GAME 34 - ROUND 1 - OKLAHOMA (20-13) vs UCONN (24-10) 8:25pm CST on TNT

[TEvans4Three]

(Boulder feel free to change title)

I wanted to get this up to look at and break down the UConn matchup a bit.



Some key points to note:
-OU has a slightly worse offense and slightly better defense than UConn.
-UConn does not cause a lot of turnovers on defense (good for OU)
-UConn is really good at blocking shots
-Both teams are elite at the FT line
-OU's advantage will be the 3pt line
-UConn's advantage will be scoring interior (high FG% from 2)
-UConn is a good OR% team
-OU plays faster paced, UConn allows for faster paced play (OU edge)

UConn's schedule and results for 2025:


UConn was preseason ranked 5th in KP (35th now) with 55th SOS:
-Their best 4 wins are against 9 Gonzaga (over-rated), 29 Baylor (meh), 28 Marquette x2 (good wins). 3 home games and an away. (8 seed, 9 seed, 7 seed twice)
-Their worst 4 losses are against 206 Seton Hall, 81 Colorado, 74 Dayton, 56 Villanova (0 tournament teams)

OU was preseason ranked 40th in KP (38th now) with 15th SOS:
-Our best 4 wins are against 14 Arizona, 15 Missouri, 23 Louisville, 25 Michigan. 3 Neutral and 1 home. (4 seed, 6 seed, 8 seed, 5 seed)
-Our worst 4 losses are against 88 LSU, 44 Texas, 34 Georgia, 26 Ole Miss (not in, 11 seed, 9 seed, 6 seed)

OU has a much better resume, this game is winnable. You take out the UConn name and compare both teams blind, OU has a definite shot and has been tested much more than UConn.

UConn is hitting at the right time, just like OU and both teams will look to ride that wave into the 2nd round.

 

[hoopsaustin]

We should watch the Seton hall and Colorado games on repeat until Friday and replicate whatever they did

The shot blocking is concerning bc fears getting to the rim has been super important to us the last 2 weeks or so.

Our 2 pt % defense is atrocious and giving up O boards.. wague looks like he'll be the most important player for us (hopefully Godwin gets back too but only if pm still leans on wague more)

 

[hoopsaustin]

Also, it looks like that Kentucky game pm blew might have been huge after all.. we could have been pushed up to an 8 seed and who knows who we could have drawn then instead of uconn (and then avoided Florida if we pull uconn off)

 

[TEvans4Three]

Also, it looks like that Kentucky game pm blew might have been huge after all.. we could have been pushed up to an 8 seed and who knows who we could have drawn then instead of uconn (and then avoided Florida if we pull uconn off)

Why stop there? UK twice and LSU and we are a 7 seed!

 

[hoopsaustin]

Why stop there? UK twice and LSU and we are a 7 seed!

Maybe even higher imo

 

[IndySooner]

Also, it looks like that Kentucky game pm blew might have been huge after all.. we could have been pushed up to an 8 seed and who knows who we could have drawn then instead of uconn (and then avoided Florida if we pull uconn off)

“PM blew”.

 

[cowboysooner]

I don't recall anyone picking us to get a 9 seed. Probably didn't see it. That means, we were in the middle of the field and no where near the bubble. I was still worried about being left out and thought we would get a 10-12 seed. I guess being in the SEC and our close losses helped out some.

 

[cmdsooner]

UConn has no PG/ball handling depth. We need to make Diarra bust his ass on both ends of the floor. Foul trouble would be great but even just wearing him down is important. They’ll give you the ball some & struggle to run their stuff vs pressure, and even more if he’s not in the game.

 

[TINY]

I don't recall anyone picking us to get a 9 seed. Probably didn't see it. That means, we were in the middle of the field and no where near the bubble. I was still worried about being left out and thought we would get a 10-12 seed. I guess being in the SEC and our close losses helped out some.

I will say it again. If ou had a legitimate conference affiliate last season, they would have made the ncaa tournament. Over past 3 years, the little 12 did everything it could to stifle the success of ou on our way out. Their commissioner was on the record multiple times rooting for other little 12 teams playing against ou/ut.

 

[AnotherSoonerInTX]

I will say it again. If ou had a legitimate conference affiliate last season, they would have made the ncaa tournament. Over past 3 years, the little 12 did everything it could to stifle the success of ou on our way out. Their commissioner was on the record multiple times rooting for other little 12 teams playing against ou/ut.

