Blake Griffin: Ready to Take Over The NCAA Tournament

He is the best player in college basketball. He is a lock to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft, and will most likely go No. 1 overall. In a long list of one and done college players, Blake Griffin is the latest, and maybe the greatest, to come along.

Griffin is a unique talent that could single handedly take over the NCAA Tournament. He is a threat to put up 30 points and 15 rebounds on any given night.

Carmello Anthony took over the tournament in 2003, Greg Oden in 2007, and now Blake Griffin looks to follow in their footsteps and lead Oklahoma to the championship game in 2009.

Griffin is averaging 22.1 points per game, as well as leading the nation in rebounding at 14.2 boards per game. Griffin has been the man for Oklahoma all year.

When Griffin went out at Texas after suffering a concussion, Oklahoma mounted a valiant effort, but just didn’t have enough.

They lost their next game without Griffin, and saw their stock fall even further. A third loss in four games at Missouri sent Oklahoma on a free fall that continued with a 71-70 loss to Oklahoma State in the Big XII Tournament.

Oklahoma has played their way out of a No. 1 seed, but that shouldn’t matter much for Sooners fans. They have the one player capable of taking the tournament over, much like Stephen Curry did for Davidson last year.

Griffinis a rare breed. He is an athletic big man that can pull up and hit the jumper, as well as drive the lane for a thunderous dunk. His long arms, vertical jump, and intensity make him a great rebounder as well.

Oklahoma has much to prove as a team. With a relatively weak out of conference schedule, blemished by a loss to lowly Arkansas, the Big XII schedule was supposed to give the Sooners a chance to redeem themselves.

The Big XII turned out to be weaker than most thought this year. Oklahoma, however, lost key games at Texas and Missouri, as well as a home loss to Kansas. These three teams represent the cream of the crop in the Big XII, along with Oklahoma of course.

With more quality losses than wins, Oklahoma will have to prove that they belong with the nation’s elite. Having Blake Griffin helps.

Where the team may have flaws, they have a player they can ride to Detroit. Without Griffin we wouldn’t be talking about the Sooners. With him, they are a title contender.

In the madness of March it is historical precedent that one player can emerge to take over and lead his team to the finals. Sooners fans shouldn’t fret, they have that player.

He is Blake Griffin.