Oklahoma basketball: What fans need to know about OU vs. Texas Tech

The Oklahoma basketball men, losers of eight of their last 10 games and eight of the last nine against Big 12 opponents will host Texas Tech (15-12, 4-10) on Tuesday night in the next to last home game of the season.

The Sooners (13-14, 3-11) defeated the Red Raiders in the first of the two-game regular-season series 68-63 in overtime in Lubbock. After the loss to Oklahoma, Texas Tech stood 0-3 in the conference. The Red Raiders would lose their first eight Big 12 games before recording a conference win. For most of this season Tech resided in last place in the Big 12 standings.

Since going 0-8 to begin Big 12 play, however, Tech has won four of six games and climbed out of the conference cellar, which is currently occupied by the Sooners, one game back of the Red Raiders.

Oklahoma has effectively played itself out of the NCAA Tournament and likely the entire postseason, but the Sooners can still salvage some self-respect with a good showing in its final three regular season games.

The Sooners have played much better in their last two games, although they have just one win to show for it. They defeated then-No. 12 Kansas State by 14 at home a week ago and were in a position to win at No. 6 Texas before falling in overtime.

Tuesday night’s game with the Red Raiders is a big game for both teams, but even more so for Oklahoma, which has to go to Iowa State and Kansas State before closing out the season at home against TCU. All three of the latter teams are ranked in the AP top 25.

The Sooners lead the overall series against Texas Tech 41-31 and are 26-9 when the game is played in Norman.

What fans need to know about the Oklahoma-Texas Tech matchup on Tuesday

• The game will be nationally televised by ESPN2 beginning at 8 p.m. CT. The announce team will be Mark Neely and Jess Settles.
• Texas Tech is just 2-6 on the road this season but was victorious in its last road outing, defeating West Virginia 78-72 on Saturday. Oklahoma is just 8-6 at home this season.
• The Red Raiders have four players averaging in double figures in scoring for a team that averages 74 points a game. Super senior Kevin Obannor leads the team in scoring (14.8 per game. The next best scoring threat is a name very familiar to OU fans. De’Vion Harmon, who played at Oklahoma from 2019-21, is averaging 13.7 per game and is a major catalyst in the Red Raiders’ offense. Harmon scored 23 in the first game with OU this season.
• Texas Tech is 2-7 in Big 12 games this season when the Red Raiders trail at halftime.
• As of games this past weekend, Oklahoma ranks 61st in the NET rankings; Texas Tech is 54th.
• Oklahoma averages a Big 12-worst 68.5 points per game.
• Nevada transfer Grant Sherfield is Oklahoma’s leading scorer (16.8 per game), best three-point shooter (42.3 percent) and best free-throw shooter (86 percent). Sherfield’s three-point percentage ranks 22nd nationally.
• George Washington transfer Joe Bamisile has been getting more playing time the past few games for the Sooners. He scored a season second-best 13 points vs. Texas on Saturday.
• The Sooners are last in rebounding in the Big 12, but they have outrebounded their last two opponents (Kansas State and Texas).