Oklahoma Sooners Set to Host West Virginia Mountaineers at Lloyd Noble Center
As the Oklahoma Sooners prepare to face off against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Lloyd Noble Center, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The Sooners have been showing a mix of promise and areas for improvement in their recent games, which sets up an intriguing matchup.
Looking back at their game on December 21 against the North Carolina Tar Heels, ranked 11th at that time, OKLA fell short with a final score of 69-81. Despite this loss, there were positive takeaways for the team. The Sooners managed to out-rebound their opponents by seven and shot a respectable 47 percent from two-point range. However, turnovers were a glaring issue as they gave up possession 18 times compared to UNC's nine.
In contrast, when OKLA played Green Bay Phoenix on December 17 at home, they secured an impressive victory with an 81-47 scoreline. Their performance was dominant; shooting over 51 percent from the field and converting fast break opportunities into points effectively with a total of 21 fast break points. This game also showcased their ability to capitalize on turnovers by scoring 27 points off them.
Against Arkansas Razorbacks on December 9 in Tulsa's BOK Center – although it was considered a neutral site – OKLA emerged victorious again with a score of 79-70. They demonstrated efficient shooting by hitting over half of their field goal attempts and showed resilience in rebounding despite being outnumbered in blocks and steals.
The upcoming game presents an opportunity for Oklahoma Sooners to leverage their strengths: offensive rebounding and inside scoring where they've shown consistency. However, ball security will be crucial as WVU is known for its aggressive defense that can force turnovers.
The Mountaineers come into this match after varied performances but cannot be underestimated as they possess the capability to disrupt offensive flows and capitalize on mistakes made by opposing teams.
Fans should expect OKLA's strategy to revolve around controlling possession better than previous outings while exploiting any weaknesses in WVU's defense through calculated inside plays and transition offense.
With both teams looking to assert themselves early in conference play, this clash promises intensity from tip-off till final buzzer.
Mark your calendars for January 17th at 8:00 PM ET when Oklahoma Sooners host West Virginia Mountaineers right here at Norman’s Lloyd Noble Center. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+, where every dribble towards victory will be broadcasted directly onto your screens.