Texas Longhorns at Oklahoma Sooners
Monday, January 21, 2013, 9:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Lloyd Noble Center – Norman, Oklahoma
Opening Line: Oklahoma -7
Current Line: Oklahoma -7
Opening Total: 121 1/2
Current Total: 123 1/2
Opening Money Line: Oklahoma -300 / Texas +250
Current Money Line: Oklahoma -300 / Texas +250
The 12-4 Oklahoma Sooners are 3-1 in the Big 12 as the host the arch-rival Texas Longhorns Monday night. The Longhorns are 8-9 this season and 0-4 in the Big 12. Texas and 0-5 TCU are the only winless teams in the Big 12. Oklahoma is coming off their first conference loss of the season Saturday at Kansas St 69-60. The Sooners are now tied with Iowa St and Baylor a game behind 4-0 Kansas St and Kansas in the conference standings. Texas lost at home 64-59 Saturday to Kansas.
Oklahoma leads the series 47-34, but Texas has won six straight in the series and 13 of the last 15. The Sooners are 23-11 in Norman in the series.
Texas is coached by Rick Barnes. The Longhorns have lost 5 of their last 6 games. Texas has losses to Chamindade and USC in the Maui Invitational, to Georgetown in New York City, to UCLA in Houston, at Michigan St, Baylor, Iowa St, and at home to West Virginia. Three of their losses were in overtime. The Longhorns have key wins over Fresno St, Mississippi St in Maui, North Carolina and Rice. Texas is 7-7 ATS and the total is 3-8 this season.
Texas is outscoring teams 64-62 this season. The Longhorns are shooting 40.4% from the field and 29.9% from 3 point range. Texas makes 62.4% of their free throws. The Longhorns are 297th or worse in all three shooting categories out of 347 teams. The Longhorns are 26th in rebounding with 39.8 per game, and they give up 33.9 per game. Texas opponents are shooting 34.5% from the field and 24.8% from 3 point range. The Longhorns lead the nation in both categories. Texas averages 12 assists, 6 steals, 5 blocks and 16 turnovers.
Guard Sheldon McClellan averages 14.5 points, and 4.2 rebounds. Guard Julien Lewis averages 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Guard Javan Felix averages 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Forward Jonathan Holmes averages 8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and a block per game. Forward Ioannis Papapetrou averages 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Center Cameron Ridley averages 5.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. Connor Lammert, DeMarcus Holland, and Prince Ibah will also get some time in the rotation. Guard Myck Kabongo has missed the entire season due to being ineligible. He won’t be reinstated until February 13.
Oklahoma is coached by Lon Kruger. The Sooners have losses to Gonzaga in a tournament in Orlando, at Arkansas and at home to Stephen F. Austin. Oklahoma has wins over UTEP and West Virginia in Orlando, at Oral Roberts, Texas A&M in Oklahoma City, and at home against Ohio. The Sooners have conference wins at West Virginia, and at home against Oklahoma St and Texas Tech Wednesday 81-63. The game in Orlando against West Virginia didn’t count as a conference game because they had both been invited to the tournament before WVU joined the Big 12 this season from the Big East. . Oklahoma is 9-3 ATS and the total is 5-4 this season.
Oklahoma is outscoring teams 69-62 this season. The Sooners are shooting 42.7% from the field and 32.2% from 3 point range. Oklahoma makes 74.4% of their free throws, and are #17 in the country.. The Sooners average 37.9 rebounds and give up 30.2. OU opponents are shooting 40.2% from the field and 29.2% from 3 point range. The Sooners average 12 assists, 7 steals, 3 blocks, and 12 turnovers.
Forward Romero Osby averages 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1 assist and 0.8 blocks per game to lead the team. Guard Stephen Pledger averages 11.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals. Forward Amath M’Baye averages 9.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. Guard Buddy Hield averages 9.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.2 steals. Cameron Clark averages 6.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Je’Lon Hornbeak, Andrew Fitzgerald, Isaiah Cousins and Sam Grooms make up the rest of the rotation. Oklahoma has only 3 players 6′-8″ and over on the roster.
Texas is 5-2 ATS against teams with winning records, 2-5 in road games against teams with winning home records, 2-6 in road games, 1-4 after a straight up loss, 1-5 after a cover, and 0-5-1 in Monday games. The last 5 games in this series have gone under the total. Texas is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 against Oklahoma, and was favored in each of those games.
Oklahoma is 7-0 ATS at home, 7-1 overall, 5-1 after a straight up loss, and in Monday games, 4-1 in Big 12 games, and 3-8 at home against teams with losing road records.
Texas can’t score but they play defense really well. Oklahoma is slightly better on offense, but they rely more on defense and rebounding as well. I like Oklahoma to win, but the Longhorns keep it within the 7 point spread.
