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Oklahoma basketball: 5 things to know OU’s Big 12 semifinal showdown

ByChip Rouse|
Feb 22, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Chibuzo Agbo (23) shoots over Oklahoma Sooners guard Jordan Goldwire (0) in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Chibuzo Agbo (23) shoots over Oklahoma Sooners guard Jordan Goldwire (0) in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been six seasons since a men’s Oklahoma basketball team made it past the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament, and you have to go back 19 years since the last time the Sooners advanced out of the semifinal round to the championship game.

That is the situation the Sooners find themselves in today as they get ready for a semifinal showdown against the No. 3-seeded and 14th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Oklahoma, seeded seventh in this year’s Big 12 Men’s Championship, posted the upset of the tournament in Thursday’s quarterfinal round, knocking off the No. 2-seeded Baylor Bears 72-67. In the game that followed that one, Texas Tech rolled over No. 6 Iowa State 72-41.

That sets up a third game this season between the Sooners and the Red Raiders. The two teams split their regular-season series with both teams winning big on their home court. Friday night’s semifinal matchup will be the 72nd game in the all-time series with Oklahoma leading the series with a 41-20 record and 2-1 on a neutral court.

Here are 5 things to know about the OU-Texas Tech semifinal showdown

  • OU and Texas Tech have met two times in the Big 12 Tournament, both times in the semifinals. The Sooners won 67-60 in 2003 on the way to their third consecutive tournament championship that season. The Red Raiders won 69-63 two years later but lost to Oklahoma State in the championship game.
  • Texas Tech ranks second in the Big 12 in opponents’ turnovers (16.2 per game). Oklahoma ranks next to last in the Big 12 in turnovers committed per game (14.8).
  • OU’s Umoja Gibson scored a season-high 30 points in the Sooners’ 70-55 win over the Red Raiders in Norman but was held to just five points in the rematch at Texas Tech.
  • Oklahoma played its worst game of the season in a 66-42 loss to Texas Tech in Lubbock. No Sooner player scored more than eight points in the game. Oklahoma committed 21 turnovers and was outrebounded 31-17.
  • Tanner Groves, Oklahoma season scoring leader (12.4 per game), combined for seven points and four rebounds in the two games this season against Texas Tech.
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