Capel tries to be all about Oklahoma, not South Carolina rumors

"I think you are sort of in a no-win situation," Capel said outside OU's locker room following Friday's 72-64 victory over Saint Joseph's. "But the one thing I know is that you have to focus on what you can control, and that's life. That's my job. That's all I'm focusing on is my job."

Good luck with that.

And in the meantime, the Sooners will keep moving forward.

They've got a game with Louisville here on Sunday. Win that, and it's off to the Sweet 16 in Charlotte, where Capel would be back in his home state and thus in a place where the South Carolina speculation would further brew. And make no mistake, it would further brew, to the point where it would be difficult to contain. But the good news for Oklahoma is that Friday's victory seemed to indicate the players are adjusting and capable of pushing tomorrow aside in the interest of today, which is not to suggest anybody is naive to the business of this sport and the decisions that'll be made whenever this season is complete.

"I understand that (Capel) is going to have some offers, and he should because of the job he's done here and at VCU and because of the way he conducts himself," said Oklahoma freshman Blake Griffin. "A lot of people are going to want him. ... and whatever he does or decides to do, I'm going to be happy for him. Wherever he's at, I know he's going to be successful, and he definitely deserves it. But that's just not something we're going to worry about as a team right now."

Like I said, good luck with that.