I really want to be a Longar Longar fan, I promise that I really do. The most frustrating thing about him is nights like tonight when he goes off for 24 points and 14 rebounds. Sure that's a great night but it was against a Division II school. Longar seems to disappear against stiffer competition. He was a complete no factor against Memphis and was inconsistent against Purdue.
A win over Chaminade is much better than a loss against the Silverswords but you really don't want your only win the Maui invitational to be against a Division II school. Forgetting the fact that Oklahoma was playing this game to not finish last in the tournament, let's accentuate the positive.
In addition to Longar's double-double Austin Johnson continued his terrific performance in Hawaii with 13 points and 6 assists. Taylor Griffin also scored in double figures for the second time in the three game tournament posting 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for his own double-double.
The Sooners also out rebounded the Silverswords by 18 (45-27). Oklahoma only made it to the charity stripe nine times and they only missed twice.
Every game also has its negatives and this one was no exception. The Sooners sent Chaminade to the free throw line 19 times which isn't bad except when you only create nine opportunities for yourself.
Oklahoma also attempted 31 three point shots which is great if you make at least half of them. There will be nights this season when the Sooners shoot lights out and will have opportunities to run their opponents off the floor. There will also be nights when they are off and will shoot themselves out of the game which brings me to my final point, Michael Neal. He is crucial to Oklahoma's offense and hasn't found his game face yet.