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NCAA Tournament Recap & Elite 8 Preview: #2 Oklahoma vs #3 Syracuse
No. 2 Oklahoma (30-5) 84, No. 3 Syracuse (28-10) 71
Key Moment: Leading 28-24 late in the first half, the Sooners went on an 11-2 run to end the period and take a 39-26 lead into the dressing room.
High Point Scorers: Oklahoma -- Blake Griffin 30 Syracuse -- Jonny Flynn 22
Analysis: The Sooners are advancing to their first Elite Eight since 2003 because they solved the patented Syracuse 2-3 zone because they got off to a quick start and made their 3s. OU was 9-21 (42.9) from the arc -- 54 percent for the game -- and Griffin (14 rebounds) had his 29th double double of the year. Syracuse got off to a ragged start and then had to deal with Flynn's back injury in the second half. He played through it and was heroic. He just didn't have any help. Oklahoma led by as many as 24. Clearly, the Sooners were ready. Clearly, Syracuse was not.
South Regional Final
Sunday/5:05 EDT/CBS
No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Oklahoma
Early Take: Arguably the best game of the Elite 8. This will be a matchup between the 2007-08 national player of the year in UNC's Hansbrough and the likely 2008-09 national player of the year in Oklahoma's Griffin. You can imagine that watching those two battle in the paint will be a classic struggle. However, the key will be UNC's Lawson and Ellington against Oklahoma's Willie Warren, Anthony Johnson and Tony Crocker who was 6-11 from 3-point range against Syracuse. Great leadership and great athleticism will be on display. But with a point guard like Lawson, the Tar Heels get the edge.
> Check out the great selection ofOklahoma Sooners apparel & clothing
By: Kevin Lonnquist
DFN Sports Staff Writer
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