Oklahoma Heads to Rupp Arena Searching for Answers Amid SEC Slide
The road doesn’t get any easier for Oklahoma basketball. This week, the Sooners head into one of the sport’s most iconic arenas-Rupp Arena-for a midseason SEC clash with Kentucky, a program synonymous with college basketball royalty.
At 11-11 overall and just 1-8 in conference play, Oklahoma is in a freefall. The Sooners are riding an eight-game losing streak-the longest active skid in the nation-and the path ahead is anything but forgiving.
Their next five games include road matchups against Kentucky and No. 15 Vanderbilt, plus a trip to No.
24 Tennessee. In between, they’ll host Georgia and Texas A&M-two teams that have already shown they can hang with or beat this Oklahoma squad.
In fact, A&M already did, winning 83-76 in College Station earlier this season.
Porter Moser Feeling the Pressure
There’s no sugarcoating it-Porter Moser’s seat is getting warmer by the week. Now in his fifth season in Norman, Moser has yet to guide the Sooners to a winning record in conference play or finish higher than seventh in the standings. With the current trajectory, that trend looks destined to continue, and the clock may be ticking on his tenure.
A Familiar Face Haunts the Sooners
Wednesday night’s matchup is more than just another tough road test-it’s a reunion with a player who’s been a thorn in Oklahoma’s side. Former Sooner Otega Oweh, now starring at Kentucky, delivered game-winning daggers in both meetings between the teams last season. He hit the go-ahead bucket in an 83-82 win in Norman during the regular season, and then did it again in the SEC Tournament, lifting Kentucky to an 85-84 victory.
Oweh has been Kentucky’s go-to guy ever since. The junior guard leads the Wildcats with 16.6 points per game, and he’s been remarkably consistent-scoring in double figures every game this season and topping 20 points in seven of the last nine.
Against his former team? He’s averaging a scorching 27.5 points in two career meetings.
This one’s personal, and he’s played like it.
History Isn’t on Oklahoma’s Side
The Sooners are 0-5 all-time against Kentucky, and this will be just their second trip to Rupp Arena. The last time Oklahoma visited Lexington was in 1987, when a 12th-ranked Sooner squad fell just short, 75-74. The only other road matchup came way back in 1945, before Rupp Arena even existed, with Kentucky winning 43-33 at Memorial Coliseum.
This season, Rupp is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the Wildcats have given the home fans plenty to cheer about. Kentucky has won six of its last seven games and enters this matchup playing some of its best basketball of the season.
Kentucky’s Two-Way Identity
Offensively, Kentucky has been potent, averaging 81.4 points per game-ninth-best in the SEC. But it’s their defense that’s really turned heads.
The Wildcats rank second in the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 71.0 points per game. They’re also top four in both field-goal percentage defense (41.7%) and three-point defense (30.4%).
That kind of two-way balance has made them a dangerous out for anyone on the schedule.
Their recent resume is impressive: a 6-3 record in January that includes wins over Mississippi State, Texas, and Arkansas-three teams that have already beaten Oklahoma this season. The Wildcats also sit at No. 28 in the NCAA NET rankings, firmly in the mix for a strong tournament seed.
Sooners Can’t Find a Finishing Kick
For Oklahoma, the story of SEC play has been all about near-misses and second-half fades. The Sooners were a strong closing team in nonconference play, outscoring opponents in the second half in 11 of 13 games. But since SEC play began, they’ve only done that twice in nine games.
They’ve held second-half leads in several of their recent losses, but haven’t been able to close the door. Three of their last four losses have come by four points or fewer. That inability to finish is what’s keeping this team from turning the corner.
Bright Spots in the Backcourt
Despite the team’s struggles, there have been flashes of promise-especially from the backcourt. Transfers Nigel Pack (Miami) and Xzayvier Brown (St.
Joseph’s) have both had their moments. Pack has scored 20 or more in four SEC games, including each of the last three.
Brown also has four 20-point games in conference play, including a three-game stretch against South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida.
The only problem? They haven’t hit those peaks at the same time.
In SEC games, they’ve yet to both score 20+ in the same outing. In the blowout loss to Mississippi State, they combined for just 24 points.
Stat Watch: Shooting Tells the Story
Here’s a telling stat: Oklahoma has shot a better percentage than its opponent in 14 of 22 games this season. But in SEC play, that’s only happened once-an 86-70 win over Ole Miss. That was also their only conference victory.
On the flip side, Kentucky is 13-2 when it shoots a better percentage than its opponent, and 4-0 in SEC games under those conditions. It’s a simple formula, but it’s working.
The Bottom Line
Everything about this matchup points in Kentucky’s favor. They’re playing better basketball, they’ve got a star in Oweh who’s thrived against Oklahoma, and they’re at home in one of the most intimidating venues in college hoops.
Oklahoma needs a spark, something to stop the bleeding. But with the way Kentucky is rolling, and the way the Sooners have been fading late in games, it’s hard to see that spark coming Wednesday night.
Prediction: Kentucky 78, Oklahoma 65
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2, with Tom Hart and Dane Bradshaw on the call.