Oklahoma basketball: KU’s ‘Phog’ has blanked Sooner men for 29 seasons

Dec 31, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; A general view of the court prior to a game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma State Cowboys at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; A general view of the court prior to a game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma State Cowboys at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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The last time an Oklahoma basketball team won a game at Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse, the Big 12 wasn’t even in existence. That’s the challenge the Sooners are up against when they go up against the No. 3-ranked Jayhawks on Tuesday night.

OU has come close a couple of times — just a couple, mind you — but the last time they beat a Kansas team in Lawrence was 1993. Billy Tubbs was the head coach and Jeff Webster, Bryatt Vann and Terry Evans were stars on that Oklahoma team that took down the mighty Jayhawks 80-77. That was one of just 7 all-time wins the Sooners have in 59 visits to historic Allen Fieldhouse.

The reigning national champions have dominated the Sooners on the hardwood throughout the years. The Jayhawks own a 154-69 overall record against Oklahoma

Oklahoma (10-5, 1-2) is coming off a big 88-83 road win at Texas Tech, the Sooners’ first quad one win of the season. Kansas (14-1, 3-0) won by 14 points, 76-62, at West Virginia over the weekend.

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The Sooners surprised then-No. 8 Kansas in the game in Lawrence a year ago, losing by just two points, 71-69. OU was down by eight with a minute and a half to go and trailed by just one. A free throw by Jalen Wilson of Kansas with 14 seconds left widened the gap to two and gave OU one last chance, but a stepback jumper by Jordan Goldwire bounced harmlessly off the rim securing the Jayhawk victory.

What fans need to know about Oklahoma vs. Kansas

  • Head coach Bill Self of Kansas is 25-6 all-time against Oklahoma and 13-0 against the Sooners in games played in Lawrence.
  • Kansas is No. 2 in the current Associated Press Top-25 and ranked No. 4 in the NCAA NET Rankings as of games of Jan. 7. Oklahoma is No, 48 in the NET Rankings. All 10 Big 12 teams rank in the top 60 of the NET Rankings.
  • Three Kansas starters are averaging at least 10 points a game led by redshirt junior Jalen Wilson at 20.2. True freshman Grady Dick leads the nation in three-point field goal percentage (48.2).
  • Former Nevada transfer Grant Sherfield leads Oklahoma in the scoring column, averaging 16.9. He has six games of 20 points or more this season.
  • Kansas’ Wilson and OU’s Sherfield were high school teammates at TA Howard Middle School in Arlington, Texas, and in AAU ball.
  • Oklahoma ranks second in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (49.2); Kansas, meanwhile, ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage defense (39.6).
  • Kansas is a 10.5-point favorite in Tuesday night’s game vs. Oklahoma
  • The game will be televised on ESPN2. Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla and Kris Budden will call the action.