SATURDAY'S GAME BASICS
Oklahoma (6-7, 0-2 Big 12) heads to the Little Apple of Manhattan, Kan., in search of its first win inside Bramlage Colliseum since 2012. Both the Sooners and Kansas State (12-2, 1-1 Big 12) are coming off of close road losses this past weekend. Oklahoma fell to TCU, 60-57, in Fort Worth while the Wildcats lost on a last second bucket, 90-88, to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. Saturday’s meeting with K-State is the third game in a loaded five-game stretch to open Big 12 play. OU’s first five opponents (No. 2/4 Baylor, TCU, Kansas State, No. 3/2 Kansas and Texas Tech) combine for a record of 63-7.
ON THE AIR
Saturday’s game tips off at 2 p.m. CT and airs 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. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNEWS with Mitch Holthus and Bryndon Manzer calling the action.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
•One of the youngest teams in both the Big 12 and the nation, Oklahoma has seen its freshmen and sophomores play a large role for the Sooners this season. The Sooner roster boasts 11 underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) – the most of any OU team in the Lon Kruger era and the most of any Big 12 roster this season. The young Sooners have received ample experience through their first two Big 12 contests. OU freshmen have played a total of 176 minutes (most in Big 12) and have scored 43.9 percent of OU’s points in Big 12 play. Sooner underclassmen rank second in the Big 12 in total minutes played in conference competition (318) and have scored 72.0 percent of Oklahoma’s points the past two games.
• Through two conference games, the Sooners’ top three scorers have been newcomers off the bench. Freshman guard Kameron McGusty has averaged a team-best 10.0 points over the past two games while redshirt freshman forward Matt Freeman has shot 3-of-6 from 3-point range to average 8.5 points. JUCO transfer junior guard Darrion Strong-Moore has averaged 8.0 points since the start of conference play. The Sooner bench has averaged 29.5 points the past two games. Overall this season, the Oklahoma bench has outscored the opposing bench in 10 of OU’s 13 games.
• Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger played for Kansas State from 1970-74. He was named the Big Eight Player of the Year in 1973 and 1974. In 2003, Kruger was inducted into the Kansas State Hall of Fame. His number was retired at K-State in 2006.
• The Sooners have won or tied the turnover margin in 10 of its 13 games this season. Oklahoma is averaging 8.2 steals per game (31st in NCAA) and forcing 15.5 turnovers a contest (56th in NCAA). The Sooners are blocking 5.1 shots per contest (43rd in NCAA).
•The Sooners look to snap a five-game losing streak and return to a .500 winning percentage on Saturday against Kansas State. Despite losing seven games this season, the Sooners have found themselves with a chance to win in almost every contest this year. Oklahoma has led at halftime in five of its seven losses and has led at the half in both true road games this season (at Wisconsin on Dec. 3 and at TCU on Jan. 3). Five of OU’s seven losses have been decided by six points or less.
SERIES HISTORY
• Oklahoma and Kansas State will face off for the 204th time with the Sooners leading the all-time series 106-97.
• The Wildcats own a 59-36 advantage over OU when playing in Manhattan. K-State has won the last four games against Oklahoma inside Bramlage Coliseum.
• OU and K-State split the season series in 2015-16 with the home team winning each contest. The Sooners won, 86-76, in Norman while the unranked Wildcats upset No. 1 OU, 80-69, in Manhattan.
