Oklahoma vs. USC
Tip: 8:00 PM (Central)
Location: Lloyd Noble Center (Norman, OK)
TV: ESPNU
Strength on Strength
Tonight’s game will be a classic defense vs. offense matchup. The Sooners are limiting opponents to 36.2 percent shooting (sixth best in the country) while the Bluejays are shooting 51.0 percent from the field and a nation-leading 44.8 percent from behind the 3-point arc. KenPom.com’s efficiency ratings rank the Sooners as the 15th best defense in college basketball and Creighton as the 15th best offense.
He’s A Machine!
To say that guard Christian James is coming into his own would be a massive understatement at this point. Before this month the senior had never produced a double-double in college. He now has three in a row and his 15 point/15 rebound performance against USC was just the second such performance by an Oklahoma guard since 1996.
Starting To Warm Up
Transfer guard Miles Reynolds scored 20 points against USC. It is his highest point output since joining the team. Reynolds has scored at least 14 points in four of his last five games and is averaging 15.4 points during that stretch.
A Slight Series Edge
The Sooners own a 3-2 all-time series lead and won the only previous matchup in Norman on Dec. 19, 2015 (87-74).
Team Leaders
James is pacing the Sooners with an average of 18.9 points per game. He’s joined by Reynolds (10.7 PPG) and Brady Manek (10.2 PPG) in scoring double figures. Manek also leads the team in rebounding with 8 boards per game.
Oklahoma is averaging 76 points per game while holding their opponents to 65.4.
Scouting The Bluejays
Led by Ty-Shon Alexander’s 18.2 points per game, Creighton also has three players averaging double figures in scoring. Mitch Ballock (12.8 PPG) and Damien Jefferson (11.4 PPG) round out the Bluejays’ top three scorers. Jefferson’s 5/9 rebounds per game is also a team high.
Creighton scores an average of 83.8 points per game while holding opponents to 77.1.