The Oklahoma Sooners are headed to the Sweet 16 again, but to finally get past that barrier and onto the Elite Eight, ESPN pointed out one thing that Jennie Baranczyk's squad must fix.
The No. 4 seed Sooners needed a second-half comeback on Sunday to get past No. 5 Michigan State 77-71 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and if not for turnovers, a comeback likely wouldn't have even been needed. And that can't happen to be an Elite Eight team.
Although No. 1 South Carolina still has to beat No. 9 USC on Monday night, there will likely be a rematch between the Sooners and Gamecocks in the Sweet 16 after OU won the first meeting during the regular season. However, even just one glaring issue could keep the Sooners from accomplishing the upset again.
ESPN published takeaways from Day 3 of NCAA Tournament with analysis on how each team won and how they can advance to the Elite Eight. Brooke Pryor immediately looked toward that OU-South Carolina rematch looming and pointed out that, even in the win, star freshman Aaliyah Chavez didn't shoot well in the first meeting until going off for 15 points in overtime and finishing with 26 total.
How turnovers can kill Sooners in NCAA Tournament
Pryor doesn't believe Chavez's scoring will be the difference, though, but turnovers, which Chavez could also be the key factor of while running the point, could decide if the Sooners' season ends or if they keep dancing.
"To get to the Elite Eight, the Sooners will have to clean up their turnovers: They committed 23 against Michigan State, including 14 in the first half," Pryor wrote.
To Pryor's point, the Sooners will need less turnovers to get past whoever they play, whether it's South Carolina or USC. Those 14 first-half turnovers against Michigan State led OU to have a five-point deficit at halftime that the Sooners had to overcome against a, fortunately, slower-paced offense.
The Sooners limited their turnovers in the second half and ended up with 23 total, compared to the Spartans' 22. Michigan State converted OU's turnovers into 21 points.
However, the Sooners can't always dig themselves out of a hole, especially against the likes of South Carolina. The Gamecocks won't just maintain a lead, but could completely bury the Sooners to erase any chance of a comeback.
That means Chavez will have to play beyond her years in her first NCAA Tournament, while the veterans who have been there before will have to use that experience to elevate their game, or else the Sooners will get stuck at the Sweet 16 again.