OU-Kentucky Battle Boils Down to Intangibles

Originally Published: Mar 29, 2010 9:59 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The Oklahoma Sooners dive deeper into tournament play Tuesday, facing the Kentucky Wildcats.

Both teams can relate to an underdog mentality. OU was forced to adapt to the loss of the Paris twins to graduation and Whitney Hand to a season-ending knee injury, while expectations were low for UK. After being predicted to finish 11th in the SEC preseason poll, the Wildcats are making their first appearance in the tournament since 2006.

If Kentucky wins and advances, it will be the program’s first trip to the Final Four.

“Making Kentucky basketball more than just the men’s, making it the women’s too, means a lot to me,” UK guard A’dia Mathies said.

The Wildcats (28-7) and Sooners (26-10) mirror each other offensively, applying both speed and pressure to execute.

Oklahoma has four of its five starters shooting in double-figures, led by Danielle Robinson with 16.7 points per game. Nyeshia Stevenson, who hit the clutch three in Sunday’s game against the Fighting Irish, averages 13.9 points. Amanda Thompson averages 13.0, Abi Olajuwon adds on average 10.5 points per game.

Olajuwon is coming off a double-double in Sunday’s game against Notre Dame. Olajuwon is definitely a double threat for the Wildcats, averaging 7.2 rebounds per game, while Thompson snatches an average of 10.5 rebounds.

Robinson, one of the fastest and most potent point guards in women’s college hoops will face the same strengths in the Wildcats’ Victoria Dunlap.

Dunlap, named SEC Player of the Year, leads her team in four statistical categories with 17.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 3.2 steals per game.

The junior is trailed by Mathies, who had a breakout season, averaging 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

The Wildcats’ defense, driven by Dunlap, averages 22.3 forced turnovers per game.

The statistic will have to be addressed by the Sooners.

“We know we have to value every possession and not turn the ball over,” Robinson said.

Both teams push the pace, capitalizing on quick transition offense. The Wildcats are led by point guard Amber Smith and the Sooners by Robinson.

Both Oklahoma and Kentucky are known for their scrappy, quick play, but the real battle will come on the boards.

OU out-rebounded Notre Dame 44-33, while UK out-rebounded Nebraska 36-25. While both teams have displayed their ability to crash the boards, OU has size on their side coming into Tuesday’s game.

“Rebounding is all about will and determinations,” Thompson said. “It doesn’t really matter the size. If you want the ball bad enough, you’re going to get it.”

Wildcats head coach Matthew Mitchell told reporters Monday he knew his team was lacking the height and size the Sooners possessed.

“We really have to fight on the boards,” Mitchell said. “Thompson and Olajuwon are imposing figures. They are tough, tough rebounders.

Olajuwon is ready, having spent three quiet years learning from Courtney Paris.

The long, strained practices with the Paris twin paid off.

“Courtney was never nice to Abi, and that was probably the best thing she could ever do to her to make her better,” Sooner head coach Sherri Coale said. “Going against her every day in practice and being unrelenting.”

Her teammates have noticed the change and development in Olajuwon’s performance on the hardwood as well.

“She sees a sense of urgency, and she knows that we need her every time,” Stevenson said. “Abi has done great things throughout the season.”

Kentucky and Oklahoma have a lot in common on paper, but whether the postseason veteran Sooners can overwhelm the ambitious, momentous Wildcats is still in question.

The NCAA Tournament continues with two very similar teams meeting in the Big Dance for the first time ever Tuesday.

The Sooners and Wildcats tip off at 8:07 p.m.