>>>>>OU-Texas Gameday Thread<<<<<

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=210695888

BIG MONDAY'S GAME BASICS
No. 1/2 Oklahoma returns to the Lloyd Noble Center to host the Texas Longhorns on ESPN’s ‘Big Monday’ at 8 p.m. CT. OU, which is 19-3 overall and 7-3 in the Big 12, is in its fifth season under head coach Lon Kruger. The Longhorns are 16-7 this season (7-3 Big 12) and are under the direction of Shaka Smart, who is in his first campaign in Austin.

ON THE AIR
Monday’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 Scott Thompson announcing. The Big 12 matchup will be televised by ESPN with Brent Musburger and Fran Fraschilla calling the action.

NOTES ON THE LONGHORNS
Texas enters Monday's matchup with the Sooners with a 16-7 overall record, including a 7-3 mark in the Big 12 (tied for second with OU and Kansas). The Longhorns are 12-1 at home, 3-3 on the road and 1-3 on neutral sites this season. In conference action, they are 5-0 at home and 2-3 away from Austin.

UT is led by Shaka Smart, who is in his first season with the Longhorns. Prior to Austin, Smart coached at VCU, where he compiled a 163-56 overall record.

Texas is led in scoring by Isaiah Taylor with 15.3 points per game. Taylor also leads the club in assists (5.1 apg). Also averaging double-figure scoring for UT are Cameron Ridley (12.7) and Javan Felix (10.9). Ridley has missed the last 12 games due to injury.

Outside of Ridley, reserve Connor Lammert has led the Longhorns in rebounding with 5.7 boards per contest.

The Horns have won seven of their last eight games entering Monday’s contest in Norman. This stretch includes a home OT victory against No. 17/18 Iowa State and a pair of impressive road wins at No. 6/7 West Virginia and No. 15/13 Baylor.

Texas is 4-1 this year against AP Top 20 opponents, including a 2-1 mark in true road games against AP Top 15 teams. The Horns also are 2-1 this season against AP Top 10 teams with wins against No. 3 North Carolina and at No. 6 West Virginia.

The Sooners own a 52-35 advantage over UT in the all-time series, including a 26-11 mark in Norman. The Longhorns haven’t won in Norman since Feb. 14, 2012 (69-58), which was Lon Kruger’s first season at OU.

GAMEDAY STORYLINES
SCENE SETTER: No. 1/2 Oklahoma returns to the Lloyd Noble Center to host the Texas Longhorns on ESPN’s ‘Big Monday’ at 8 p.m. CT. OU, which is 19-3 overall and 7-3 in the Big 12, is in its fifth season under head coach Lon Kruger. The Longhorns are 16-7 this season (7-3 Big 12) and are under the direction of Shaka Smart, who is in his first campaign in Austin. OU and UT are both currently tied for second in the Big 12 standings. OU has won four straight in the series.

SERVING TREYS: Oklahoma currently ranks first nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (.453) by hitting 243-537 of its shots from downtown. Oklahoma’s all-time record for 3-point field goal percentage in a campaign is .414 (1986-87). OU has connected on at least 10 treys in 15 games this year (a school record) and it’s 11.0 3-point makes per game ranks fourth nationally. OU’s starting five is averaging 47.5 percent from 3-point range (207 for 436).

STRONG ON BOTH ENDS: The Sooners rank in the nation’s top 20 in both scoring offense with 85.0 points per game (fourth) and scoring margin (+13.1, 19th) by holding opponents to just 72.0 points per contest. Oklahoma has scored at least 80 points in 15 of 22 contests this season. On the other end, OU is 3rd in Big 12 in field goal percentage defense (.400).

BUDDY BUCKETS: Senior Buddy Hield is currently averaging 25.6 points per game, which ranks first in the Big 12 and second nationally (first among Power 5 conferences). The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year has scored at least 20 points in 16 games this season and his 51.1 percent (93-182) shooting from downtown ranks first in the country. His 4.23 3FGM per game is tops in the nation. He has eight games of at least 30 points this season (same total as rest of Big 12 combined).

