It was apparent from the first five minutes of Thursday’s first round NCAA Tournament match up between Oklahoma and Morgan State that Blake Griffin was the difference in the Sooners 82-54 win.
Dominant at times, Griffin scored 28 points and collected 13 rebounds almost effortlessly. Midway through the first-half it was Morgan State 11 and Griffin 14.
If that was not enough, Blake’s older brother, Taylor, chipped in with 18 points, five rebounds and four steals.
Griffin with the dunk. Griffin with the alley-oop. Griffin with the reverse layup. Griffin with the fade away. The All-American and future No. 1 NBA Draft pick put on a show for the fans in Kansas City, Mo.
Nonetheless, Todd Bozeman and the Bears have nothing to hold their heads down about after leading the representing the MEAC with the university’s first trip to the NCAAs.
Morgan State had a solid 14-point effort from guard Reggie Holmes while forward Marquise Kately had 11. On a night when they were simply outmanned and out-Griffined, contributions from others were a rare commodity.
While the No. 15 Bears (23-12) did not shoot well during the game, Baltimore can be proud of the effort. The Bears cut a 25-point led down to 14 in the second-half before the Sooners eventually pulled away. They kept driving strong to the basket, guarding 94-feet and taking the Sooners’ biggest punches.
Desire like that will eventually lead an HBCU hoop squad to a deep run into the tournament, the likes of which we have never seen. I know the issue of not having the level of talent BCS schools stockpile been hashed and rehashed since forever, but every passing year brings the underdog black school from Nowhereville USA closer to breaking through.
With road wins at ACC foe Maryland and Big East opponent DePaul, Morgan State appears ahead of most HBCUs for that breakthrough season.
Right now, HBCUs like Morgan State can’t just be happy with making the tournament or even winning one game in March. The goal has to be outplaying those in the Top 25 AP poll. Not just the MEAC, each and every season.
That mindset will ultimately lead to Morgan State being a 5 or 6 seed instead of a 15 or 16 seed.
It can be done.
