Oklahoma Sooners 23 - 12

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin will return for his sophomore season instead of declaring for the NBA draft.

Griffin said Wednesday that he'd heard projections from experts that placed him anywhere from third to 10th in this June's draft.

``Most college basketball players, their dream their whole life is to play in the NBA, to take it to the next level, take it to that next step. That is something that is hard to turn down,'' Griffin said. ``But at the same time, I know personally I wouldn't be content just with going to the NBA and just sitting on the bench watching other guys play.''

Griffin led the Sooners by averaging 14.7 points and 9.1 rebounds, the most by an Oklahoma freshman since former NBA All-Star Wayman Tisdale 25 years ago.

The Sooners lost to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA tournament.