Kelvin Sampson's Father has emergency brain surgery

(San Jose, California) -- The father of University Oklahoma basketball coach Kelvin Sampson is recovering after emergency brain surgery. <br><br>John W. Sampson became ill Tuesday during the Sooners'

Thursday, March 21st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(San Jose, California) -- The father of University Oklahoma basketball coach Kelvin Sampson is recovering after emergency brain surgery.

John W. Sampson became ill Tuesday during the Sooners' practice.

Doctors say the elder Sampson had an hour-long operation to remove blood clotting on his brain.

Kelvin Sampson says his father is tough enough to handle his recovery and expects him to be out of the hospital in a week to 10 days.

Sampson's father suffered a stroke about 20 years ago.

The second-seeded Sooners will face third-seeded Arizona tonight in the N-C-A-A West Regional.

. . . Oklahoma advances to tonight's game after wins over Illinois-Chicago and Xavier.

The Wildcats will make their sixth regional semifinal appearance in the past 11 years.

Arizona is 24-and-9. The Sooners have a 29-and-4 record.

The winner of tonight's game faces the winner of the other game between eighth-seeded U-C-L-A and 12th-seeded Missouri.