OU is 3-12 outside the Oklahoma border under Capel. And the wins haven't been all that impressive — Baylor, TCU and NCAA Division II Chaminade.
But Capel's second edition Sooners are showing signs of growth, with wins over fringe top-25 teams Arkansas (in Norman) and Gonzaga (in Oklahoma City) the last two weeks. The next step in the Sooners' progression is to beat a quality opponent on the road.
And today presents such an opportunity, when they face No. 23 West Virginia at 5 p.m. in the Charleston Civic Center.
Sure, this could be considered a neutral-site game, since it's being played two-and-a-half hours from the Mountaineers' Morgantown campus.
"But it's not,” Capel said. "It's a home game for them. It's sold out and they really get behind their program in that state.”
This could serve as preparation for Big 12 Conference play, which awaits in two weeks with road tests at Kansas, Texas and Texas A&M, as well as upstarts Baylor and Nebraska.
"We made some big steps against Arkansas and Gonzaga,” OU senior center Longar Longar said. "Playing on the road is important. It's very hard to play on the road. It's gonna take a lot of poise, a lot of confidence from all the guys, believing that we can go win these games on the road.
"It's a matter of just going and getting it done.”
OU didn't get it done on the road last year, especially when it needed to. In the final weeks of the season, with postseason possibilities still alive, the Sooners dropped winnable games at Iowa State and Missouri.
This year has been different. OU hung tough with No. 2 Memphis in New York, and did the same at No. 24 USC. Then the Sooners routed TCU in Fort Worth.
But a win today would offer different benefits than rolling over an outmatched TCU squad.
"That's definitely the next development for us,” junior Taylor Griffin said of winning on the road. "It really doesn't matter who you play in the Big 12, any away game is gonna be a battle. And this West Virginia game will prepare us for that.”
Capel also wants to see how his team responds to the success it had before the holiday break.
He felt his players became complacent after easy wins over TCU and Tulsa. Then they lost at home to Stephen F. Austin.
And the coach hopes the break didn't disrupt the groove his Sooners were in.
"I like the break for us, but I wish it was at a different time,” he said. "We were playing very well for the last 10 days. To have a break at that time, as a coach, you're concerned about what that will do to the rhythm you have going.”
Capel raves about the skill West Virginia's players possess, and first-year coach Bob Huggins has installed a more physical defensive philosophy. So winning today won't be easy.
"We play against a really good team that hasn't lost in a while,” Capel said.
"Any road win is a good win, especially looking at college basketball this year. But it would help us in the present and also long-term with what we're trying to do if we're able to go on the road and beat West Virginia.”
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It was such a joy watching the Sooners win against the Mountaineers tonight on national television. Like James said, I am so proud of that team for the character they displayed in coming back to win in double overtime. They are showing signs that they may be "a force to be reckoned with" come Big 12 play. Austin Johnson was magnificent tonight, as was Blake Griffin. Longar Longar looked great in the second half and during overtime. In fact, everyone who played for the Sooners seemed to make a major contribution to the win. Keep it up, big guys. And Jeff, I'm just glad that you made the choice to come to OU and lead this team after the Sampson debacle. If you can just get the guys to shoot their free throws with more consistency, it's going to be a great season. I hope the Sooner fans there in Oklahoma will great your team at the airport upon their return tonight. And I'm hoping that the football team watched the game and will repeat your performance with another win over WVU come January 2 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Excellent, excellent game sooners!!! You grew up a lot with your win again a hostile WV crowd, refs, and oh yes; the Mountaineers too! You've made me very proud. Keep the focus.....
Congrats Sooners on your 88-82 double OT win over the Mountaineers! Woo hoo! Capel definitely has this team headed in the right direction. And personally, I love the gray uniforms. The team has worn them twice this year and won both games. LOL
Truth Seeker, Oklahoma City - Dec 29, 2007 at 8:10 pm
I was watching the OU/West Virginia game and noted the road uniform the Sooners are wearing. When did they go to the gray uniforms? I think the road crimson looks so much better and shows the school colors a whole lot better.
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