STEADFAST SOONERS: Oklahoma isn’t short on experience or leadership this season. OU’s quartet of Isaiah Cousins, Buddy Hield, Ryan Spangler and Jordan Woodard have each started every game (90 total) for OU the past three seasons, tallying 360 combined starts during that span. With the addition of Khadeem Lattin (22 starts), OU boasts a starting five with 409 combined career starts.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Brad vs. the Book: Red River bank, Texas a strong play at OU

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/brad-vs--the-book--162336144.html

Texas (16-7, 10-10 ATS) at Oklahoma (19-3, 11-11) – After a pair of rough patches early in the non-conference season and again at the beginning of league play, the Longhorns have found their stride, despite the loss of ballyhooed big man Cameron Ridley (foot). Floor general Isaiah Taylor's stellar execution (27:7 AST:TO split last four) and the emergence of freshman Kerwin Roach has Bevo, winners in seven of its last eight, on firm at-large ground. Formidable on both ends (top-40 in off. and def. efficiency) and deep, Shaka Smart's club has wore down opponents.

Oklahoma, licking its wounds after a puzzling loss at Kansas St., is anxious to get back on course. Buddy Hield and Isaiah Cousins have played marvelously, but Jordan Woodard needs to establish consistency if the Sooners want to don a Big 12 crown. To keep pace, Texas must pester OU along the perimeter. Exactly 39 percent of the Sooners' points come from threes. Do that and feature Prince Ibeh in the post, and the 'Horns score the cover.

Prediction: Oklahoma 75 Texas (+8) 69

 

[Laxtothemax12]

Big week for the guys. Two huge home games that are basically must wins if they want to win the Big 12 outright. Hoping for a raucous crowd tonight

 

[Larry72]

I agree this is must win and would take a 1 point victory right now.

 

[AdaSooner]

You're right, our path to a conference title goes through Norman starting with tonight's game. The conference race is so close, we can't afford to lose one at home. It doesn't get any tougher than beating UT and KU in back to back games.

I have all of the confidence in the world that this team has the goods to get the job done! BOOMER!

 

[OUReality]

No doubt tonight's game is huge in terms of winning the conference, so this is an important game. But all that aside, it's Texas - enough said.

 

[OUsky]

Buddy goes for 29.

 

[inoref]

I wish when the Sooners gets a team down they would bury them once and for all, instead of what seems letting them back in every time.

 

[stormspencer]

At the half of the OSU-TCU game, the guys in studio did a really good segment of breaking down our defensive lapses on Saturday @KSU. It seemed to be more communication and effort than anything. We didn't compete like we needed to on Saturday....especially when we weren't making shots. I suspect you are going to see concentrated effort and focus tonight on the defensive end.

 

[Soonerinkc]

I wish when the Sooners gets a team down they would bury them once and for all, instead of what seems letting them back in every time.

really? ya know the other team doesn't want to get their ass kicked as well?
I'm sure our guys are tryin to keep scoring...the other team isn't going to lay down

I'd rather put the 2nd string in guys to get some time..

NOW if it ends up like at bu awhile back..from a 20 pt win to a 10...it all depends on how we play. The 2nd stringers in that game looked out to lunch...but basketball is a quick game.

 

[JBaker]

Boy we need Woodard to get it back together. Just ice cold.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

Sloppy.

 

[JBaker]

We look like we don't know what we are doing ok either end.

 

[opsooner]

Texas can't miss. Sloppy pass followed by bad foul from Lattin.

 

[stormspencer]

Another sh!tty start on guarding the perimeter.:facepalm

 

[Soonerinkc]

good lord, are you kidding me...

8 points avg 2.7...

lol, down 10

 

[JBaker]

McNease in this early is not great for us.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

About as bad of a start as you can imagine. They look awful

 

[Laxtothemax12]

Buddy has about 3 turnovers already.

 

[opsooner]

3-13 at under 16