Preview: Texas Basketball heads to Norman to face rival Oklahoma in battle of winless SEC programs

Year one in the Southeastern Conference has proven to be challenging for Rodney Terry and the Texas Longhorns (11-5, 0-3), as they still seek their first conference victory. Texas opened SEC play on January 4th, with consecutive games against ranked programs in No. 12. Texas A&M, No. 2 Auburn and No. 1. Tennessee. Following their 80-60 road loss in College Station, Texas lost by just a combined nine points against Auburn and Tennessee, both of which were in Austin. They will face the Oklahoma Sooners (13-3, 0-3), who are also winless in conference play, on Wednesday night at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.

The Longhorns are underdogs again in this matchup by 2.5 points according to MyBookie, but their play in the last two outings has shown promise for a team that returned zero starters from last year’s squad. Led by true freshman and five-star recruit Tre Johnson, the Longhorns have had success at the Lloyd Noble Center, winning five straight there against Oklahoma. Texas has enjoyed success against the Sooner program regardless of location, winning seven straight and eight of the last nine meetings. With both teams winless in SEC play, expect this rivalry game on the hardwood to be a battle for a full 40 minutes.

Johnson is coming off his best game as a Longhorn, delivering a 26-point performance in the narrow loss to Tennessee. He currently ranks third in the SEC in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game. Junior guard Jordan Pope is playing a good stretch of basketball, averaging a team-high 19.7 points per game in his last six contests. Texas needs both players to continue their hot hands if they intend to leave Norman with their eight straight win over the Sooners.

Oklahoma coach Porter Moser has an array of talent in his lineup as well, including true freshman combo guard Jeremiah Fears. The Chandler, Arizona native averages 16.6 points per game and like Tre Johnson, has scored in double figures in all but one game played. Joining Fears in the starting lineup will be graduate transfer Kobe Ellis, senior guard Duke Miles, senior forward Jalon Moore and senior forward Sam Godwin.

Wednesday’s matchup marks the 108th meeting between the Longhorns and Sooners on the hardwood. Oklahoma holds an all-time advantage of 57-48.