Oklahoma is in a must win situation this weekend at Texas Tech as the Sooners literally cannot afford to lose another series. While this season has been less than stellar there are many possibilities for Oklahoma stemming from this weekend's series with the Red Raiders.

Texas Tech comes into the series with a conference worst 5-13 record while the Sooners aren't very far behind at 4-10-1. It's a simple concept this weekend. Win and stay in contention to make the conference tournament. Lose and the Sooners are moving into the conference basement.

Other match-ups to watch the weekend that could affect Oklahoma are Texas vs. Kansas State and Oklahoma State vs. Kansas.  

UPDATE: - Sooners use at 4 run 6th inning yo spark a 12-7 win over the Red Raiders Friday night.

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Just when we thought that Oklahoma's basketball roster was set for the 2008-09 season with the commitment of JUCO All-American Juan Pattillo comes the news that Tony Neysmith is transferring. You really can't blame him for wanting to leave because he was already buried beneath a group of mediocre guards and considering the class coming in it just makes sense.

Now the question is, what to do with that extra scholarship? Suddenly Keith Clark is looking like a possibility again. Jeff Capel could keep the scholarship for next year's recruiting class but if Clark has shown that he has gotten his act together he could still be an asset to this team but there is still going to be a question of trust.  

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The good news just keeps on coming for the Sooners basketball squad this off season. First, Blake Griffin decided to come back for another season, Bill Self didn't take the OSU job and they hired a guy that really stylistically speaking, isn't much different from Sean Sutton, then the recruiting class came together really well with the addition of Juan Pattillo as the final piece, and now, news out of Austin and Lawrence tonight say that both D.J. Augustin, A.J. Abrams, and Mario Chalmers all declared for this summers NBA Draft. All three have not hired an agent but very few expect them to return to school next year.

All of that sets up for what could be a run at a Big 12 Championship for the Sooners if they can continue to improve this off season as they have in each of Coach Capel's first two seasons. Consistent guard play is all that stands between the Sooners and greatness next season. I am going to give you my way too early pre-season prediction for the Big 12 Basketball Conference.

1.Kansas
2.Oklahoma
3.Texas
4.Texas A&M
5.Baylor
6.Missouri
7.Oklahoma St.
8.Nebraska
9.Texas Tech
10.Iowa St.
11.Colorado
12.Kansas St.

There are my rankings, so what are your way too early Big 12 Basketball rankings?

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This baseball season has been feast or famine for Oklahoma. They've featsed on mid-week games but come conference play over the weekend's its nothing but famine. Now, as the season is winding down OU is in danger of not making the conference tournament.

The Sooners currently sit in 9th place with a 4-10-1 conference record and are on the road this weekend at Texas Tech this weekend. The Red Raiders are the only team behind Oklahoma in the conference standings and OU needs to keep it that way through this weekend and gain ground on Kansas State, Kansas and Baylor.

If there ever was a weekend for Oklahoma to gain some ground it would be this one. Kansas State has to play against Texas, Kansas is at Oklahoma State and Baylor is hosting Nebraska. Only one game seperates OU from Kansas State and Kansas and there is a four game seperation between the Sooners and Baylor. Come Monday OU could find themselves in 7th place or last place or even somewhere in between. The determining factor will be what they do at Texas Tech.

Big 12 Baseball Standings
Texas A&M 15-3
Nebraska 13-4-1
OSU 11-7
Missouri 9-6
Texas 8-10
Baylor 8-10
Kansas 5-10
KSU 5-10
OU 4-10-1
Texas Tech 5-13

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We aren't quite two years old yet here at the Crimson and Cream Machine but it is time to upgrade to bigger and better features. Sometime in May the Machine will undergo an extremem makeover and come out on the other side being even more fan interactive with lots of new gadgets and features for you the reader to play with.

As it is now you have the opportunity to comment on any post written on this site as well as post your very own thoughts and opinions in the diaries section. In addition we offer several opinion polls and give you the opportunity to post your own there as well.

Creating your very own FanPost or putting up your favorite FanShot on the site are just two of the new features to look forward to. Remember that the Crimson and Cream Machine is a fan site for the Sooner fan by the Sooner fans. It is absolutely free to create and account and there may not be a better time than right now for you to join.

For a great example of what the new format is going to look like check out Burnt Orange Nation and see what they're saying about Oklahoma's football team this fall.

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Oklahoma used up its final basketball scholarship on JUCO All-American Juan Pattillo in what has turned out to be a stellar recruiting class for Jeff Capel. Pattillo plays the forward position and will give even more added depth behind the Griffin brothers and Ryan Wright. In fact, I'm not convinced that Taylor Griffin will be a starter with the dept in the post. I guess it depends on if Jeff Capel continues use a three guard lineup or not. Regardless this team will have to work really hard to not improve from this past season.

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Oklahoma has had five players win the Outland Trophy in its rich football history. This year there are three Sooners on the preseason watch list as an indication of how good OU should be in the trenches this season.

With all five returning starters from last season's offensive line returning Oklahoma could have the best line in the conference. Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson are both going to play crucial roles in keeping OU's running game strong and protecting Sam Bradford. Both guys have the dreaded word "potential" attached to their names and everyone remembers how the o-line underachieved in the Fiesta Bowl. Improvement is crucial to either one of these guys winning any post-season awards but more importantly it is crucial for the team to experience even more success.

On the defensive line DeMarcus Granger is finally making headlines for the right reasons again. He has paid his dues and earned a spot back on the team and is on the watch list as well. Oklahoma is going to be very solid along the defensive line with NFL caliber athletes at every position but Granger could turn out to be the best of the group.  

