GAME 21 - OKLAHOMA (16-5) @ #1 AUBURN (20-1) 8:00pm CST on SEC NETWORK

[BoulderSooner]

NORMAN – Winner of three of its last four games, the Oklahoma men's basketball team (16-5, 3-5 SEC) goes in search of its first win against a No. 1-ranked AP opponent since 2002 when it takes on Auburn (20-1, 8-0) on Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT in Auburn, Ala. The game will be played inside 9,121-seat Neville Arena.

The Sooners are coming off a 97-67 win over No. 24 Vanderbilt on Saturday, their second win of at least 30 points in program history over an AP Top 25 opponent. OU outscored the Commodores 61-27 in the second half. It marked the first time since at least the 1996-97 season the Sooners scored 61 in a half against a conference foe.

The Tigers, whose only loss came at then-No. 9/9 Duke (84-78 on Dec. 4), have won 13 straight. They have won their SEC games by an average of 9.1 points (13.3 at home).

Tuesday's game will be televised by SEC Network with John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) announcing. It will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland (play-by-play) and Kevin Henry (analyst) on the call.

Men's Hoops at No. 1 Auburn on Tuesday Night - University of Oklahoma

NORMAN – Winner of three of its last four games, the Oklahoma men's basketball team (16-5, 3-5 SEC) goes in search of its first win against a No. 1-ranked AP...

soonersports.com

OU + 16.5 o/u 151.5

 

[opsooner]

Need a couple of big road upsets but not likely going to be this game. Play tough and if we don’t get the upset use the experience to win a must game on Saturday against another very tough opponent. Still good opportunities out there but time is running out.

 

[TINY]

if ou won all its home games i would be very surprised if they were left out.

 

[MJSooner]

if ou won all its home games i would be very surprised if they were left out.

Agreed. Winning the remaining home games, and I assume you reference losing all the road games, means we go 5-5, putting us at 21-10 and 8-10 in the SEC.

Losses would be against #1 Auburn (#1 NET), #15 Missouri-(#21 NET), #6 Florida (#5 NET), #25 Ole Miss (#23 NET), Texas (#25 NET). Losing those games wouldn't suck, but nothing to be ashamed of and probably not detrimental. Unless they are blowouts and it damages the committee's eye factor test.

But winning out at home also means wins against:

• #4 Tennessee (#4 NET)
• LSU- (#74 NET)
• #22 Mississippi State- (#31 NET)
• #14 Kentucky- (#19 NET)
• #15 Missouri- (#21 NET)

We are currently #38 in the NET rankings. Basically, 9 of 10 remaining games are against ranked teams in one of the rankings. Going 5-5 would be an incredible feat.

 

[opsooner]

if ou won all its home games i would be very surprised if they were left out.

I would too but that’s a tall order.

 

[Boom Soon]

Agreed. Winning the remaining home games, and I assume you reference losing all the road games, means we go 5-5, putting us at 21-10 and 8-10 in the SEC.

Losses would be against #1 Auburn (#1 NET), #15 Missouri-(#21 NET), #6 Florida (#5 NET), #25 Ole Miss (#23 NET), Texas (#25 NET). Losing those games wouldn't suck, but nothing to be ashamed of and probably not detrimental. Unless they are blowouts and it damages the committee's eye factor test.

But winning out at home also means wins against:

• #4 Tennessee (#4 NET)
• LSU- (#74 NET)
• #22 Mississippi State- (#31 NET)
• #14 Kentucky- (#19 NET)
• #15 Missouri- (#21 NET)

We are currently #38 in the NET rankings. Basically, 9 of 10 remaining games are against ranked teams in one of the rankings. Going 5-5 would be an incredible feat.

Great post.

I just can’t shake the feeling that OU really needs to steal one to make up for the AM home loss. I really really would like to think 7-11 gets them in but after last year it’s hard to be certain about it.

 

[sooner333]

Last year our best non-conference win was Iowa which was 50+ in Kenpom. This year we have three top 30 wins in the non conference. I would *think* 7-11 gets us in. Best be 8-10 or get a conference tourney win.

 

[TEvans4Three]

Here is the KenPom breakdown of the match-up:



Some important things of notw:

-Our offense has taken a huge jump from 27 to 17 in KenPom
-Our defense started off 103 in SEC conf play, now up to 67.
-Out of the 43rd spot in KP, OU is 34 after Vandy.

Key Matchups
-OU is Top-10 in eFG%, Auburn is 11th in eFG% defensively.
-OU is 5th in opponent 3P%, Auburn is 34th in 3P%.
-FTs, OU is 11th in %, AUB is 96th.
-(Don't look at rebounding...)
-Auburn does not attempt as many FTs as we do (267th). This may be an edge if they can prevent Auburn from hitting 3s.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Here is the KenPom breakdown of the match-up:

View attachment 2247

Some important things of notw:

-Our offense has taken a huge jump from 27 to 17 in KenPom
-Our defense started off 103 in SEC conf play, now up to 67.
-Out of the 43rd spot in KP, OU is 34 after Vandy.

Key Matchups
-OU is Top-10 in eFG%, Auburn is 11th in eFG% defensively.
-OU is 5th in opponent 3P%, Auburn is 34th in 3P%.
-FTs, OU is 11th in %, AUB is 96th.
-(Don't look at rebounding...)
-Auburn does not attempt as many FTs as we do (267th). This may be an edge if they can prevent Auburn from hitting 3s.

