NORMAN – Fresh off its fourth straight Bedlam victory, the Oklahoma men’s basketball team (7-3) plays its first home game since Nov. 23 when it hosts Kansas City (2-9) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT at Lloyd Noble Centre. OU won the only previous meeting between the programs, 75-53 at home on Dec. 6, 2022.
Tuesday’s game will be televised by SEC Network wiht Matt Schumaker (play-by-play) and Richard Hendrix (analyst) announcing. It will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio app) with Toby Rowland (play-by-play) and Kevin Henry (analyst) on the call.
The Sooners are beginning a four-game homestand,their longest of the season. After Kansas City, they will host Stetson and mississippi Valley State to close non-conference play, before opening their SEC slate by welcoming Ole Miss to Norman on Jan. 3.
OPENING TIP
• The Sooners are playing their first game at Lloyd Noble Center since defeating Alcorn State 72-53 on Nov. 23. OU has gone 3-1 since that contest, beating Marquette in Chicago, winning at Wake Forest, losing to Arizona State in Phoenix and beating Oklahoma State in Oklahoma City. The Sooners are 5-0 in games played in Oklahoma this year, winning across three different venues (Lloyd Noble Center and McCasland Field House in Norman and Paycom Center in OKC).
• Oklahoma is 3-0 at Lloyd Noble Center this year and is averaging 89.7 points in those games.
• In his fifth season at Oklahoma, head coach Porter Moser is 52-10 (.838) in regular season non-conference play.OU has won 22 of its last 25 regular season non-conference games (it whent 13-0 last season) and 35 of its last 39.
• Under the direction of fourth-year head coach marvin Menzies, Kansas City is 2-9 overall and 0-6 on the road this season. The Roos have played another SEC team,falling 71-55 at Texas on Nov.15. Menzies also served as head coach at New Mexico State (2007-16) and UNLV (2016-19). He directed NMSU to eight Western Athletic Conference Titles and five NCAA Tournament appearances.
OU NOTES & NUGGETS
• The Sooners’ three losses have come to teams that have combined for a 30-3 (.909) record (Gonzaga is 11-1, nebraska is 11-0 and Arizona State is 9-2).
• Oklahoma is one of just two SEC teams that has started the same lineup every game this season (guards Xzayvier Brown and Nijel Pack, forwards Tae Davis and Derrion Reid and center Mohamed Wague).
• The Sooners have committed single-digit turnovers in five of the last eight games. They rank 26th nationally by averaging just 9.6 turnovers per contest.
• OU has scored at least 95 points in four of its 10 games. Last season, it reached the 95-point mark twice in 34 contests.
• The Sooners have outscored nine of their 10 opponents after halftime and own a +9.1 average margin in the second half. Nebraska (61-48) is the only team to outscore OU in the second 20 minutes.
• Oklahoma has committed single-digit turnovers in five of the last eight games. It ranks 26th nationally by averaging just 9.6 turnovers per contest.
Oklahoma Sooners Men’s basketball: Player Updates and Upcoming Schedule (December 16,2024)
The Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball team is gearing up for a challenging SEC schedule and continues to be led by strong performances from veteran players. Here’s a look at recent player stats and the upcoming schedule:
Milestone Performances by Jalon Pickens
Guard Jalon Pickens is demonstrating remarkable shooting prowess. He currently boasts a 3-point field goal percentage of .481 for the season. Over the last eight games, Pickens has been particularly effective, shooting 33-for-63 (.524) from beyond the arc. He has consistently contributed to the team’s scoring, having made at least one 3-pointer in all 10 games played, with at least three in eight contests and at least four in seven outings. Notably, Pickens recently achieved a streak of making at least three 3-pointers in six consecutive games (November 11 – December 2), a feat not accomplished by a Sooner as Buddy Hield during the 2015-16 season, when Oklahoma reached the Final Four. https://soonersports.com/news/2023/12/06/mens-basketball-pack-continues-hot-shooting-in-win-over-central-arkansas
As of December 6, 2023, Pickens ranks highly among active career players nationally: second in 3-pointers made (352), third in total points (1,918), 27th in assists (394), and 52nd in steals (135).
Pickens is a sixth-year college player, having spent his first two seasons at Kansas State (where he was a first-team All-Big 12 selection as a sophomore, averaging 17.4 points and shooting .436 from three-point range) and the last three at Miami (Florida), where he was named the Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player after helping the Hurricanes reach the Final Four. He has started 130 of his 131 career games.
Jadon Jones Providing Valuable Minutes
Transfer guard Jadon Jones is making a significant impact off the bench. In six games, Jones is averaging 7.8 points in 18.9 minutes. He has shown a knack for drawing fouls, attempting a 3-pointer while drawing five fouls in his six games. Jones is also efficient from the free-throw line, converting 18 of 22 attempts (.818), and has made nine three-pointers. Jones was recognized as the 2021-22 Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. https://soonersports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jadon-jones/
Challenging SEC Schedule Ahead
The Sooners face a demanding schedule within the SEC, with all nine conference teams visiting Norman this season having participated in last year’s NCAA Tournament. This includes national champion Florida, Final Four participant Auburn, Elite Eight participant Alabama, and Sweet 16 teams Arkansas and Ole Miss. Other SEC opponents scheduled to play at Lloyd Noble Center include Georgia, Missouri, Texas, and Texas A&M.
Upcoming Game
The Oklahoma Sooners will host Stetson on Monday, December 22, at 8 p.m. CT at Lloyd Noble Center. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
Sources:
* https://soonersports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jadon-jones/
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