Oklahoma's men's basketball team has pulled off a remarkable turnaround. Just a couple of months ago, they were struggling with a 1-9 record in conference play, and head coach Porter Moser seemed to be on shaky ground. Now, as March rolls around, the Sooners are entering the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Nashville with serious momentum as one of the hottest teams in the league.
The Sooners, seeded 11th with a 17-14 overall record and 7-11 in conference play, are set to face No. 14 seed South Carolina (13-18, 4-14) on Wednesday in the final game of the opening round. A win here would set them up for a clash with Texas A&M.
Oklahoma vs. South Carolina: A Closer Look
Since breaking a nine-game losing streak with a thrilling 92-91 victory at Vanderbilt on February 7, Oklahoma has gone 6-2, tying for the third-best record in the SEC over that period. Their recent triumph over Texas not only extended their winning streak to four games but also boosted their NCAA Tournament hopes significantly.
According to ESPN's Joe Lunardi, 11 SEC teams are projected to make the NCAA Tournament, with Oklahoma on the cusp as part of the "Next Four Out." To secure a spot, the Sooners likely need to win at least two games in the SEC Tournament, a scenario that seemed improbable just a month ago.
The Sooners faced a setback earlier this season with an 85-76 road loss to South Carolina on January 17, marking their fifth straight defeat at the time. Historically, Oklahoma holds a 5-2 record against the Gamecocks, and this will be their third meeting as SEC opponents.
Wednesday night's game will be broadcast on SEC Network at 8:30 p.m. CT, with Tom Hart and Dane Bradshaw providing commentary.
Scouting South Carolina
South Carolina's lineup features four starters averaging double figures, led by Meechie Johnson with 17.3 points per game. Johnson has been a standout, scoring 20 points in their previous win over Oklahoma and boasting 12 games with 20 or more points this season.
The Gamecocks have faced their own struggles, losing 10 of their last 12 regular-season games. Despite ranking second in the SEC and 16th nationally in free-throw percentage (78.2%), they lag in rebounding and scoring, sitting last in the conference in both categories.
Under head coach Lamont Paris, South Carolina is 16-2 when shooting 50% or better and 21-2 when scoring 80 or more points. They also excel when holding opponents below 40% shooting, with a record of 29-4.
Spotlight on Oklahoma
Oklahoma leads the SEC in three-point shooting during conference play, hitting 39% from beyond the arc and averaging 9.6 made threes per game. They've held double-digit leads in nine of their last 14 games, winning six of those.
The Sooners' bench has been a key contributor, averaging 24.5 points over the last eight games, with Oklahoma winning six of them. Their defense has been effective, forcing opponents into an average of 13 turnovers, converting those into 16.5 points per game.
Senior forward/center Mo Wague has been in stellar form, averaging 11.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.6 steals over the past five games, while shooting 81% from the free-throw line.
Looking Ahead to Texas A&M
The winner of the Oklahoma-South Carolina matchup will face No. 6 seed Texas A&M (21-10, 11-7) on Thursday. Oklahoma lost both regular-season games to the Aggies, while Texas A&M dominated South Carolina in their sole meeting.
Texas A&M finished their regular season with a 4-4 record in their last eight games, narrowly defeating LSU in a thrilling triple-overtime finale.
Prediction Time
Expect a different game from the earlier season meeting between Oklahoma and South Carolina. With the stakes higher and both teams playing on a neutral court, the Sooners' current form and motivation should give them the edge. Oklahoma is poised to advance.