It's not often that Women's Hoops is the front headline on TaW.

Then again Excellence has to be acknowledged and lauded.

OU came into this year picked to be 5^th in the Big 12 after losing the Paris twins. As if those graduations losses weren't enough, the season had barely started when OU would lose top scorer and outside threat in Whitney Hand to a season ending knee injury. At that point, reloading this year didn't seem possible, and rebuilding seemed tough, and just surviving was the main goal. OU was down to 8 scholarship players with no depth at shooting guard at all.

I'll be honest when Whitney Hand got hurt, I thought that Sherri would be lucky to get this team into the tourney. That was the only goal, maintaining the Sooners NCAA tourney streak.  To be even more honest, I really thought that Sheri's inability to fill her roster (small classes in 2008/2007) was finally going to come back and haunt the Sooners.

And they were signs that this year was going to get away from OU. There was the terrible loss at home to an average Texas squad.

Once again though, Sherri regrouped her roster/team (Jeff Capel please take note) and other than a home loss to Nebraska during a bad shooting night the team had a great finish to Big 12 play (ranked 2^nd in the conference only behind Nebraska).  How did Sherri accomplish this? It's really been a four player team with role players beyond that;

1.     DRob- Best PG in the Big 12. The games where OU struggled always were the games that DRob is in foul trouble.

2.     Nyeshia Stevenson- When Ny struggled to score, OU often struggled.

3.     Abi Olajuwon - 10.8 points a game and 7 rebounds. Unreal final year production from a player stuck on the bench for her first 3 seasons.

4.     Amanda Thompson - Really the most consistent best player for OU throughout this year. Averaged a double/double for the season. Ranked second in the league in rebounding.

5.     The fifth Sooner sometimes was Carlee Roethlisberger, Jasmine Hartman, and post play support from Joanna McFarland off the bench.  These players provided depth and minutes.  Sherri subbed Jasmine Hartman for a struggling Carlee and used McFarland effectively when Abi was struggling.

That was the regular season. OU made a great run in the Big 12 Tourney beating Oklahoma State and Baylor before losing to ATM in the final (Sooners depth issues may have finally caught up with them. They looked gassed). Sherri had done the impossible, and rallied the team to a  2^nd place finish in the Big 12 in regular season and conference tournament. A good NCAA tourney seed was earned and OU's tourney streak preserved. To steal a quote from a fellow Sooner fan, OU was playing with "House Money", a Sweet Sixteen spot was achieved with a great home draw in Norman, the "House Money" just doubled.  Again, I'll be honest, I figured OU that was just about done. No way that this overachieving roster could put together two huge wins back to back (Nyeshia's been streaky all year long), but there were signs of things to come (huge game by Abi versus UALR).

But in next round of the NCAA tourney, more amazing things happened.  Against, ND who had previously beaten OU back in December (right after Hand's knee injury), Abi played an awesome game looking like the previously unknown Paris triplet. Ny also played an awesome game hitting the clutch game winning 3. OU perhaps caught another break with Kentucky running Nebraska out of the gym. Kentucky looked a lot like the Ole Miss team that bounced OU three years ago, and the ATM team which has given Sherri's Sooners the most problems the last 4 years.  After a horrible start, the veteran trio of DRob, Ny, and Amanda just dominated the game. In addition, OU's bench provided quality minutes.  OU was back in the Final Four again with a team no one could have predicted would be there.

This is easily Sherri's best coaching job ever.  If the "House Money" was doubled previously, then it's increased ten fold with a Final Four visit. The free world is picking UConn to beat Stanford in the final, so OU goes in with no pressure. Stanford brings great post depth, but OU might have the edge at guard with DRob and Ny. If OU gets to a final game, then who knows what could happen. Ny probably holds the key to OU's chances in San Antonio. If she continues playing like she did v ND/Kentucky, then OU can beat anyone. Although just once I wish an OU Final Four appearance didn't coincide with a nigh unbeatable UConn team.

