*****OU-OSU Pregame Notes/Game Thread/Predictions*****

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209407031

QUICK PREVIEW
Looking for a regular season Bedlam sweep, Oklahoma (18-7, 7-5) travels to Stillwater to take on Oklahoma State (16-8, 4-7) on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Sooners, who fell out of the AP Top 25 this week but are No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, beat the Cowboys 88-76 on Jan. 27 in Norman. They are coming off a 68-60 home loss to Texas Tech on Wednesday. OSU has lost its last five games and six of its last seven after a 15-2 start. The Cowboys are coming off an 87-68 defeat at Texas on Tuesday.

ON THE AIR
Saturday’s 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 Mike Houck calling the action. The game will be televised by ESPN2 with Jon Sciambi, Fran Fraschilla and Holly Rowe announcing.

THE SERIES
Oklahoma has won 12 of the last 18 overall meetings with Oklahoma State and holds a 130-95 all-time series advantage. The Sooners, who are 42-62 all-time in Stillwater, are going for their fourth regular season sweep of the Cowboys in the last nine years. OU has lost four straight in Stillwater (fell 84-79 in overtime last season).

PREVIEWING OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State enters Saturday’s game 16-8 overall and 4-7 in Big 12 play (eighth place). The Cowboys are 10-2 at home, with their two defeats coming in their last two games there (76-70 vs. Baylor and 98-97 vs. Iowa State in triple overtime). They have lost five in a row and six of their last seven after starting 15-2 and being ranked as high as No. 5 in the AP poll. In Big 12 play, OSU ranks fifth in the league in scoring offense (76.7 ppg), eighth in scoring defense (76.3 ppg), fifth in field goal percentage (.435), seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (.337), fourth in free throw percentage (.724) and seventh in rebounding margin (-3.1/game).

On the season, 2013 Big 12 Player of the Year Marcus Smart ranks third in the league in scoring (17.5 ppg), seventh in assists (4.3 apg) and first in steals (2.3 spg). However, Saturday’s game will mark the second of three games Smart will miss due to a Big 12 suspension. Fellow preseason All-Big 12 pick Markel Brown, a senior, ranks fifth in the league with his 16.7 points a contest to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Junior forward Le’Bryan Nash averages 14.8 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds while shooting .540 from the field. Sophomore Phil Forte averages 12.2 points and ranks second in the Big 12 by shooting .462 from long range. He was 6-for-6 from behind the arc off the bench in the first meeting (scored 20 points).

The Cowboys are under the direction of sixth-year head coach Travis Ford (120-71 record).

 

[Laxtothemax12]

Need a win after the bad performance Wednesday. Just play well and let the rest fall into place

 

[CoachTalk]

Silent board for a big Bedlam game tomorrow

 

[slappy in OP]

Obviously a huge game today. Go Sooners!

 

[jerry]

Believe it or not the Sheepherders are favored by 2 in Vegas. Line opened OSU - 3 1/2

 

[AdaSooner]

OU seems to play better when the other team is picked to win. Let's hope that trend continues.

 

[sdcloud9]

This game is now even more pivotal for the Sooners.

OU comes out with some purpose, gets a nice lead and then hangs on 74-69 and sweeps the season series.

Buddy Buckets comes back with a vengeance today in the Sooner win.

 

[soonerczech]

Game depends on if we settle for 3's or go back to attacking the rim and drawing fouls. We shot way too many 3's against TT and lost out at the charity stripe.

 

[opsooner]

Should be interesting. OSU should be very hungry for a win. I expect a very physical game. FT shooting could be key.

 

[opsooner]

9-7 OSU at under 16

 

[JBaker]

About to be down three, but honestly not a terrible start.
OSU can't run with us all game.

 

[MercedeSooner]

hmmph.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

About to be down three, but honestly not a terrible start.
OSU can't run with us all game.

Well, if our guards are going to let Forte penetrate and get to the basket...that's not very good. All the bounces and long rebounds are going their way early

 

[BigTime]

Look a little tight early

 

[sheepdogs1]

Loose balls going to the wrong team.

 

[JBaker]

ESPN can't show Smart today, so they're showing a black door that he's apparently behind instead.

 

[opsooner]

Well, if our guards are going to let Forte penetrate and get to the basket...that's not very good. All the bounces and long rebounds are going their way early

I'll take my changes here rather than letting him get open for 3s. Easier to help - he just got one there.

 

[NickZepp]

Need to attack the basket. Settling for jumpers is what OSU wants.

 

[Tyreej56]

need to drive the ball more

 

[MercedeSooner]

Clearly Lon made a point about not settling for the 3 - like it please just lock up Forte now.