MEMPHIS -- Oklahoma couldn't have asked for a better start against No. 3 seed Syracuse. Junior guard Tony Crocker, who has been mired in a month-long shooting slump, knocked down a 3-pointer on the Sooners' first possession. Crocker had made only three of his last 21 3-point attempts. The Sooners also are playing pretty patiently against the Orange's vaunted 2-3 zone. On Oklahoma's second possession, point guard Austin Johnson banked in a jumper at the shot-clock buzzer for a 5-0 lead. I think Oklahoma All-American Blake Griffin has to be surprised at the strength of Syracuse junior Arinze Onuaku. Griffin scored on an alley-oop dunk to give Oklahoma an 8-2 lead at the first media timeout, but Onuaku isn't being pushed around.