Great news from Tucson, Ariz., on Thursday night, as Arizona took care of No. 2 Oregon 34-24 -- a win that I called in the newsroom just hours before, and I have three credible witnesses who can back me up without kickback.

Mike Stoops' teams at UA have always played well in November and terrible at any other point in the season. That a win over the Ducks would help Oklahoma probably didn't factor into things, relative to coaching decisions. However, there's no denying Mike's happy for OU's opportunity.

In fact, if I were Bob Stoops, I would have a phone call from brother Mike piped in to the Oklahoma locker room before kickoff on Saturday night in Lubbock, Texas.

All Mike would need to say is: "Alright, men. We did our part."

Now, Bob Stoops is not one to go for that rah-rah stuff. The antics of Georgia's Mark Richt -- having the entire Bulldogs team storm onto the field after a score and then allowing his club to wear black jerseys for the first time in the modern era -- were seen as sophomoric by many in the coaching fraternity.

Oklahoma's Stoops has always said his men don't need that sort of baloney. They know the stakes. They know what to do. They're men.

I fall on Richt's side though. Football is an emotional sport, and the riverboat gambler mentality Bob brought to Oklahoma has been lost to a robotic, unemotional approach to a game that's supposed to be fun. When Bob told Lynn Swann before the 2001 Orange Bowl that what he told his players before kickoff was "between me and my men," I was sure we had the second-coming of Barry Switzer on our hands.

Don't get me wrong. Bob Stoops is an excellent coach. However, here again sits another opportunity for his Oklahoma ball club to win a national title. Will they seize it? And, what will he do to help them seize it?

For now, I think Bob's planning and strategy and the basic defensive adjustments we've made in other close games this year will suffice, at least this week. I still wouldn't bet the farm that we beat Texas Tech at Jones Stadium.

However, I'm feeling slightly better about it and predict we'll win 41-31.

What I would say though is that at some point, if Oklahoma plans to win a national title this season, Bobby's going to need to reach in his bag of motivational tricks and be a bit more like Mark Richt and a bit less like Gary Gibbs.

***

In other OU notes:

Oklahoma's men got beat by No. 3 Memphis 63-53 in New York City on Thursday night, the semifinals of the 2007 Coaches Vs. Cancer tourney. My general impression of the team is that they are way overcoached, working on set plays instead of "balling."

Blake Griffin has potential, but nothing about his game tonight made me think he was in the same league as Derrick Rose. Griffin reminds me a bit of Ryan Minor.

Oklahoma's offensive possessions were painful to watch. Too much passing. Not enough shooting. And there was way, way, way too much insistence on getting the ball inside to a mediocre Longar Longar when there was no doubt that somebody like Joey Dorsey would block his weak s***.

At some point, if you plan to beat a team you know is better than yours, you have to play unconventionally. Allow the athletes to be athletes and shooters to be shooters. Right now, Oklahoma doesn't have many shooters; however, it doesn't mean we have to waste 30 seconds every possession passing the ball around just for the sake of passing it around.

A colleague of mine said last year Capel would be lucky to be brought back to OU for a third season. He noted his very average teams at VCU, and I just said we should give him a chance. I still believe that, and I think Capel is a smart, capable guy.

However, he's doing way, way, way too much right now and should just let this club ball until something works. When it works, he should be able to recognize it and adjust. Personally, I think OU should play small ball, run it up and down the court, shoot first and pass second and park Longar in the lane and let him scoop up boards.

We've got nothing to lose right now because no way this is an NCAA tournament team. They're 18-11 and an NIT bid club at best.

***

As for the Oklahoma women, I only got to watch the last 5 minutes. However, the Sooners showed heart against Candace Parker and the Lady Vols, who happen also to be the defending national champs.

Sheri Coale's club had a shot to win the game in the end, but like with the men, Coale opted for a set play to Courtney (how obvious) instead of adjusting to what the Tennessee defense gave them. Personally, while I think the world of CP3, she doesn't strike me as a "gamer."

Courtney's a bit soft when the game's on the line (except on the free throw line, when she mysteriously becomes a wonderful shooter late in games). Of course, other teams player her closer. They double-team, and she doesn't really get the weak-side help she needs to get the Sooners out of jams.

That's why Coale should rely on her guards and shooters a bit more.

Oklahoma isn't really much better than they were last year, if they are at all. This is a Sweet 16 club at best unless our guards step it up. I would turn Jenna Plumley into Steve Nash. Make her the quarterback of the team, and let her run what she wants pretty much. Take things on instinct.

Like with Jeff Capel, Sheri Coale (a wonderful coach) just seems to be doing a bit too much thinking for my taste.

This is basketball. It's about rhythm and streaks and who's hot and blocking out and hustle.

Anyway, it's way past my bedtime. I can literally feel the weight on my eyes.