Overall team performance—D+
OU was lackadaisical to start the game, as VCU took a 17-point lead in the first half due to some good early three-point shooting and untimely OU turnovers, and the Rams never relinquished the edge. The Sooners just never could make a run to cut into the lead enough to put a scare into VCU, even when they cut the deficit back to 10 with a chance for a single digit game in the final two minutes. Despite out-rebounding the Rams 38-35, the major stat lines were the turnovers, 15 for OU and 11 for VCU, and OU’s poor three-point shooting at 19 percent, as it struggled to 5-for-26 shooting behind the arc in the contest.
Willie Warren—D
It didn’t help that Warren was battling leg cramps during the contest, but he did not have a typical Willie Warren-like day. The talented guard shot only 3-for-14 from the field, including an abysmal 0-for-8 mark from behind the arc, as he had eight points. But the glaringly bad stat was the turnover line. He accumulated six in the game. He did, however, rack up five assists.
Tony Crocker—B+
Although the rest of the team had trouble getting anything going, Crocker was the one bright spot. In 36 minutes of playing time, he had 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including a 2-for-4 mark from three-point range. He had six rebounds, two steals and only one turnover in the game.
Tommy Mason-Griffin—C+
There were times throughout the contest where Mason-Griffin looked like an inexperienced freshman, as he took some poor shots. Still, he managed to score 10 points, while shooting 4-for-10 from the field with six assists. Mason-Griffin also committed three turnovers and couldn’t quite get the Sooners in a flow offensively.
Tiny Gallon—B-
Gallon played 27 minutes and racked up a double-double, with 15 points and 11 rebounds. He sent the ball into the stands in the first half on a huge block, but he also was plagued by the turnover throughout the contest, as he lost it four times. Gallon continued his good foul shooting with a 5-for-7 line there.
Ryan Wright—C-
Aside from a blocked shot and five rebounds, Wright never really exerted his presence. He did manage to score four points on 2-for-2 shooting, but he wasn’t the force in the lane the Sooners need.
Bench—D
Steven Pledger was the high point here, as he scored 11 points, but most of those were on foul shooting, as he was 5-for-6 from the stripe. He was bad from the field, hitting only two of his 10 three-point attempts, although he had three assists and three steals. Cade Davis didn’t score in the contest, while he did have three steals in 16 minutes. Andrew Fitzgerald had a foul and two points in six minutes, and T.J. Franklin and Ray Willis failed to produce in limit minutes.