FRIDAY'S GAME BASICS
After defeating Tulane, 89-70, in the quarterfinals of the Tire Pros Invitational, Oklahoma (2-0) is slated to face Northern Iowa (2-0) in the tournament’s semifinals in Orlando, Fla. The contest will tip at 6 p.m. CT at the HP Field House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Northern Iowa advanced to the semifinals by defeating Arizona State, 82-63.
Tonight’s winner will advance to the Tire Pros Invitational championship and play on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. CT against the winner of Clemson and Xavier. The losing team will compete for third place against the loser of the Tigers-Musketeers matchup on Sunday at 4 p.m. CT.
ON THE AIR
Friday's game will be televised nationally on ESPNU with Rich Hollenberg and LaPhonso Ellis calling the action. The contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM “The Franchise” in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
• OU is 13-4 when playing in-season tournaments games under Lon Kruger, including 4-1 in second-round games. The Sooners have won at least two games and finished in third place or better in all five in-season tournaments under Kruger. Last year, OU claimed first place at the Diamond Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii, defeating Washington State, Hawaii and Harvard. The Sooners have won 10 ot their last 12 in-season tournament games.
•Oklahoma is 59-14 in non-conference games under Kruger, including 23-9 when played at a neutral site. The Sooners have won 16 consecutive regular season non-conference games, with its last loss coming to Washington (67-69) on Dec. 20, 2014.
• The Sooners have found early shooting success in the first two games of the 2016-17 season. Oklahoma shot 32-of-62 (.516) from the field against Tulane on Thursday after going 37-of-63 (.587) in Sunday’s season-opening win against Northwestern State. It is the first time since 2008 that OU has shot above 50 percent in both of its first two games of the season. The Sooners lead the Big 12 with a season field goal percentage of .552 (seventh in NCAA). OU also boasts the conference’s top 3-point field goal percentage by going 17-of-35 (.486) from behind the arc in its first two games (fifth in NCAA).
• Through two games, Oklahoma is outscoring opponents 102-69 in the second half. The Sooners are shooting .655 from the field in the second half of games, including 8-of-12 (.667) from 3-point range.
• Senior guard Jordan Woodard stuffed the stat sheet in Thursday’s quarterfinals win against Tulane. The senior finished with 22 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals in 30 minutes. He shot 6-of-12 in the game, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Woodard’s outing was the ninth 20-point contest of his career and the first time he has surpassed 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in one game.
SERIES HISTORY
• Friday’s matchup will be the first meeting between the Sooners and Panthers.
• Northern Iowa is one of two teams currently in the Missouri Valley Conference that Oklahoma is yet to play (Evansville). The Sooners are 30-18 all-time against current MVC schools. OU has not faced an MVC team during the Kruger era. Oklahoma is scheduled to face Wichita State on Dec. 10 at Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena.
