The other three second round games Saturday were absolutely wretched. The Big-12 outclassed the Pac-10, as Oklahoma raced to a 15-4 lead and never led by fewer than 7 points the rest of the way, beating CAL, 74-65, in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. With Hollis Price playing at half-strength due to a groin tear, the Sooners were led by freshmen guards Kevin Bookout and De'Angelo Alexander, who scored 22 and 15 points respectively. Brian Wethers was the only Bear to show up, scoring a career-high 27 points in his last collegiate game, while the other senior star, Joe Shipp, was held to 20 points. Ben Braun, who is a fine teacher of the game, and probably gets more from less than any other coach in the Pac-10 save Henry Bibby, has now coached an uninspired and apathetic squad out of the second round for the second consecutive tournament.

The two late games were even more one-sided. Kansas scored at will and routed Arizona State, 108-76, making 21 of 23 shots during one extended second-half run. The Jayhawks will play Duke, an easy 86-60 winner over Central Michigan, in the Sweet Sixteen on Thursday. I hope the late games tonight will be more interesting, or CBS is going to have a ratings fiasco against the Oscars.