Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma basketball: What Sooners’ next seven games look like

By Chip Rouse

Apr 4, 2020; Austin, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Alondes Williams (15) blocks a shot by Texas Longhorns forward Royce Hamm Jr. (5) in the second half at the Frank Erwin Center. Mandatory Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman via USA TODAY NETWORK
Apr 4, 2020; Austin, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Alondes Williams (15) blocks a shot by Texas Longhorns forward Royce Hamm Jr. (5) in the second half at the Frank Erwin Center. Mandatory Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Jan 23, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners forward Kur Kuath (52) and guard Austin Reaves (12) high five during introductions before the start of a game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners forward Kur Kuath (52) and guard Austin Reaves (12) high five during introductions before the start of a game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

The Oklahoma basketball win over Iowa State on Saturday gave the Sooners seven up in the Big 12 win column with seven more games remaining in this highly irregular of all regular seasons.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sooners did not play at all in November this year and didn’t tip off the season until Dec. 3. They played just five nonconference games before going full steam into Big 12 play, but played their first conference opponent (TCU) — and on the road, no less — two games into the season.

COVID has affected the Oklahoma basketball season both directly and indirectly this season. The Sooners started the season later than most teams after having to pause all basketball activities because of COVID tests and contract tracing within the OU program. The scheduled games with Central Florida and Florida were cancelled.

In early January, prior to the game at then-No. 6 Kansas, it was revealed that senior forward Brady Manek would miss the game because of COVID issues. The Sooners suffered their 20th consecutive loss playing at historic Allen Fieldhouse, but the margin was just four points, a sign that this year’s OU team was better than many thought.

Oklahoma rebounded from the back-to-back losses to Baylor and Kansas in early January with a five-game winning streak to close out the month, including consecutive wins over three top-10 teams.

The Sooners finished an historic January having faced six teams ranked in the top10 and, with wins in four of those games, Oklahoma became just the third team to defeat four top-10 teams in the same month and the first in almost five decades.

OU’s remaining seven regular-season contests pose an equally daunting challenge. Four games are on the road and three are against ranked Big 12 opponents.

How the Sooners navigate through the next three weeks will determine their seeding for both the Big 12 Tournament and, ultimately, how high they will fly when it comes time to populate the March Madness bracket.

What follows is our projection for how the next seven Oklahoma games will play out, as well as what the final Big 12 standings will look like as the calendar turns to March and the postseason.

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