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To say that OU's baseball team is struggling would be gentle. The Sooners are 3-8-1 in conference going into this weekend's series with Missouri. It is way beyond rally time for Oklahoma. This weekend is huge and another sweep could find the Sooners in last place.

On a side note - Remember the time when Missouri thought they were better than Oklahoma in football? Yeah, that's a fun night to relive.

Update #1: Sooners drop first game to Missouri 9-4.
Update #2: Sooners lose 2nd in a row to Missouri (6-5) and will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow.
Update #3: Sooners avoid getting swept by pounding Missouri 22-4.

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Oklahoma's 2009 recruiting class continues to get deeper. The Sooners have received a commitment from hard hitting New Braunfels (Texas) linebacker Tom Wort who also had offers from LSU and Texas A&M.

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Oklahoma's 2009 recruiting class is stacking up nicely, particularly on defense. Three defenders committed to play football at OU over the weekend including Justin Chaisson who is ranked as the nation's 27th overall player by Rivals.com.  Chaisson (who is from the same high school as current Sooner standouts Ryan Reynolds and DeMarco Murray) also had offers from California, LSU, Florida and UCLA.

The other two commitments for OU over the weekend were linebacker Brandon Mahoney and cornerback Steve Williams. In all OU has a total of 9 verbal commitments for the 2009 class.

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A little snafu in the system prevented this post from going up until today but you know what they say, better late than never. The SBN blogs have been asked to try some new software that allows you to record posts from your cell phone for posting from live events. Well, here's my attempt at it from Oklahoma's Red/White Game.

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Dominique Franks put on a show Saturday at the Red/White Game.

Before you jump off the deep end thinking that Oklahoma's offense is suddenly going to stink after getting dominated by the defense all spring let me remind you that last year after the spring we had no idea who the quarterback would be because they all looked so bad. As it turns out Sam Bradford was alright after all. So what are we supposed to think after OU's quarterbacks tossed a combined 6 interceptions, 3 of which were returned for scores?

First of all we need to realize what Bob Stoops has stated over and again throughout the spring drills - that the defense has a sizable advantage. After Saturday's Red/White Game the coach addressed the issue one last time.

"The offense is incredibly disadvantaged in these situations by the way we practice. We go against them in pass skel and in scrimmages so the defense anticipates them pretty well. I felt good about the offense. There were a lot fewer penalties today and no fumbles. I know we had the interceptions, but a lot of that goes back to what I said about the offense being disadvantaged."

So based on that let's look at what we've learned this spring.

The offense is actually going to be fine! How do we know that? Keep in mind that DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown weren't participating which hurt the running game a little. Also, the coaches praised the efforts of the offensive line in the areas of cutting down penalties and improved blocking as well as the running backs and receivers for a lack of turnovers.

The other interesting think to watch with the offense was their move to the no huddle attack. It really is quicker and will result in more offensive plays which hopefully will result in more points.  

Dominique Franks is going to be really good! Strike that. He is really good. Franks dominated the spring game with three interceptions, one of which he returned 57 yards for a score, and two tackles.

Frank Alexander needs to be on the field! I know the Sooners are deep at the defensive end position but Alexander is a playmaker. He was all over the field Saturday making tackles, sacking the quarterback and intercepting passes.

Coaches should consider changing positions for Mossis Madu! The kid has talent but will experience the same problem he had last season trying to overcome the depth Oklahoma has at running back. DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown are the most experienced while freshman Justin Johnson ran strong in the spring and Jermie Calhoun will be joining the team this summer adding even more depth to the position.  

Madu has the hands and speed to be a very good slot receiver (led the team in receptions during the Red/White Game, 6-74) and would give the offense yet another weapon to toy around with.

RED/WHITE GAME STATS

RUSHING
Player, Attempts-Yards
J. Johnson, 20-44
Madu, 11-31
Clapp, 7-49
Bradford, 5-(-16)
Iglesias, 1-27
Nichol, 1-4
Jones, 1-(-5)
Halzle, 1-(-11)
TOTAL, 47-123

PASSING
Bradford 12-25-191, 1 TD, 3 INT
Halzle 1-13-4, 1 INT
Nichol 7-15-58, 1 TD, 2 INT
Jones 1-5-50, 1 TD

RECEIVING
Madu 6-74
Gresham 2-60, 1 TD (51)
Iglesias 2-28
Eldridge 2-26
J. Johnson 2-9
Hutchins 1-50, 1 TD
Mensik 1-15
Chaney 1-12
Whitson 1-12
Clapp 1-8, 1 TD
Stratford 1-5
Ratterree 1-4

TACKLES
Holmes, 10
Proctor, 9
Beal, 8
Fleming, 8
Reynolds, 8
Lewis, 7
Davis, 5
McCoy, 5
Bennett, 4
Clayton, 4
B. Jackson, 4
D. Jackson, 4
Robinson, 4
Bowers, 3
Granger, 3
Nelson, 3
Alexander, 2
Crow, 2
Franks, 2
Macon, 2
Taylor, 1
Troup, 1

TFL-YARDS
Beal, 2-6
Davis, 1-1
Granger, 1-2
Proctor, 1-2

SACKS-YARDS
Alexander, 1-11
Bennett, 1-10
Clayton, 1-7
Beal, 1-6
McCoy, 1-6
Taylor, 1-5

INT-YARDS
Franks, 3-91 (TD)
Nelson, 1-81 (TD)
Alexander, 1-31
Davis, 1-10

PBU
B. Jackson, 2
Proctor, 2
Crow, 1
Fleming, 1
Holmes, 1
Macon, 1

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