The Horns host the beloved Oklahoma Sooners tomorrow at 1PM CST on ESPN. This game has minimal NCAA tournament implications, but it can still serve as barometer for how this team is going to perform as we enter the conference tournament. I've seen the reporting on Dylan Disu and how he's a gametime decision but I'd be SHOCKED if he played. Texas. Oklahoma. It doesn't get much better than this. A quick trip through time with Myck Kabongo if you will...
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Tip Off: 1PM CT on ESPN
Oklahoma Scouting Report
Starting 5
#12 Milos Uzan (Soph)
Guard
6’4, 183lbs
8.7 PPG, 3.5 REB, 4.3 AST - 37.9 FG%, 29.2 3PT%, 69.7% FT
Uzan is an interesting player that seems to be in a bit of sophomore slump when you're looking at the numbers. His overall shooting percentage is down almost 10 percentage points across the board. That being said, he's a talented combo guard that can be a primary or secondary ball handler for the Sooners. He can finish with both hands, and is really good when he gets inside the paint. Uzan is also a VERY good passer. If you're Texas, you guard this guy straight up, and do not allow dribble penetration. He's been struggling shooting the ball all season, so make sure you close out under control and keep everything in front of you. Make him beat you from the perimeter, and don't let someone who has no business being a factor in this game get hot.
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#5 Rivaldo Soares (Super Sr)
Guard
6'6, 205lbs
9 PPG, 5 REB, 1.4 AST - 53.3 FG%, 37.3 3PT%, 80.5% FT
Soares is an interesting guy to watch. The former JUCO player and Oregon transfer, feels like a bit of a tweener in terms of his athletic profile and how he plays the game. He LOVES getting into the paint, and it's easy to see why. He's very efficient, can post up smaller guys, and does an excellent job finishing at the rim with either hand. He's very much a drive first player, but is more than capable of knocking down outside shots, and he's doing it at an impressive 37.3 percent clip. This is an interesting match up if you're Texas, because Soares can create some mismatches depending on how Rodney Terry wants to defend him. Keep him out of the paint, but if he does make him take tough shots. He has a fairly week handle and turned the ball over A LOT last season, so there could be some opportunity here. Again, keep him out of the paint, and make him take tough shots at the rim. This guy is a walking charge opportunity so if he gets sped up he WILL make mistakes.
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#14 Jalon Moore (Jr)
Forward
6’6, 211lbs
10.9 PPG, 6.5 REB, 0.5 AST - 52.8 FG%, 42.3 3PT%, 73.6% FT
Jalon Moore reminds me a lot of KJ Adams. A-T-H-E-L-E-T-E. He's also a bit of a tweener but I'm not sure matters. This guy plays balls to the wall on every single possession and is a relentless player on the boards. He's just all over the floor all the time. Texas fans might have remembered when the Longhorns went to Norman earlier this season, and he had a sequence that went...Dunk-Steal-Dunk in about 15 seconds. I wouldnt' call him a good shooter, I'd call him a capable one. He's 5 out of his last eighteen, but just don't leave the guy wide open. Put a body on him, BOX OUT, match or exceed his energy, find him in transition.
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#0 Le'tre Darthard(Super Sr)
Guard
6'4, 180lbs
6.4PPG, 1.9 REB, 0.6 AST - 37.8 FG%, 38.1 3PT%, 73.7% FT
The fifth year Utah Valley transfer Darthard, got inserted into the starting lineup for Oklahoma's matchup against Cincinnati, and it paid dividends as he finished with 18 points, 3 rebounds, a steal, and knocked down a couple of triples. He's ALSO coming off a big game after posting a 15 points performance after going 5/5 from three against Houston. He's playing his best basketball and is getting rewarded for it. Texas fans might also remember him for his Flagrant 1, after running into Shedrick while Shedrick was mid-air going for a rebound. Darthard is a microwave kind of player that can get hot and can get hot quickly. Make him put the ball on the floor, find him in transition, no open looks. If I'm Texas, I'm playing footsteps on him all game and making sure he can't get open from some off-ball action. Texas needs to hedge on ball screens, communicate, and make sure that their help side defense is rotating effectively. DO NOT LET HIM GET GOING. He can put the ball on the floor, but he really wants to take outside shots.
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#10 Sam Godwin(Sr)
Forward/Center
6’9, 210lbs
6.8 PPG, 5.1 REB, 0.6 AST - 60.3 FG%, 0 3PT%, 65.5% FT
Sam Godwin is like if Brock Cunningham was 6'9 and couldn't shoot the ball. He's the definition of an energy guy, and should in no circumstances be allowed to make an impact on this game. I wouldn't say he's not very talented because he plays high level division 1 basketball, but this isn't someone that should be scoring double digits. He's going to make his impact on the glass, easy dump offs, running in transition etc. It shouldn't be rocket science as to how you guard this guy. No easy shots around the rim, box out, match or exceed his energy. Fundament defense. Like Brock, he's a bit of a hot head.
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Bench
#3 Otega Oweh (Soph)
Guard
6'5, 210lbs
11.4 PPG, 3.9 REB, 1. AST - 49.4 FG%, 39.6 3PT%, 63.6% FT
Oweh started almost every game for the Sooners up until these last two in which he's been in a bit of a shooting slump. He's a big bodied guard that loves to put the ball on the floor, but it is a more than capable shooter from outside. Not sure where the struggles are coming from, but make no mistake...Texas does not want to let him get going. He's very much an energy player, but also one that makes some silly mistakes. He tries to do too much by himself, gambles passing lanes, etc which is probably why he was taken out of the starting line up. He will be the first guy off the bench, and Texas needs to be prepared when he enters the game. He's going to crash, so get a body on him.
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Prize Picks:
I'll update this tonight/tomorrow morning once PrizePicks puts the players up. (If they do. Not sure how that works).
Summary:
Oklahoma has some size at the guard position and I could see some mismatches for the Horns with guys like Rivaldo Soares. Regardless, if Texas plays sound fundamental defense they should win this game. Don't beat yourself. if Oklahoma continues to struggle from beyond the arc, I don't see how they can be competitive. Even without Dylan Disu, I have Texas winning this one by a score of 74-62.
Prediction Record: 3-0
Thanks for reading!
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