DOOLITTLE EARNS BIG 12 HONOR

Oklahoma junior forward Kristian Doolittle has been named the Big 12's Most Improved Player, the conference announced Sunday

NORMAN — Oklahoma forward Kristian Doolittle was named the Big 12's Most Improved Player in a vote by the league's coaches. The conference announced individual awards and the All-Big 12 teams on Sunday morning after regular season play ended Saturday. Doolittle and OU senior guard Christian James were named to the All-Big 12 third team along with Kansas guard Devon Dotson, TCU guard Alex Robinson and Texas Tech guard Davide Moretti. Oklahoma sophomore forward Brady Manek was All-Big 12 honorable mention. Doolittle led the Sooners in scoring and rebounding during the conference slate. The junior from Edmond Memorial averaged 13.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game against Big 12 opponents. Doolittle averaged just 2.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22 games as a sophomore. He missed the first semester of last season due to an academic suspension. The 6-foot-7 forward emerged as Oklahoma's best player this season. “It's my best basketball I've played here for sure,” Doolittle said Thursday. “Ever in my life? No. I've played better before college, but high school is a little bit different.”

Manek ejected

Neither OU coach Lon Kruger nor Doolittle saw what happened on the play that earned Manek a Flagrant 2 foul in Oklahoma's loss at Kansas State on Saturday, but a replay review confirmed the call. During a Kansas State 3-point attempt late in the second half, Manek bodied up Wildcat forward Austin Trice. But as he blocked him out, Manek's left elbow jammed into the left side of Trice's neck. The Sooner forward was ejected with 4:01 left and his team trailing 65-45. Referee Doug Sirmons walked to OU's bench to deliver the verdict, and Manek tossed a towel aside in disgust. The Bramlage Coliseum crowd counted off Manek's steps as he left the court. “I didn't see it,” Kruger said after the game. “They just said a high block out to the throat.” A minimum of a Flagrant 1 used to be the requirement for elbow contact above the shoulders, but the NCAA changed that rule in 2013. “However, officials who deem elbow contact to be excessive, unnecessary, severe or extreme are encouraged to call a Flagrant 1 or Flagrant 2 foul,” the rule book states. Manek exited with four points and five rebounds.

Bracket update

CBS projects OU as a No. 9 seed in the Midwest Regional against No. 8 UCF. ESPN projects OU as a No. 9 seed in the East Regional against No. 8 VCU.

Tip-in

The Sooners wore their alternate anthracite uniforms Saturday for the third time this season. OU is 1-2 in the charcoal look.