Reserves Selvy, Detrick Provide Punch For Sooners

March 27, 2002

By OWEN CANFIELD
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Coach Kelvin Sampson believes the biggest difference between this year's Oklahoma team and his previous seven is better players.

And he's not just talking about the starters.

In Daryan Selvy and Jason Detrick, Sampson has two reserves who don't cut into the Sooners' quality when substitutions are made. They're two big reasons why Oklahoma is in the Final Four for the first time in 13 years. The Sooners (31-4) play Indiana on Saturday in Atlanta.

"I can only start five guys, but I have seven who can start," Sampson said. "Selvy and Jason are both starters, they just don't."

The 6-foot-6 Selvy, a senior averaging 23 minutes, is called on to rebound and play defense. He also can score - he averaged 23 points in junior college, and has had two 18-point games this season - but Oklahoma doesn't need him to score.

The 6-5 Detrick, a junior guard, provides scoring punch. He is averaging 9.3 points while playing 21 minutes per game, with 17 double-figure games and a season high of 21.

Selvy has made the bigger adjustment of the two. The offense ran through him at junior college. Now, scoring is almost an afterthought, because the Sooners have plenty of scorers in Hollis Price, Aaron McGhee, Ebi Ere and Detrick.

"I had to accept my role and be the rebounder in order for us to win games, and I think I've done that well since I've been here," Selvy said.

Sampson said Selvy played well enough last year, and worked hard enough, to earn a starting spot this season. But he also knew post player Jabahri Brown would become a starter when he became eligible in mid-December, which would result in Selvy becoming a reserve again.

So he asked Selvy to accept that role, and Selvy obliged.

"Selvy is probably one of the best sixth men in the country," Price said. "With him coming off the bench, we have so much more energy when he stops on the floor."

Selvy plays the small forward spot, but is the point man when the Sooners decided to trap on defense. He has been at his best during the NCAA tournament, scoring 13 points against Illinois-Chicago and grabbing nine rebounds in a second-round victory over Xavier.

In the West Regional semifinals against Arizona, Selvy scored 15 points and helped shut down Luke Walton.

Sampson calls Selvy "my security blanket" and says he's the most unique player he has coached because he's so flexible.

"He always changes the game, and I've learned how to use him better as the season progressed," Sampson said. "For him to accept this role and still be one of our hardest workers in practice says volumes about his attitude."

Sampson occasionally uses burly Jozsef Szendrei to spell McGhee or Brown and Blake Johnston to relieve Quannas White at point guard. But Selvy and Detrick are always the first in line.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Reserves Selvy, Detrick Provide Punch For Sooners

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