Remarkable Regardless Of The Ending

Originally Published: Mar 14, 2010 8:11 AM CDT

Regardless of where it ends, the season has been remarkable for Sherri Coales Sooners.  The Paris twin towers lost to graduation and top sharpshooter Whitney Hand lost to an ACL tear after only 5 games they have somehow held it together.  Losing Hand so early in the season has actually given the Sooners time to learn how to play without her.

Experts tabbed the defending Big 12 champs 5th in the preseason, but they rallied to a tie for 2nd.  Danielle Robinson has continued her development into one of the top 5 point guards in the country.  Abi Olajuown has gone from 1 point and 2 rebounds per game last season ago to 10 and 7 per this.

And Amanda Thompson has blossomed into an All Big 12 performer.  She was injured and ineffective through much of the Sooners late-season Final Four run last year.  Thompson has upped her scoring and rebounding averages each by 6 this season.

The Sooners will be in Norman for the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.  They could then go to Kansas City and enjoy another friendly-court situation in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8.  The Final Four is in San Antonio. 

In what many expected to be a rebuilding year, can the Sooners make a run to the Riverwalk?  Theyve picked the right time of the year to try on their track shoes.