Memphis will get test No. 1 on Saturday when Gonzaga comes into town (Test No. 2 comes when the Vols come in on Feb. 23).

Zags coach Mark Few compared the Tigers to Jerry Tarkanian's old UNLV teams.

"His collection of talent reminds me when Tark was at Vegas," Few said. "They play really, really, really hard - as hard as anybody we've faced and that's a credit to him {Memphis coach John Calipari}."

One of the keys for Few against Memphis will be whether he can get production out of big man Josh Heytvelt, who was starting to play well prior to a lackluster effort against San Francisco last game in which the 6-foot-11 junior finished with six points.

"We're going to chalk it up to him being sick," Few said of Heytvelt, who had the flu. "He was awful. He wasn't running and his legs still aren't completely back under him yet."

Few said that Heytvelt, who missed the first 11 games this season due to a stress fracture in his foot, still isn't moving as if he's 100 percent and doesn't have his athleticism back.

"He's showed flashes, but the thing he gives us anyway is that he's skilled," Few said.

Heytvelt wasn't the only player to miss extensive time earlier this season. Freshman Steven Gray sat out the first 10 games after wrist surgery and the team's top perimeter threat has shown he's able to do much more.

Gray is leading the team in deflections and has proven to be a quality decision-maker with the ball in his hands. He had 16 points and five steals in a career-high 35 minutes against an Eddie Sutton-led San Francisco squad.

"He's just a Gonzaga guard," Few said. "Gray's the best shooter on our team for sure and we're trying to get him more shots. He's got a demeanor like Blake Stepp - no emotions and an inner toughness."

GRIFFIN PROGRESSING

Blake Griffin had his knee drained on Monday and is progressing ahead of schedule, but he won't play this weekend against Baylor and is doubtful for the Oklahoma State game on Jan. 28.

"I'd be shocked if he's able to play in that game," Sooners coach Jeff Capel said. "There's a chance he might be able to play against Texas A&M (on Feb. 2)."

Griffin sprained the MCL in his left knee early in OU's loss to Kansas 10 days ago and was expected to miss about a month.

"Before he got hurt, he was just starting to really get it," Capel said. "He was learning how to play every possession."

Griffin was averaging 22.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in the last four games before suffering the knee injury early in the loss to the Jayhawks.

"As bad as I want him back and need him, I don't want to rush him because he's got such a bright future," Capel said. "We don't want to jeopardize anything."

Capel said that this past weekend's two-point win at home against Texas Tech was huge because the Sooners could have dropped to 0-3 in league play with a loss.

"It was important for our postseason aspirations," Capel admitted.

Capel said that Longar Longar, Tony Crocker and Griffin's older brother, Taylor, have stepped up since Blake went down. The Sooners are down to just eight scholarship players after Keith Clark flunked out and Griffin went to the sidelines.

MARATHON GAME

It was the first time in 196 meetings between Texas A&M and Baylor that both schools went into the game ranked. It didn't disappoint.

The two teams played the longest game in Big 12 history after Baylor outlasted the Aggies, 116-110, in five overtimes.

There were 17 ties and 20 lead changes in the 3