Final Four

Not quite freshman JamesOn Curry's. But definitely not dearly departed, do-everything guard Tony Allen's. The issue isn't dead just because the Big 12's co-player of the year in 2004 is in the NBA now, either. His presence had hung over Gallagher-Iba Arena like a championship banner.

"I haven't heard about Tony in a while," the Cowboys' Joey Graham said of Allen, who is now getting 15 serviceable minutes per game with the Boston Celtics. "He was a great attribute to this team last year but he's slowly but surely fading out. It was just a matter of time before we replaced Tony."

Allen's absence was supposed to be the biggest reason the Cowboys couldn't make a return trip to the Final Four. Suddenly, Curry's arrival is the biggest reason they can.

The (in)famous North Carolina schoolboy star matched his career high with 22 points in No. 10 Oklahoma State's 79-67 victory over fading Oklahoma on Monday night. But he did it without scoring in the final 13 minutes. He did it playing above-average defense.

He did it wondering what it would be like to get to a Final Four a year after making the biggest mistake of his life.

"I've never been," he said. "My high school coach always brought me back something each year. I'm waiting to see (what it's like)." Final Four tickets. The 6-foot-4 Allen was the spiritual and statistical leader (16 points) of a 2004 team that won the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles. The Celtics took him in the first round of the NBA Draft.

Curry's a different kind of player than Allen, but has the same uplifting spirit.

"I think he took my word two weeks ago when I told him to pretend he was playing back on the playground or back in high school," Cowboys coach Eddie Sutton said. "He has a chance to be a really special player."

What Sutton won't tell you is that Curry might be the difference in a return to the Final Four. Everyone knew the kid was a player. He averaged more than 40 per game at Mebane, N.C., while shattering the state's schoolboy scoring record.

But he was hot to the touch for most programs after an arrest for selling marijuana a year ago at his high school. North Carolina's Roy Williams pulled his scholarship. Sutton, though, never met a reclamation project he didn't like.

Curry returned the lifeline with a smile that was slowly followed by a consistent jumper. In his four career stars, all since Jan. 30, Curry has averaged 16.5 points while shooting 65 percent. "It felt like I was in the gym by myself, at home, when I used to visualize stuff."

Visualize this: Oklahoma State now looks like the complete team that Sutton usually assembles this time of year. With Curry on the bench for a large chunk of those final 13 minutes, Sutton hit on a pretty good combination in Stephen and Joey Graham, Daniel Bobik, John Lucas and Ivan McFarlin.

That was after Curry incited the crowd with a five-point outburst seven minutes into the second half that pushed the lead from seven to 10. But it was more the way he did: Finishing a 3-on-1, hitting a flawless jumper.

The place might have come down had a layup by the 6-3 Curry gone in over Oklahoma's 6-9 Taj Gray.

"JamesOn has definitely stepped up his game," Joey Graham said. "When he gets on that shooting streak, he's just unstoppable. He keeps shooting it."

Before Monday, the season lacked shape for each team. Oklahoma (17-5) now has lost three of four since embarrassing Oklahoma State two weeks ago in Norman. Its chances of winning the Big 12 should be less a topic than a top-four seed, which would be a gift at this point.

Two weeks ago, the Sooners went out to a 19-2 lead in Norman and won by 10. Curry contributed two points, including "a freakin' airball. I see that ball in my sleep."

Since then the Cowboys (18-3) have won four in a row (Curry's first career starts). The kid easily found a home here. He talks about the arrest openly. He has a wide smile. The fans love him.

But it wasn't until the last week or so that he found his game. Tony who?