Tanner Groves: ‘We’re going to win some big ones down the road’
By Chip Rouse
Tanner Groves is a major piece in the ability of Oklahoma basketball to win in the ultra-tough Big 12 this season, and they’ve got some big games coming up.
Oklahoma faces 20th-ranked Texas at home on Tuesday night. It is the Sooners’ third straight game against an opponent ranked among the country’s top-25 teams. That’s life this season in the Big 12 where four teams are ranked in the top-25 of the weekly national polls and six conference teams, including Oklahoma, are ranked among the top 50 teams in the more objective NCAA NET rankings.
In an interview with reporters on Monday, Groves spoke about Tuesday’s rematch with Texas and how the Sooners are a better team than they were in the earlier meeting with the Longhorns.
"“Yeah, I think that one (the game in Austin on Jan. 11) still definitely sticks with us,” Groves said. “I think that they got the best of us in that first one, and that kind of motivates us.“We’re getting a lot better, and I think Texas is going to see a different team when we play them tomorrow night.”"
Head coach Porter Moser said in his press conference on Monday that the Texas physicality bothered the Sooners and led to poor ball movement and costly turnovers. Texas Tech plays the same type of aggressive, opportunistic defense and wants to outmuscle you like the Longhorns, the OU head coach said, and “we handled it “much better” in the win last week against Tech.
Groves talked about the huge confidence boost the Sooners got from the two games last week:
"“We had a huge win against Texas Tech and then took Kansas to the wire at Kansas. I definitely think this could be a turning point in our season,” he said.“I notice the difference from our guys in practice and just in terms of the game preparation. I think we’re a lot more locked in and think we’re ready to finish this thing out strong.”"
Sooner fans are hoping that same thing.
Groves and his OU teammates know they have some work to do to safely secure an NCAA Tournament bid, and a couple more wins this week, over visiting Texas and on the road at Iowa State, could go a long way toward strengthening the Sooners tournament resume.
“Multiple teams in this league are going to make the (NCAA) tournament,” Groves acknowledged. “We’re still in the picture, and we’re going to win some big ones down the road here down the stretch. I definitely find us seeing our name pop up on Selection Sunday.”
The Sooners know they’ve got to take it one game at a time.
“You’ve got to win the one right in front of you, Groves said, “and for us, that’s Texas. We have an awesome opportunity against another ranked opponent at home. I hope the fans show out tomorrow night and create a good environment for us.”