Step 1: prevent offensive rebounds... profit

 

[WichitaSooner]

Here is the KenPom breakdown of the match-up:

View attachment 2247

Some important things of notw:

-Our offense has taken a huge jump from 27 to 17 in KenPom
-Our defense started off 103 in SEC conf play, now up to 67.
-Out of the 43rd spot in KP, OU is 34 after Vandy.

Key Matchups
-OU is Top-10 in eFG%, Auburn is 11th in eFG% defensively.
-OU is 5th in opponent 3P%, Auburn is 34th in 3P%.
-FTs, OU is 11th in %, AUB is 96th.
-(Don't look at rebounding...)
-Auburn does not attempt as many FTs as we do (267th). This may be an edge if they can prevent Auburn from hitting 3s.

Two-foul participation … interesting given recent discussions on the board.

 

[allday92]

One thing I want to see is how often Porter goes to a small ball lineup or Luke at the 5. If the defense/rebounding is going to be bad with Godwin and Wague, you might as well open everything up on the offensive side and let Fears cook. The best option for this team and this roster may be to win high scoring games.

 

[mict085]

if ou won all its home games i would be very surprised if they were left out.

No kidding. It’s just not likely considering how we’ve failed to protect home court for 4 years. Yes, obviously, if we win the rest of our home games, we’d be solidly in the tourney. No question

 

[steverocks35]

I don't expect us to win this game. I'll be looking for how well we play and compete. I don't remember very many times when we have played and competed hard for two halves in a row under Moser.

 

[steverocks35]

Yeah that reasonable take was hilarious for a Moser apologist like "coach."

 

[Sooner04]

The best option for this team and this roster may be to win high scoring games.

That was certainly the option for last year's roster, but we reverted to form in conference play.
I doubt this group will be allowed free reign. But I've been surprised before.

 

[WichitaSooner]

I don't expect us to win this game. I'll be looking for how well we play and compete. I don't remember very many times when we have played and competed hard for two halves in a row under Moser.

Compete and maintain poise. I don't expect perfection, and we only have so much control over how well Auburn plays, but given how old and experienced our team is, there is no reason we should have as many meltdowns as we do. You can get away with those occasionally (usually, at home against teams that aren't overly talented), but a 5 or 10 minute stretch where we lose our minds will cost us in games like this.

The Bama debacle was exactly a month ago. Let's see if we have learned/gown at all since then.

 

[cowboysooner]

IMO, the game will come down to Fears and Officiating. If the game is called (that is left uncalled) and Auburn is allowed to mop the floor with Fears during his penetration attempts, then I just don't see us having much of a chance. However, Auburn's guards look more like football players then basketball players and unless they are allowed to mug Fears, then I don't think they can stay in front of him. If he is given any freedom of movement by the officials, he will have some "kick" opportunities to the wings and our 3 point shooting (if decent) could give us a chance.

Officials in college basketball can make a game mostly about who is most violent, or they can make it mostly about speed, quickness and skill. You see game officiated both ways. If it is officiated the latter way, we have a punchers chance.

If you want a fun exercise, google "Auburn Basketball roster" and then use the same search for each of our remaining teams. It will blow your mind how many bigs the teams have on their rosters. It is mind boggling. Makes you really wonder if there are that many crazy tall players out there, how if we haven't really had any in the last 30 years. Hell, Missouri has 4 guys that are 7 feet tall or taller. Pretty much the same with every team left on our schedule. It's crazy.

 

[mict085]

IMO, the game will come down to Fears and Officiating. If the game is called (that is left uncalled) and Auburn is allowed to mop the floor with Fears during his penetration attempts, then I just don't see us having much of a chance. However, Auburn's guards look more like football players then basketball players and unless they are allowed to mug Fears, then I don't think they can stay in front of him. If he is given any freedom of movement by the officials, he will have some "kick" opportunities to the wings and our 3 point shooting (if decent) could give us a chance.

Officials in college basketball can make a game mostly about who is most violent, or they can make it mostly about speed, quickness and skill. You see game officiated both ways. If it is officiated the latter way, we have a punchers chance.

If you want a fun exercise, google "Auburn Basketball roster" and then use the same search for each of our remaining teams. It will blow your mind how many bigs the teams have on their rosters. It is mind boggling. Makes you really wonder if there are that many crazy tall players out there, how if we haven't really had any in the last 30 years. Hell, Missouri has 4 guys that are 7 feet tall or taller. Pretty much the same with every team left on our schedule. It's crazy.

That just highlights the utter and complete failure at OU to recruit post players. It’s been that way for 20 years or more. We have always had a black hole at center and PF with a few exceptions and we’ve never had depth or more than one quality player at those positions.

 

[hoopsaustin]

That just highlights the utter and complete failure at OU to recruit post players. It’s been that way for 20 years or more. We have always had a black hole at center and PF with a few exceptions and we’ve never had depth or more than one quality player at those positions.

Tayshawn thomas and Spangler and younger years Lattin, were our last good/decent bigs imo. Jamuni mcneace could/should have been good imo, but it was hinted over and over that he was a knucklehead and didn't necessarily like basketball, if my memory is correct.

Tanner Groves was close to decent but should have been more of a backup or needed to improve a bit more than he did

 

[CoachTalk]

Tayshawn thomas and Spangler and younger years Lattin, were our last good/decent bigs imo. Jamuni mcneace could/should have been good imo, but it was hinted over and over that he was a knucklehead and didn't necessarily like basketball, if my memory is correct.

Tanner Groves was close to decent but should have been more of a backup or needed to improve a bit more than he did

Muni still making bank overseas.