**********OU-Baylor Game Thread**********

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209861501

QUICK PREVIEW
No. 19/20 Oklahoma (12-6, 3-3) finishes its only two-game road stand of the Big 12 season when it plays at No. 21/21 Baylor (14-4, 2-3) Saturday at 5 p.m. CT at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. The game will mark OU's nation-leading ninth against an AP Top-25 opponent. OU, which is coming off an 85-78 loss at No. 11/14 Kansas on Monday (led 69-65 with 4:45 remaining), is 2-3 in true road games. Baylor, which is 9-1 at home (only loss was to Kansas by one point), is coming off an 81-61 home win Wednesday over NAIA foe Huston-Tillotson.

ON THE AIR
Saturday's game 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 Mike Houck calling the action. It will be televised by ESPN2 with Dave Flemming and Fran Fraschilla announcing.

THE SERIES
Oklahoma owns a 42-11 series lead against Baylor and has won 37 of the last 42 meetings (includes a streak of 30 straight wins that was snapped five years ago). The Sooners possess an 18-5 series lead in games played in Waco. OU is 33-6 against the Bears since the inception of the Big 12 Conference (15-3 at the Ferrell Center) and has won five straight regular season games in the series (including the last two in Waco)

PREVIEWING BAYLOR
No. 21/21 Baylor improved to 14-4 on the year with its 81-61 win over NAIA foe Huston-Tillotson on Wednesday. The Bears, who are in eighth place in the Big 12 at 2-3, have lost two league games by a total of three points (56-55 vs. Kansas and 63-61 at Kansas State). Oklahoma beat them by 10 (73-63 on Jan. 3 in Norman). In Big 12 play, Baylor averages 63.8 points a contest to rank sixth in the league on .367 field goal shooting (ninth), .351 3-point shooting (fourth) and .707 free throw shooting (fifth). It ranks third in rebounding margin (+5.4 per game), is tied for first in offensive rebounds (17.0 per game) and ranks first in offensive rebounding percentage (.425).

Junior forward Taurean Prince leads three Bears who average double figures in scoring. The 6-7, 215-pounder has started six of his 17 contests (none in Big 12 play) and is averaging 12.2 points with the help of .435 3-point shooting (ranks second in league). Since the start of the calendar year, he is shooting .323 from deep (10 for 31). Prince also averages 5.5 rebounds a game to rank third on the team. Senior guard Kenny Chery is averaging 11.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting .393 from behind the arc. Junior forward Rico Gathers averages 10.8 points and leads the Big 12 in rebounding (12.2 rpg) and double-doubles (nine). He is coming off a 25-point, 28-rebound game versus Huston-Tillotson. Redshirt-freshman forward Jonathan Motley, who scored a team-high 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting against OU three weeks ago, is averaging 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds on the season.

Scott Drew is in his 12th year as Baylor's head coach and owns a 218-154 (.586) record at the school.

 

[DenverSooner]

Re: OU-Baylor Pregame Notes | SoonerSports.com

Keep Rico Gathers off the glass. BLOCK OUT, BLOCK OUT, BLOCK OUT.

It will be very difficult for Baylor to win if Gathers doesn't get any offensive rebounds.

 

[OUHoops]

Re: OU-Baylor Pregame Notes | SoonerSports.com

@OU_MBBall: All about that charter life. Waco bound! #Sooners #BeatBaylor

 

[sheepdogs1]

Re: OU-Baylor Pregame Notes | SoonerSports.com

Keep Rico Gathers off the glass. BLOCK OUT, BLOCK OUT, BLOCK OUT.

It will be very difficult for Baylor to win if Gathers doesn't get any offensive rebounds.

Albeit against a small school, but against their last opponent he only had 28 rebounds.

 

[slappy in OP]

Big game today. Hope the guys can get back to winning and kick off a nice streak here.

 

[OUReality]

I expect Thomas to bounce back and have a great game today

 

[opsooner]

Wow. Letting them play inside I guess.

 

[OUReality]

What's up with the pink socks? Is it a Breast Cancer awareness thing?

 

[opsooner]

Nice pass by Cousins? Looks like his wrist is hurt.


8-11 at under 16.

 

[OUReality]

Nice pass by Cousins? Looks like his wrist is hurt.


Yeah, he had a nice arch & rotation on that "pass"

 

[sheepdogs1]

Strong move by Woodard.

 

[JBaker]

I expect Thomas to bounce back and have a great game today

Not a great start to the bounce back.

 

[opsooner]

10-16 at under 12

 

[stormspencer]

Can we please have a little more ball movement and not jack every 3 that we see.

 

[sheepdogs1]

Can we please have a little more ball movement and not jack every 3 that we see.

It's going to the wrong player for that to occur.

 

[OUReality]

Not a great start to the bounce back.

You're right about that. I thought he would come out more aggressive.

 

[opsooner]

Missed almost every jumper so far. Need to be patient and work for some easier ones.

 

[Swans]

No fouls, no turnovers and we trail big.....

 

[OUReality]

Nice passing, easy bucket

 

[sheepdogs1]

Lattin w/a good pass.