Grant Lucas
Review staff writer
Oklahoma University senior Courtney Paris approached the microphone for her senior speech, following her final home basketball game, she made a promise that exceeded her illustrious career in the Big 12 Conference.
After scoring 12 points and 16 rebounds against Texas Tech University, her 123rd career double-double and a National Association of College Sports record, Paris said she couldn’t imagine finishing her Oklahoma days any better.
Following statements that brought many laughs, Paris made a guarantee that took the NCAA by storm.
“We’re going to win the national championship this year,” Paris said as the Sooner fans rose to their feet. “And if we don’t, I will pay back my scholarship because I didn’t do what I said I would do.”
Paris’ scholarship is valued at approximately $64,000, but that doesn’t matter to her. She says that the Sooners aren’t missing any pieces and as long as they play hard and execute, they can win the title.
The problem: The University of Connecticut is ranked number one in the nation and has a 31-0 record. An even bigger problem: UConn destroyed Oklahoma by 28 points in November. Not only that, but UConn has beaten its competition by a double-digit average.
Paris strung together an NCAA record of 112 consecutive games with a double-double earlier in the year, but history shows that Oklahoma doesn’t performed well in the NCAA tournament. In the “Paris Era,” the Sooners haven’t advanced past the Sweet Sixteen.
It doesn’t help OU’s situation that UConn sophomore Maya Moore averages nearly 19 points each game while No. 4 Maryland senior Kristi Tolliver is close behind.
Additionally, UConn leads the NCAA with a 1.45 assist-to-turnover ratio with No. 2 Stanford staying close at 1.22. Oklahoma ranks far behind at 0.97.
During the past three games, the Sooners have had two of their three highest turnover totals of the season; turnovers have hindered Oklahoma’s tournament advancement for the the last few years.
“When you’re good enough and don’t do something, you have to take accountability for that, and that’s your own fault,” Paris said. “If we don’t win the national championship, I’ll feel like I didn’t earn my scholarship.”