Sherri in her PC after the Kentucky win made a great point with 3 Final Four appearances this decade, OU has entered a new territory in terms of national prominence. OU might not be UConn or Tenn, but is now in that next tier of schools like (Duke and Stanford).  Sherri does lose 3 great seniors, but next year's Sooners will return two huge pieces in DRob and Whitney Hand (as good a 1-2 punch that returns anywhere in the nation). Joanna McFarland had a solid freshman year and Carlee/Jasmine provide key depth at the 2/3 positions.  OU also brings in Sherri's top recruiting class with an elite PG to mentor behind DRob (McDonald's All American Aaryn Ellenberg from Bishop Gorman), OU's best center prospect since CP and potential Griner counter in 6-6 Nicole Griffen (Parade All American), combo guard Morgan Hook (Arkansas Player of the Year), and super athletic 6-4 PF Jacqueline Jeffcoat (Ranked in the top 50 players in the country by ESPN),  and shooting guard Alexann Yancey (walk-on??).  At this point, what Sooner fan would bet against Sherri combining two great returning players, developing underclassman and her best overall recruiting class into another Final Four team? TaW won't be taking that bet at all.

OU Men's Hoops WTF Now

OU's worst season in forever is merciful over now, and rather than assess what went wrong. What's next??

Question 1

Is Willie Warren gone to the NBA?    All signs point to yes, but his ankle surgery and the moved up date for players to pull themselves out of the draft early (May instead of in June are new variables). If Warren is unable to workout for NBA teams before the pull out date, would he return to OU if he has not received a first round guarantee from a team? Warren's draft stock has just plummeted from Lottery lock to fringe first round pick. Warren pretty much needs great workouts to rehab his image.

Question 2

Who else might be leaving?

Well let's review the potential suspects:

• Tiny Gallon: Has publicly said that he is staying.
• TMG: Leaning towards staying, but says he needs to talk to Capel about some "stuff". UPDATE: 3/16 Capel was interviewed in KREF and when talking about the future players in the program mentioned Gallon, Pledger, Fitz. No mention of TMG at all in the interview.
• Pledger: No word that his shoplifting brain freeze will lead to his exit.
• Ray Willis: Best bet for transferring. He's been recruited over.
• Orlando Allen: No buzz that he is leaving
• Kyle Hardrick: 2^nd best bet for transferring. Chances of playing time are pretty slim right now
• Fitz: Not going anywhere.
• Cade: Not going anywhere

Question 3

How many players will OU sign in the spring?

OU signed two players in October (combo guard TJ Taylor 6-3, wing Cam Clark 6-6). If WW leaves, then OU will have 3 ships available. A class of 5 is likely if the right prospects can be found.

Question 4

What is needed and who is on the recruiting board?

Recruiting needs in order of priority

1. Post player/Center
2. Post player
3. Big wing
4. Point guard

There are only two clear players on the board who have officially visited OU.

• Terrence Jones 6-9 PF/SF Oregon (McDonald's All American. OU probably trails Kentucky and Washington)
• Aziz N'Diaye 7-1 C JUCO Southern Idaho (Top JUCO center. OU fighting Washington and Oregon State)

If OU could land these two players that would be the best result. However, it's not clear that OU leads for either player. And right now there are no other post players on the recruiting board.

Other prospects according to OUHoops.com

• Terrence Ross 6-5, SF Oregon (Teammate of Jones)
• Daniel West 6-1, PG JUCO Pensacola JUCO
• Marquise Carter 6-4, Combo Guard JUCO Three Rivers JUCO (brother of Nate Carter)

Questions 5

Can you try and guess what a starting five looks like?

Starring deep into the TaW Prediction Crystal Ball

PG: TMG

SG: Cade Davis

Wing: Cam Clark

Posts: Tiny Gallon, JUCO C/PF

While the Men's team is struggling with a myriad of problem too numerous to detail.

The Women's team received good news that Aaryn Ellenberg has been named to the McDonald's West Team.

Before we at TaW can even get the "State of the Season" post finished, OU's east coast duo of Stephen Pledger and Andrew Fitzgerald added another chapter to it by shoplifting (allegedly) from the Sooner Fashion Mall Dillard's on Saturday night after the game.

Well, don't say we didn't warn you.

It’s not an understatement and it’s not overselling the impact of a recently-deceased, beloved player to say that without Wayman’s contributions to the Sooners in the early 80s, the OU basketball program would not be where it is today. Certainly, the entire landscape of OU’s great run from ‘84 to ‘91 would be different.