Oklahoma – Gonzaga: Tale Of The Tape

By Paul Gotham

Setting: Ring in the New Year with a Big 12 – West Coast Conference clash. It’s the Ronald McDonald House Charities Classic at Spokane Arena. Jeff Capel brings his Oklahoma Sooners (8-4) west for an inter-conference showdown with Mark Few’s No.22 Gonzaga Bulldogs (9-3).

Plot: For both it’s one of the last two tune ups before conference play begins after the New Year. Oklahoma lost in the Elite Eight last year. The Sooners are in the process of re-defining themselves after the Blake Griffin era. Gonzaga is looking for another season at the top of the West Coast Conference.

Sub-plots: Oklahoma has not played since an 89-74 loss to UTEP on December 21st. Gonzaga thumped Eastern Washington, 94-52, on December 28th. The Bulldogs are 1-2 in the RMHCC which began in 2007. Twice they have lost to Memphis. Gonzaga defeated Georgia, 75-67 in 2008.

Flashback: Oklahoma and Gonzaga have tangled just once in their histories – December 20, 2007. Blake Griffin grabbed 14 boards and led three Sooners in double figures as Oklahoma overcame a 28-point, six-assist performance by Jeremy Pargo. The Sooners won at home, 72-68.

Foreshadowing: 19 former Sooners have played in the NBA including current players, Taylor Griffin, Blake Griffin, and Eduardo Najera. Gonzaga has graduated seven to the league. Former Bulldogs Austin Daye, Adam Morrison, and Ronny Turiaf get paychecks from NBA teams.

Conflict: The battle will be won on the perimeter. The war will be won in the post.

After limping to a 3-3 start, the Sooners went to a four-guard lineup. Oklahoma promptly won their next six.

Traditionally, the Bulldogs shoot at least 40 per cent from the three point arc. Recent struggles have brought that number down. Three of Gonzaga’s losses were the result of foul trouble for their big guys. Gonzaga’s loss to Duke will prove itself as anomaly. Cross-continental travel after finals week with leading scorer, Matt Bouldin, recovering from a concussion, led to a 35-point embarrassment.

UTEP shot 58 per cent from the field and 62 per cent from behind the arc in their recent victory over the Sooners.

Oklahoma averages 78 points while Gonzaga scores 77.5 per game. The Sooners hold opponents to 71.8 while the Bulldogs keep their adversaries to 66.8.

Oklahoma shoots 47 per cent from the field and 41 per cent from behind the arc when it wins. Gonzaga is 48 per cent from the field and a disappointing 37 from long range.

The Sooners hold opponents to 44 per cent from the field (37 per cent from the arc). The Zags keep rivals at 39 per cent from the field (32 per cent from the three point arc).

Willie Warren leads four Sooners averaging double digits per game. The sophomore guard knows how to get to the charity stripe. He leads the Sooners with 77 attempts and 83 per cent from the line.

Tony Crocker has four double-doubles in Oklahoma’s last six games. Tommy Mason-Griffin leads Jeff Capel’s group with 55 assists. 6’9″ Tiny Gallon grabs 8.9 boards and scores 11.8 per game.

Gonzaga’s offense runs through Bouldin. The senior guard hits 40 per cent of his trifecta attempts while averaging 15 points and three and a half assists per outing.

Steven Gray averages 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Elias Harris chips in 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. 7′ Robert Sacre grabs 5.3 boards and scores 11.8 per game.

Resolution: Gonzaga will neutralize Oklahoma’s ability to penetrate off the dribble. The Bulldogs’ bigs will stay out of foul trouble long enough to outlast the Sooners. Watch for Matt Bouldin to have a big game – not just scoring but feeding the post.

Mood: Hunker down hoops fans! ESPN has a marathon event for us. Starting with a Big ten match up at noon, ESPN has seven games for us today.

Got any comments about ANY of the games? Leave them here. Hoop it up!!!!!