Oklahoma-Oklahoma State: Sooners Stun the Cowboys

Going into the game Wednesday night, not a lot of people in Oklahoma thought the Sooners would be able to beat Oklahoma St. In fact, many thought the injury-plagued  Sooners might suffer a double-digit loss.

Who could blame them? Their star power forward, Blake Griffin (15.2 PPG 9.2 RPG), was sidelined with a knee injury.

However, something happened in Stillwater that proved to give the Sooners an advantage heading into their final game and postseason play: They played to their potential.

It wasn't only that Tony Crocker stepped up and scored 25 points—it was the way he scored those 25 points. He drove to the basket, created shots off the dribble, and became a legitimate scoring threat.

The one thing that the Sooners have lacked all season is the ability to penetrate a defense and create shots off the dribble. They did that Wednesday night and it showed.

Better yet, it wasn't only Crocker who showed signs of things to come. Austin Johnson created shots off the dribble and, with about four minutes left, had an amazing assist that led to some Longar free throws. The only thing Sooner fans were wondering at that point was where has this offense been all along.

Maybe it takes an injury to a star player for the offense to click. Maybe it's the rivalry that fires up a team to reach its full potential. Whatever the reason, it couldn't have happened at a better time.

With only one conference game left on the Sooners' schedule, at home on senior night, it looks as though the fourth seed for the Big 12 tournament is within reach. A Texas A&M loss and a Sooner win would give it to them. The Sooners have an advantage because the Aggies must play Kansas in their finale.

If the Sooners can sustain this new-found ability to play on the offensive side of the ball, they could potentially be a very scary matchup for anyone come tourney time. With a healthy Blake Griffin returning for the postseason (possibly Saturday by some reports), the Sooners will have the post play, the depth, and the rebounding ability to shake up the big dance.

Throw in a mix of guard play that has been missing all season and you have yourself a Sweet Sixteen team.

If all of this falls into place, expect Capel to get a big pay raise and get ready to hang those banners in the Lloyd Noble Center—just like Capel predicted the day he was hired.