It’s not a long streak, and that’s exactly the way Oklahoma would like to keep it. The Sooners are currently on a two-game losing streak (TCU & Kansas) and have a chance to snap the skid when they host West Virginia tonight in the LNC. The Mountaineers come to Norman with an equal 1-2 record, in conference play, as OU. WVU is hoping to ride a wave of momentum, from Saturday’s upset win over Texas, and turn that into a positive streak for themselves.
Oklahoma vs. West Virginia
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 17
Tip Time: 7:01 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
Location: Lloyd Noble Center
As the saying goes, “There’s no place like home”, and after back-to-back road losses, the Sooners are back home in an arena where they’ve won nearly 83% of their contests since it opened in 1975. In fact, OU’s winning percentage at Lloyd Noble Center (82.9%) is second in the Big 12 only to Kansas’ 87.9% at Allen Fieldhouse (852-117).
Oklahoma has to key on three factors tonight against the Mountaineers, beginning with defending the perimeter. As a team, WVU is shooting 30.3% from three-point range, however guards Noah Farrakhan and Kerr Kriisa are shooting 35.7 and 39.6 percent respectively from beyond the arch. The Sooners are 10th in the nation in three-point percentage defense (27.6%) and need to hold West Virginia below their season average from long range.
Team Stats
| TEAM | PTS | PA | FG% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WVU | 67.9 | 71.7 | 40.6 | 36.2 | 12.4 | 3.6 | 4.3 | W1 |
| OU | 80.1 | 65.2 | 48.9 | 38.3 | 14.6 | 3.8 | 6.6 | L2 |
OU is shooting 48.9% from the floor on the season which ranks them 25th nationally in field goal percentage. However, in recent losses, they shot 44.8% against TCU and 40% against Kansas. Three-point shooting was miserable against the Horned Frogs (28%) and not really a lot better against the Jayhawks (30%). Being back home on a familiar court should be the problem solver in terms of making baskets fall, but the Sooners need to move the ball for high percentage shots and take advantage of good long-range opportunities when they come.
Finally, Oklahoma needs to crash the boards. OU has a slight rebounding edge over WVU. The Sooners are pulling down an average of 38.3 boards per game and the Mountaineers are grabbing average of 36.2. Oklahoma’s Sam Godwin is 17th in NCAA DI and first in the Big 12 in offensive rebounds per game (3.6 RPG). Oklahoma needs him to shine tonight!
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