Hoops Preview: Texas to host #12 Oklahoma

Texas (14-8, 4-5) vs. #12/15 Oklahoma (16-5, 6-3)

When: Saturday, February 3, 2017

Time: 5:15 PM

Venue: Frank Erwin Center

Location: Austin, TX

TV: ESPN

All-time series record:  Oklahoma leads Texas 54-37.

Last meeting: Oklahoma defeated Texas 70-66 (2/14/18 in Norman, OK).

After losing 73-71 in overtime to #10 Texas Tech on the road earlier this week, the Longhorns will host a ranked Oklahoma team at the Frank Erwin Center on Saturday.  This will be the first of two meetings in the regular season between Texas and Oklahoma, with the two teams meeting again in two weeks in Norman.

Texas looks to continue its winning ways at home, bringing a 10-2 record into the meeting with Oklahoma (the Longhorns lost to Kansas and Michigan at home).  Shaka Smart’s team is also 2-1 against AP Top 25 opponents at home this season, defeating #16 TCU (99-98 in 2OT) and #8 Texas Tech (67-58). Despite being ranked, Oklahoma is an underdog in Austin (Texas -3).

Junior forward and Tulane transfer Dylan Osetkowski has become a dominant force for the Longhorns this season and leads the team in scoring with 14.2 PPG.  True freshman Mohamed Bamba set the overall and freshman season marks for blocked shots in the loss to the Red Raiders earlier in the week.  Bamba recorded 7 blocks and enters Saturday’s game against Oklahoma 95 blocks.  He ranks second nationally in blocks per game (4.52) and has recorded five double-doubles in his last six contests.

Norman native and true freshman point guard Trae Young is averaging 30.3 PPG for Lon Kruger’s Sooner team.  Young, a five-star recruit, is as athletic as they come and will keep Texas on their toes all night.  Junior guard Christian James and freshman forward Brady Manek lead a supporting cast for Oklahoma, averaging 11.9 and 11.5 points per game, respectively.  Oklahoma squeaked out a 98-96 win over Baylor in Norman on Tuesday to improve to 6-3 in Big 12 play. Trae Young finished with 44 points against the Bears.

The Longhorns and Sooners will play in front of a national audience on ESPN, with tip time taking place at 5:15 PM CST.