Blake Griffin took Oklahoma to the 2009 Elite Eight with a little help from one Tony Crocker.
The duo accounted for 58 of the Sooners’ 84 points. Griffin tallied a double-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and a steal on 12-of-15 shooting (6-of-10 at the free-throw line). Crocker put on a shooting display both Buddy Hield and Trae Young would appreciate. of his 28 points, 18 came behind the arc as Crocker went 6-of-11 from deep. He finished with a full stat line, hauling in three rebounds, two assists, a block, and three of the Sooners’ 11 steals.
On the backs of Griffin and Crocker, Oklahoma cruised to a 13-point win over the Syracuse Orange, 84-71. As a team, the Sooners caught fire from the floor, shooting 54%. Oklahoma was slinging the rock around as they finished with 19 team assists.
The Sooners win sent them to the Elite Eight, setting up a one-two matchup. Oklahoma, a two-seed, faced off against one-seed and eventual national champion, North Carolina, losing to the Tar Heels 72-60.
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