Oklahoma Sooners
Big 12 (19-13, 7-11)
Oklahoma got off to an 11-1 start and that proved to be extremely important. Wins over Florida, Notre Dame, Wichita State, USC, Creighton and Northwestern were significant to the Sooners chance at a berth in the NCAA Tournament. That is because after that strong start, the Sooners fell fast and were sitting at 3-9 in Big 12 play in the middle of February. Coach Lon Kruger rallied his team late in the year, including a huge victory over Kansas, to finish the year with a 19-13 record and this year that was enough to sneak into the tournament.
Big Wins: 11/18 Wofford (75-64), 2/16 at TCU (71-62), 3/5 Kansas (81-68)
Bad Losses: 1/19 at Texas (72-75), 1/28 Baylor (47-77), 2/2 at West Virginia (71-79)
Coach: Lon Kruger
Why They Can Surprise:
Oklahoma improved on both ends of the floor during their run to an NCAA Tournament bid. The defense as a whole has been solid, allowing the opposition to shoot just 40.3 percent from the floor. Christian James leads the team with 14.4 points per game, but he has been extremely inconsistent this season. During the Sooners five game losing streak in the heart of Big 12 play, James averaged just 10.0 points per game. He scored just six points in the win over Kansas. The other scoring threats come from the frontcourt duo of Brady Manek and Kristian Doolittle. Manek averages 12.0 points and 6.1 rebounds, which Doolittle adds 11.2 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Oklahoma has proven that they can beat anybody or lose to anybody. That inconsistency will prove to be problematic in the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners have some options in guards Aaron Calixte, Miles Reynolds and Rashard Odomes. All three can score, but Calixte is the only outside shooting threat of the group and none have been too consistent. If Oklahoma is going to win a tournament game or two, they will need some of these role-players to deliver a scoring punch.
Probable Starters:
Jamal Bieniemy, Freshman, Guard, 4.9 ppg, 3.5 apg
Christian James, Senior, Guard, 14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Rashard Odomes, Senior, Guard, 6.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg
Kristian Doolittle, Junior, Forward, 11.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Brady Manek, Sophomore, Forward, 12.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg
Key Role Players:
Jamuni McNeace, Senior, Center, 4.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Miles Reynolds, Senior, Guard, 6.8 ppg
Aaron Calixte, Senior, Guard, 7.0 ppg, 2.1 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.2 (220th in nation, 8th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 68.1 (85, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.5 (172, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.3 (23, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.7 (272, 10)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.3 (188, 6)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.8 (246, 7)
Rebound Margin: 0.8 (163, 7)
Assists Per Game: 12.7 (237, 10)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.3 (105, 6)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Rhode Island |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over CSU Bakersfield |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over VCU |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Texas A&M |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Oregon |
| 2016 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to Villanova |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Albany |
| 2015 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Dayton |
| 2015 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Michigan State |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to North Dakota State |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to San Diego State |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Morgan State |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Michigan |
| 2009 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Syracuse |
| 2009 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to North Carolina |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over St. Josephs |
| 2008 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Louisville |
| 2006 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Milwaukee |
| 2005 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Niagara |
| 2005 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Utah |
| 2003 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over South Carolina State |
| 2003 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over California |
| 2003 | NCAA | Regional semifinal win over Butler |
| 2003 | NCAA | Regional final loss to Syracuse |
*all team stats through 3/10
