Random Thoughts (February 22, 2009)

What a year in Norman, Oklahoma! The Sooners football team won the Big 12 and saw their sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford win the Heisman Trophy as college football's best player and the Davey O'Brien Trophy as the nation's best quarterback. The basketball team may possibly do even better. Blake Griffin (averaging 22 points and 13.8 rebounds) is the runaway leader for national player of the year, Willie Warren (15.4 points) is a leading candidate for national freshman of the year, and Jeff Capel will be in the mix for national coach of the year. The Sooners hoop team could also bring home the national championship, something the football team failed to do when they lost to Florida in the BCS National Championship game. The women's basketball team at Oklahoma is also a contender for the national championship behind their own All-American and national player of the year candidate Courtney Paris (16 points and 13.9 rebounds)... My Final Four picks are changing. North Carolina's lack of defense leads me to believe my beloved Tarheels are prone to an upset in March. For now, I'm going with Pittsburgh, UConn, Oklahoma, and Memphis... Kevin Garnett, that knee better be healthy soon... You have to hand it to Steve Kerr, the general manager of the Phoenix Suns. This offseason, he fired longtime successful coach Mike D'Antoni because he didn't believe that his fast break style of offense could win a championship. Kerr replaced D'Antoni with a more defensive minded coach in Terry Porter but with the Suns struggling to adapt to Porter, Kerr fired him at the All-Star break and put assistant coach Alvin Gentry, who served under D'Antoni, in charge. In the three games since, the Suns have scored 140 points each game and are 3-0... I like that the Patriots are interested in free agent running back Fred Taylor. He might not be the impact player Corey Dillon was when he came to New England but the longtime Jaguars back would really improve the Pats rushing attack... Enjoy Paul Pierce today...