Sunday, February 15, 2009

Griffin dominates, enters record books

Blake Griffin broke the Oklahoma record for double-doubles in a single season by recording his 22nd of the year on Saturday.

Griffin entered Saturday's game against Texas Tech tied on the list with former Sooners Garfield Heard and Alvin Adams. Heard recorded 21 double-doubles in the 1969-70 season. Adams posted 21 during the 1973-74 campaign.

Griffin broke the record emphatically by scoring 40 points and grabbing 23 rebounds in the Sooners 95-74 victory over the Red Raiders. The 40 points were a career high for Griffin as he shot a blistering 72 percent from the field. Griffin's 22 double-doubles leads college basketball.

By scoring 40 points and adding 20 plus rebounds, Griffin became only the third player in Oklahoma history to achieve that feet. The other two are Adams and Wayman Tisdale, both of which have their jerseys retired at the Lloyd Noble Center. Griffin also became the first player in Big 12 history to record a 40-point, 20-rebound game.

Texas Tech head coach Pat Knight gave lofty, yet unusual praise to Griffin to reporters after the game.

"Have you guys ever seen the movie, 'The Terminator?' That's what the kid is like," Knight said. "That kid has no facial expressions. He just plays and it's like every kid out there on him is like Sarah Connor, and he's just going to take his time and kill him. That kid is good."

For more information about Sooners basketball, visit http://soonersports.com/

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Sooners ink 23 prospects

The Sooners football team signed 23 players to their 2009 recruiting class.

Wednesday was National Signing Day in college football. According to Rivals.com, half of the players signed are 4-star recruits. Defensive tackle Jamarkus McFarland, linebacker Ronnell Lewis and WR Cameron Kenney headline Oklahoma's class of 2009.

The class includes 11 three-star recruits and one 2-star. The Sooners failed to sign a 5-star recruit.

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops discussed the recruiting class at a press conference on Wednesday.

"The caliber of these players will allow us to continue to compete at a high level," Stoops said. "We like their skill, their football intelligence and their character. All classes are better judged two or three years down the road, but this one certainly gives every appearance of being one that gives us a very solid group of players and individuals."

C.J. Gardner, freshman, is happy with the recruiting class.

"I don't really mind that they didn't sign a 5-star guy," Gardner said. "The Sooners have key players returning and Coach Stoops made sure that he addressed positions that needed to be filled."

Spring practice is scheduled to begin March 3. For more information about Oklahoma football, visit http://soonersports.com/.