Hoops preview: Oklahoma

Texas (17-8, 6-6 Big 12) at #17/17 Oklahoma (17-8, 8-5 Big 12)

Tuesday, February 17, 2015 – 8:00PM (CST)

Lloyd Noble Center – Norman, Oklahoma

The game will be televised by ESPN2.

PREDICTION

The Texas Longhorns got blown out at home against the Sooners in the teams’ first meeting this season. That loss began to chip away at the fans’ expectation of an elite team.

Since then Oklahoma has been streaky at best – from losing both games against Kansas State to winning by almost 50 points over Texas Tech.

Point blank…the Longhorns will try their best to avenge the loss in Austin. Why wouldn’t they? The Longhorns know it was quite embarrassing and they need to remind people that they are worthy of a higher seed in the tournament. The Longhorns are currently projected as a 7-seed but with this game and the home game against Iowa State this week, the opportunity exists to improve their standing.

However, Texas 0-7 record against the RPI Top 25 speaks volumes. Oklahoma is #18 in the RPI, so it is reasonable to expect the Longhorns to lose to the Sooners.

Oklahoma 69 – Texas 57

SERIES INFO

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[*]Oklahoma leads the all-time series, 51-35.

 

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[*]Last meeting: Oklahoma 70-49 (Jan. 5, 2015; in Austin).

 

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[*]Texas is 21-19 against Oklahoma during the Rick Barnes era.

 

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[*]Texas has won 14 of the last 20 meetings, but OU has won each of the last three and four of five.

 

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TEXAS NOTES‘”

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[*]Texas coach Rick Barnes enters Tuesday’s game with an overall record of 399-174 (.688) in 17 seasons at Texas. With a win on Tuesday, Barnes would become the eighth active NCAA Division I men’s basketball coach to reach the 400-win milestone at his current school.

 

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[*]During UT’s current three-game win streak, the Horns have held their opponents to an average of 47.0 ppg on a combined 31.3% shooting (46-of-147).

 

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[*]Myles Turner posted a game-high 25 points (one shy of career high), a career-high 12 rebounds, and three blocked shots in his 30 minutes during Saturday’s home win against Texas Tech. The performance was both his third double-double and third 20-point performance of the season.

 

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[*]Texas posted a season-low seven turnovers in their win over the Red Raiders.

 

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OU NOTES

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[*]The Sooners are 11-1 in Norman and boast a +20.8 average scoring margin in those 12 contests.

 

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[*]OU’s starting five is shooting .537 from the field in games at the Noble Center. The junior duo of Buddy Hield and Isaiah Cousins is shooting a combined .533 (64 for 120) from behind the 3-point arc at home.

 

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[*]OU has held its 25 opponents to an average of 10.5 points below their season average. On the year, the Sooners are holding teams to 61.5 points/game and limiting them to .371 field goal shooting and .305 3-point shooting.

 

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[*]In their 12 home games, the Sooners have posted a 248-105 advantage in points off turnovers – an average of 21-9 per game.

 

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