One of college basketball’s fiercest rivalries will renew on Saturday night as the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys clash at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The two programs have been separated by conference realignment, with the Sooners sweeping their last two matchups against their in-state rivals on their way out the Big 12 door last season.
Oklahoma enters the game undefeated, one of just eight teams nationally to remain perfect this season. The Sooners have been impressive, showcasing a balanced attack and strong defense.
How to Watch:
You can catch the action live on ESPNU with Mark Neely and Tim Welsh on the call. For those in Oklahoma, the game will be broadcast on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry.
A Recent Bedlam Classic
The last time these two teams met, it was a thrilling overtime battle that saw the Sooners emerge victorious. Oklahoma’s Javian McCollum hit the game-winning three-pointer as time expired, securing an 84-82 win over Oklahoma State.
Rivaldo Soares led the way for the Sooners with 20 points, while Jalon Moore contributed a double-double.
Sooners Soaring High: A Statistical Breakdown
The Sooners have been impressive across the board this season, ranking highly in several key statistical categories. They’ve been particularly effective at forcing turnovers and converting them into points.
Specifically, Oklahoma ranks ninth in steals per game (10.6), 12th in free throw percentage (80.5%), 31st in turnover margin (4.2), 38th in scoring margin (15.7), 41st in turnovers forced per game (15.4), 42nd in effective field goal percentage (56.2%), 47th in 3-point percentage defense (28.6%), 49th in 3-pointers made per game (9.8), 51st in free throws made per game (17.0), and 53rd in fastbreak points (14.4).
Individually, freshman guard Jeremiah Fears has been a standout performer, ranking 20th in steals per game (2.56), 23rd in steals (23), 34th in free throws made (48), 81st in free throw attempts (55), 82nd in assists per game (4.7), 87th in free throw percentage (87.3), and 91st in assists (42). Senior Jalon Moore is 65th in points per game (18.2) and 80th in free throws made (42). Graduate Kobe Elvis is 71st in assist/turnover ratio (2.64). Redshirt senior Duke Miles is 81st in steals per game (2.0) and 93rd in steals (18).
Score Prediction
Oklahoma 79
Oklahoma State 74
A Look Ahead
Following the Bedlam matchup, Oklahoma will turn their attention to the Jumpman Invitational, where they will face off against the Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday, December 18th, at 8 PM CT. This will be the fourth meeting between the two programs, with Michigan holding a 2-1 series advantage.
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