By John Shinn
Oklahoma got a huge victory over Texas.
In terms of need, strength of opponent and the momentum the win creates, it's like nothing the Sooners had accomplished all season.
But the best thing to come out of Saturday might have been what happened in the paint.
Sooner forward Ryan Wright had the best game of his two-year career with 11 points and 14 rebounds. It also came against a Texas team with one of the best frontcourts in the nation.
The performance didn't go unnoticed by his teammates.
"He was incredible, just coming in and getting us huge points, boosting the offensive game, and on defense there coming in early and getting on (Texas' Dexter) Pittman and those guys," OU guard Cade Davis said. "We needed somebody like that to step up and really be a physical because this was a man's game. And he really stepped up and did a great job for us."
The timing of it couldn't have been better for the Sooners. They entered Saturday's game having lost three of their previous four games. The biggest reason was the lack of an inside presence on both ends of the floor.
OU thought it would get that from freshman Tiny Gallon. At times, it has. Think back to the Sooners' Jan. 11 victory over Oklahoma State. Gallon controlled in the paint with 13 points and 18 rebounds. But he's been ineffective in the games since.
Sooner coach Jeff Capel moved Wright into the starting lineup as a result.
It was a gamble. Wright hasn't been OU's most consistent player either. Even after Saturday's game, he's averaging just 4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
"We tried to really simplify things for him. You just have to have one simple thing and make them stop that. Just play hard and be aggressive, and he's done that," OU coach Jeff Capel said. "No one deserves it more than him because we don't have a kid in our program that works harder than Ryan Wright."
There's no doubt he'll remain in the starting lineup when the Sooners (13-9, 4-4 Big 12) face Texas Tech (15-7, 3-5) Tuesday at Lloyd Noble Center.
"Just the chance to be out there, be a big contributor to wins like this; this is something I've been waiting my whole career for, and to finally be able to do it my senior year, it's just a dream come true," Wright said. "I'm just enjoying the ride, trying to have fun every game and play hard and just win."
There haven't been many OU players display that kind joy after a game this season. The weight of mounting losses had taken its toll. Often, games have seemed like more work than play.
Winning, of course, has a way of changing the feeling. But seeing a senior have success late in his career also provides a jolt.
The Sooners had to have one Saturday.
Wright delivered.
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
