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Oklahoma basketball: Will Sooners flame out or refire in second half?

By Chip Rouse

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 08: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on January 8, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 66-59. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 08: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on January 8, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 66-59. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 26: Head coach Lon Kruger of the Oklahoma Sooners smiles after cutting a piece of the net after the Sooners 80-68 victory against the Oregon Ducks in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional Final at Honda Center on March 26, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 26: Head coach Lon Kruger of the Oklahoma Sooners smiles after cutting a piece of the net after the Sooners 80-68 victory against the Oregon Ducks in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional Final at Honda Center on March 26, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

National rankings are doubly important this time of the season

The Sooners currently rank 33rd in the new NCAA NET rankings formula. The NET (which stands for NCAA Evaluation Tool) was created to replace RPI (Real Time Percentage Index), which NCAA officials felt was outdated and had outlived its usefulness. The new NET rankings include more measurement tools than the RPI system, including team value index, net efficiency, Division I opponents record as well as weighted Division I opponents record and margin of victory.

Under NET, the quality of an opponent is based on the NET ranking of the opponent and where the game is played.

ESPN “Bracketology” expert Joe Lunardi has the Sooners as one of eight Big 12 teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament field this season, but OU’s March Madness stock has been steadily falling the past couple of weeks. Lunardi has Oklahoma projected as an eight seed in his latest rankings, but two weeks ago he had the Sooners as a No. 3 seed (which most of us would agree is not realistic).

There is no question that OU’s postseason hopes ride on the team’s performance in its 10 remaining regular-season games.

The Sooners will probably need to win at least five of its remaining games plus win their first-round game in the Big 12 Tournament to ensure their chances of making the NCAA Tournament. Otherwise they most likely are looking at the National Invitation Tournament. But even the latter destination won’t be a lock if OU follows last year’s season closeout example.

The rest of the journey begins on Saturday at West Virginia.

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