Kansas vs. Oklahoma Basketball: Preview and Prediction
Here is everything you need to know about the Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas Jayhawks in our Oklahoma vs. Kansas Big 12 men’s basketball preview.
Game Info
Noon Central Time, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kansas.
TV: CBS
Records: Oklahoma: 14-10 (4-7 in Big 12); Kansas: 19-4 (8-2 in Big 12).
Ranking: Oklahoma: Not ranked; Kansas: No. 8 (Associated Press).
Last game: Oklahoma: def. Texas Tech, 70-55 (Feb. 9); Kansas: lost to Texas, 79-76 (Feb. 7).
Previous meeting: Kansas 67, Oklahoma 64 (Jan. 18).
Key players
Oklahoma
G Umoja Gibson: So, after scoring two points and failing to make a 3-pointer against Oklahoma State, Gibson went off for 30 points, and eight 3-pointers, as the Sooners claimed a win over Texas Tech that they desperately needed. I have a hard time seeing him doing that two games in a row. But the Sooners will take the two to four 3-pointers that he usually connects on each game.
F Tanner Groves: Groves scored just two points against Texas Tech, the result of him being in foul trouble. His only field goal came in the second half. Curiously, he was on the bench in the later stages of the game, but OU had things wrapped up. Groves can’t continue to be this inconsistent. He scores a team-leading 13.1 points, but he’s now been held under 10 points in five of his last nine games.
G Jordan Goldwire: One injury can impact a rotation. With Bijan Cortes in the concussion protocol, Goldwire had to play more than usual against Texas Tech, and he delivered with 10 points. He also had four assists.
Kansas
G Ochai Agbaji: Agbaji darned near won Monday’s game with a floating put-back on a rebound in the final minutes. But he also negatively influenced the outcome with an alley-oop pass that went into the rim, intended for David McCormack. You’ll live with those moments, because in the balance, Agbaji is the conference’s best player.
F Jalen Wilson: Wilson had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Kansas in the loss to Texas. I think it’s safe to say the Wilson from last season is back, and the timing couldn’t be better. The Jayhawks need him to crash the glass from the perimeter and continue to shoot at the 60 percent clip hit on Monday night.
G Christian Braun: Every game he does one thing that just sets you back, whether it’s a dunk in transition or a well-timed three. It’s easy to forget that he’s the ‘second’ guard on this team. Because he does so many good things at the right time he can influence the game without scoring a lot of points. But he can score, too, as he put up 13 against Texas.
Key storylines
Oklahoma
The Sooners desperately needed the win over Texas Tech. First-year coach Porter Moser is trying to keep the Sooners in the NCAA Tournament conversation, and a win like that, especially one over a Top 10 team, is a boost to a tournament case. The lack of consistent for Tanner Groves is troubling, and right now the Sooners really don’t have another consistent performer inside, though Ethan Chargois did give OU some solid minutes off the bench on Wednesday. But 28 minutes is a lot to ask, even if he is a redshirt senior.
Kansas
The Jayhawks had execution issues down the stretch against Texas. When it comes to Kansas, that’s usually an anomaly. But it’s worth noting that Kansas has now lost two of its last three games against ranked teams. Joseph Yesufu is giving Kansas some great minutes with Remy Martin still out due to injury, and he had his best game to this point against Texas, scoring eight points in 15 minutes. One has to wonder exactly where Martin will fit in once he’s ready to go. His fit on this team was already a bit unstable before the injury. Still, if head coach Bill Self can find that fit, he has a team with NCAA Tournament title potential.
Fun fact
Kansas leads the series with Oklahoma, 153-69.
Prediction
Kansas 81, Oklahoma 68. The Sooners will have a bit of a hangover after the Texas Tech win, and the Jayhawks have had nearly a full week to rest after the Texas loss. Kansas should be sharp.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