It may have been during the Kentucky game when an analyst (Jimmy Dykes?) mentioned this situation: Porter didn't have anyone in the committee room fighting for him for the last 3 years of Big 12 transition.

 

[TINY]

It may have been during the Kentucky game when an analyst (Jimmy Dykes?) mentioned this situation: Porter didn't have anyone in the committee room fighting for him for the last 3 years of Big 12 transition.

You are correct. It was nice to hear that acknowledgment from respected media like JD.

 

[SunshinePumper]

Is Godwin going to try and play?

 

[PhilipVU94]

Congratulations on your strong finish! Can't say I was pulling for you when we were all sweating out the end of the season (although it's hard to say I was pulling for Kentucky either, because they're Kentucky). But now that the dust has settled it's really good y'all made it.

How do you feel about being a 9 instead of a 10? IMO it's usually more favorable to be a 10. But with Bama as the 2 in our pod and Florida the 1 in yours, I'm not sure there's too much difference between them. Regardless I hope we both survive to get to the SEC-SEC matchup.

 

[PhilipVU94]

Also, it looks like that Kentucky game pm blew might have been huge after all.. we could have been pushed up to an 8 seed and who knows who we could have drawn then instead of uconn (and then avoided Florida if we pull uconn off)

Florida's deemed the fourth #1 seed. Auburn, Duke, or Houston aren't going to be any easier. (Especially Duke -- worse résumé than Florida even but better predictive metrics.) But they could have you paired with UF as an 8, or even just reversed the uniform colors for #8 OU vs #9 UConn.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Florida's deemed the fourth #1 seed. Auburn, Duke, or Houston aren't going to be any easier. (Especially Duke -- worse résumé than Florida even but better predictive metrics.) But they could have you paired with UF as an 8, or even just reversed the uniform colors for #8 OU vs #9 UConn.

Sure. Idk the other 9 seeds tho. In theory could have pushed for a 7 also

 

[WichitaSooner]

Congratulations on your strong finish! Can't say I was pulling for you when we were all sweating out the end of the season (although it's hard to say I was pulling for Kentucky either, because they're Kentucky). But now that the dust has settled it's really good y'all made it.

How do you feel about being a 9 instead of a 10? IMO it's usually more favorable to be a 10. But with Bama as the 2 in our pod and Florida the 1 in yours, I'm not sure there's too much difference between them. Regardless I hope we both survive to get to the SEC-SEC matchup.

Nice to see you back on the board, was thinking about you as Vandy also had some nervous moments late in the season.

I would have preferred a 10, or maybe even 11. Unless you can get a top 5 or 6 seed, it feels like the first game is always tough, so then you start thinking about what sets you up best to make the Sweet 16 if you can get out of the first round.

I don't love the idea of playing UCONN, even though it is a very different team than the past two years. Mainly I dread the coaching matchup, and feel like that will be worth at least a couple buckets for them if the game is close. But trying to be optimistic, my hope is that the SEC teams thrive against outside competition. And if games are called tighter than in conference play, that shouldn't affect OU quite as much since we aren't a physical team. Our fouls usually result from being out of position or giving up offensive boards, rather than manhandling the other team.

 

[TINY]

Florida's deemed the fourth #1 seed. Auburn, Duke, or Houston aren't going to be any easier. (Especially Duke -- worse résumé than Florida even but better predictive metrics.) But they could have you paired with UF as an 8, or even just reversed the uniform colors for #8 OU vs #9 UConn.

given the injuries, I’d much rather face Duke.

Good luck to your ‘dores!

 

[cbertus6]

Honestly, this seems to me like the way the officials call the game could determine it. If they're loose with the whistle on drives it bodes well for UCONN and if they're a little more strict with the whistle it'll help us. UCONN will be more athletic and bigger, but that's been the case a lot of the year so it isn't something we won't be used to. We will need some big shots to go in from Goodine, Elvis, and maybe a token Northweather 3, plus a good game from Fears. It is doable.

 

[sooner333]

Glad it’s a late night game because Wague will still be fasting during daytime.

 

[CoachTalk]

Anyone making the trip. Spring break... 16hour road trip... Tickets arent cheap as I thought for 1-16 and 8-9 matchups