TUESDAY'S GAME BASICS
No. 1/2 Oklahoma returns home to host Texas Tech on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT inside Lloyd Noble Center. OU, which is 16-2 overall and tied atop the Big 12 standings at 5-2, is in its fifth season under head coach Lon Kruger. The Red Raiders are 12-6 this season (2-5 Big 12) and are under the direction of Tubby Smith, who is in his third campaign in Lubbock. OU leads the all-time series over Tech, 36-21, including a 21-7 mark in Norman.
ON THE AIR
Tuesday’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 battle will be televised by ESPN2 with Dave Flemming and Miles Simon calling the action.
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
TTU is 12-6 overall on the season (9-3 home, 1-2 away, 2-1 neutral). The team is led by head coach Tubby Smith, now in his third season in Lubbock and 25th year overall as a college head coach.
Texas Tech is led in scoring by Devaugntah Williams, who is averaging 12.5 points per game. Also scoring in double figures this season is Toddrick Gotcher (10.9).
In Big 12 conference play, Gotcher (10.6), Justin Gray (10.6) and Aaron Ross (10.3) are averaging double-figure scoring.
Zach Smith leads the Red Raiders in rebounding with 6.4 boards per game. Keenan Evans is the team’s assists leader (2.6).
Tech’s two wins in conference came against Texas on Jan. 2 (82-74) and at TCU on Jan. 18 (76-69). The team is coming off of a narrow 80-76 loss to the hands of West Virginia last Saturday in Lubbock. Four Red Raiders scored in double figures, led by Zach Smith with 18.
The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 Conference in free throw percentage (.750) and are third in rebounding defense (33.5).
The Sooners own a 36-21 lead over the Red Raiders in the all-time series, including a 21-7 mark in Norman. Last year the Sooners took both meetings (81-36 in Norman, 79-75 [OT] in Lubbock).
GAMEDAY STORYLINES
SCENE SETTER: No. 1/2 Oklahoma returns home to host Texas Tech on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT inside Lloyd Noble Center. OU, which is 16-2 overall and tied atop the Big 12 standings at 5-2, is in its fifth season under head coach Lon Kruger. The Red Raiders are 12-6 this season (2-5 Big 12) and are under the direction of Tubby Smith, who is in his third campaign in Lubbock. OU leads the all-time series over Tech, 36-21, including a 21-7 mark in Norman.
SERVING TREYS: Oklahoma currently ranks first nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (.464) by hitting 200-431 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 12 games this year (one shy of school record) and it’s 11.1 3-point makes per game ranks fourth nationally. OU’s starting five is averaging 48.9 percent from 3-point range (172-352).
STRONG ON BOTH ENDS: The Sooners rank in the nation’s top 20 in both scoring offense with 85.5 points per game (sixth) and scoring margin (+13.9, 19th) by holding opponents to just 71.6 points per contest. Oklahoma has scored at least 80 points in 13 of 18 contests this season. On the other end, OU leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense (.394).
BUDDY BUCKETS: Senior Buddy Hield is currently averaging 25.7 points per game, which ranks first in the Big 12 and fourth nationally (first among Power 5 Conferences). The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year has scored at least 20 points in 10 of the last 12 games and his 51.7 percent (70-136) shooting from downtown ranks second in the country. His 4.11 3FGM per game is tops in the nation. The Bahamas native has six games of at least 30 points this season.
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 (86 total) for OU the past three seasons, tallying 344 combined starts during that span. With the addition of Khadeem Lattin (18 starts), OU boasts a starting five with 389 combined career starts.
