NORMAN — Oklahoma freshman Blake Griffin walked to his locker after last Monday's practice to find a letter.
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It was from his head coach, Jeff Capel, encouraging Griffin to have more fun on the basketball court. The next day, Griffin had a one-hour meeting with assistant coach Mark Cline that generally focused on the same subject.
It seems that the tactics worked. Griffin responded with his best game of the season, 15 points and 14 rebounds in the Sooners' 72-68 win over No. 18 Gonzaga in the All-College Classic on Thursday night.
Though he admits he never had one of his coaches write him a letter before, Griffin says he wasn't surprised by it.
"Coach Capel has done things like that before,” Griffin said. "It just shows you the relationship he has with his players and everyone in this program.”
For the most part, the contents of the letter — as well as the meeting with Cline — remain private, but Griffin says it was just what he needed to hear.
"Coach Capel was just letting me know that he cares, and he's trying to help our team and me as a player,” Griffin said. "He and coach Cline were encouraging me not to worry about missing shots or making mistakes, just to go on to the next play.
"It really motivated me.”
Griffin says he has been pacing himself during games, something he grew accustomed to doing in high school, when he was often asked to play the entire game.
Breaking that habit has been a focus of the coaching staff much of the season. They'd rather see him play hard for four, five, eight minutes — whatever he can stand — and come to the bench for a breather.
When Griffin is playing hard, he instantly elevates his game. He drives to the basket with more authority.
He chases down rebounds all over the court.
Basically, he does all the things he did against Gonzaga on Thursday night.
In the previous five games, Griffin's best rebounding effort was nine against USC on Nov. 29. Against the ‘Zags, he had that many by halftime.
"As the leader, you try so many different methods to reach guys, and that's what the letter was,” Capel said.
"Besides his parents and his brother, I'm probably his biggest fan. I want the kid to accomplish the world, and I think he has an opportunity to.”
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From everything I've seen, Jeff Capel seems to be a good coach and a good man. Sooner fans can look forward to better and better days ahead for the basketball program. Or should I say, "We Sooner fans"?
Wow what a zinger, Chris. Guess you Aggies don't have much to talk trash about these days, huh? Fans from every team (including lOSuer fans) often use the we term, so why would it be bursting an OU bubble, other than the fact you're looking for something, anything to load your arrow with in these dark days for aggieland.
No Cindy, it actually becomes "we" when you put on a jock strap and get out on the court and go through all of the hard work & preparation. You are a fan, and that's exactly what those kids think of you, they don't consider you part of their team. Sorry to bust your little OU bubble.
I knew when they hired Coach Capel, we got a good one!!!! And yes, I graduated from OU not once but twice so I am able to say we. That is for whoever is wondering. Whether I had or not..it is still we. If you are a sooner fan, you are part of the family and can say WE!!!!!!!!!! BOOMER SOONER
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Oklahoma freshman Blake Griffin scored 15 points and pulled down 14 rebounds against Gonzaga on Thursday night in the All-College Classic. BY MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
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