capel said. “They shot the ball well from three, they can hurt you inside, they get out in transition, they basically play with two point guards in Robinson and Chalmers out there.”
Oklahoma senior Longar Longar led with 21 points, while Capel’s squad fell to 12-5 and 0-2 in the Big 12 conference. The Sooners lost to Kansas State 84-82 on Saturday.
“It wasn’t so much what we didn’t do, they’re better than us, and that’s basically what it comes down to.” Capel said.
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