Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have been heading in different directions most of the season.
That’s the case again entering Saturday’s matchup between the two in Stillwater, Okla.
But this time, it’s Oklahoma State that is surging and the visiting Sooners who are trying to find their footing.
The Cowboys come in on a two-game winning streak and have won four of their last seven after starting out 0-6 in Big 12 play.
A big part of Oklahoma State’s turnaround has been the play of two freshmen. Jamyron Keller has scored a combined 37 points over the last two games and Brandon Garrison has combined for 35, going 13-of-16 from the field.
Keller was 8-for-8 from the field and 4-for-4 from distance in the Cowboys’ Feb. 17 win over BYU.
“You’re not going to always be 8-for-8 and 4-for-4 and not miss a shot, but you should always play with that effort and intentional focus on helping your team however you can,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. “He’s done that, always.”
The Cowboys (12-14, 4-9 Big 12) have also moved the ball well over the last two games, averaging 18 assists per game. Oklahoma State is averaging fewer than 10 assists in its 14 losses.
Oklahoma (18-8, 6-7) has dropped back-to-back games since beating the Cowboys 66-62 in their first meeting Feb. 10. The Sooners have lost seven of their last 12.
With games against top-10 opponents Iowa State and Houston looming, the Sooners need to turn things around to keep themselves in solid NCAA Tournament position.
“We know we’ve got five games left until heading into the Big 12 Tournament,” guard Milos Uzan said, noting that the Sooners aren’t shying away from discussing the tournament. “So the goal is definitely to get there and advance. We believe in (coach Porter) Moser and the staff and we think if we can get there we’ll thrive.”
Oklahoma hasn’t made the tournament since 2021.
The Sooners will be without one key piece and possibly two.
Forward John Hugley recently underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus this week and will be out for a while.
Rivaldo Soares, who had been surging before suffering an ankle injury late in the Feb. 13 loss against Baylor, is progressing, though Moser said Soares wouldn’t be rushed back. The guard is considered questionable against the Cowboys.
Saturday’s game will be the final regular-season meeting between the Bedlam rivals before Oklahoma makes the move to the SEC next season. Both coaches have expressed a desire to continue the series.
–Field Level Media