Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma basketball: Sooners dispose of No. 9; how about No. 8 next?

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma's Tanner Groves (35) defends against Kansas' David McCormack (33) in the second half during the men's college basketball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas Jayhawks at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022.Ou Mbb Vs Ku
Oklahoma's Tanner Groves (35) defends against Kansas' David McCormack (33) in the second half during the men's college basketball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas Jayhawks at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022.Ou Mbb Vs Ku /
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In what has clearly been a roller coaster season for men’s Oklahoma basketball, the Sooners have the opportunity this weekend to pull off a rare double-double in college basketball: Beating two top-10 teams back-to-back in the same week.

On Wednesday this week, the Sooners upset No. 9-ranked Texas Tech 70-55 in Norman. On Saturday Oklahoma will be in Lawrence, Kansas, where No. 8 Kansas awaits.

The game on Saturday against Kansas, however, will pose an even greater challenge for the Sooners. History may not always be the best predictor of the future, but in the cast of the history between these two teams, it speaks volumes.

Allen Fieldhouse has been a House of Horrors for Oklahoma. The las time OU won there Bill Clinton was the U.S. president. The Sooners have not won a game at KU since 1993 and are 16-78 all-time against the Jayhawks in Lawrence. Kansas also overwhelmingly leads the all-time series with the Sooners 153-69.

464. CBS. 19-4. 462. . 12 PM CT. 14-10. Saturday, Feb. 12

To make matters worse, Kansas is coming off a gut-wrenching three-point loss at No. 20 Texas on Monday in a game they lead by four points with just over a minute to go. You know Bill Self will have his team focused and ready to go against the Sooners.

Kansas won the first game with OU this season, breaking a 64-all tie on a three-point dagger by Christian Braun with 10.9 seconds remaining in the game for a 67-64 road victory in Norman.

The game will be televised on CBS beginning at 12 p.m. CT. Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery will be the announce team on the call.

What fans need to know about the Oklahoma-Kansas game on Saturday

  • Kansas leads the Big 12 this season in scoring 80.0 points per game), field-goal percentage (49.7) and three-point percentage (36.1).
  • Kansas senior Ochai Agbagi leads the Big 12 in individual scoring and ranks 16th in the nation with a 20.3 average. He had 10 points in the first meeting this season between OU and KU.
  • Kansas is 11-1 at home this season. The lone loss was 80-62 to Kentucky on Jan. 29.
  • Oklahoma ranks right behind Kansas in the Big 12 in FG percentage (48.0), but the Sooners rank last in the conference in both rebounding and turnovers, two areas that have been game killers for OU this season.
  • Senior shooting guard Umoja Gibson took over the OU team lead in scoring this week with a 30-point performance in the Sooners’ win over No. 9 Texas Tech. Gibson is averaging 12.8 points a game. Tanner Groves averages 12.7. Oklahoma is going to need a big game from both Gibson and Groves against Kansas.

Prediction

Oklahoma comes into the Kansas game with the momentum of a huge home win over Texas Tech on Wednesday. That will provide a boost of confidence for the Sooners, but they are facing a Kansas team that rarely loses at home and coming into the game with some anger after literally throwing away their midweek game at Texas. Allen Fieldhouse has never been a welcoming place for the visiting Sooners. Great OU win earlier this week. Let’s leave it at that. Kansas by double figures.

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