The Oklahoma State men’s basketball team gets set to take on the Oklahoma Sooners in Oklahoma City on Saturday, December 14th, 2024.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. central on ESPNU. The Cowboys (6-2) are unranked. The Sooners (9-0) are ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25.
It’s Bedlam, basketball style, and it’s great that both the Cowboys and the Sooners saw fit to continue their in-state rivalry, even though the Sooners have now migrated to the SEC.
The rivalry has a different feel this year with Steve Lutz as the new head coach at Oklahoma State. He already has the Cowboys beating high-major teams in non-conference, something they struggled with last year.
The Sooners, meanwhile, are undefeated and have put together their best start under coach Porter Moser.
It should be a fun game where, as always, you throw out the records.
Here is a preview of Saturday’s game.
How to Watch Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma
Date: Saturday, December 12th, 2024
Time: 7 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPNU
Site: Paycor Center, Oklahoma City (neutral site).
Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Oklahoma -5.5
Current Line: Oklahoma -4.5
Over/Under: 153.5
Note: 77% of the tickets are on Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Predictions
Lutz has given the Cowboys a bit of a jolt, as they can already hang their hat on victories over Miami and Seton Hall. It’s a good start for the first-year coach, who turned over nearly the entire roster. One Cowboys holdover is off to good start — guard Bryce Thompson is averaging 11.3 points.
But the transfers are leading the charge. Forward Abou Ousmane leads with 12.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. Forward Marchelus Avery averages 12.1 points, while Robert Jennings II is averaging 8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds.
Moser has had trouble getting talent to stick in Norman, and he has a unique 1-2 punch — one that’s a senior holdover and one that’s a talented true freshman.
Forward Jalon Moore played for the Sooners last year and leads Oklahoma with 18.2 points and 6.3 rebounds. The freshman is guard Jeremiah Fears, who has emerged as a point guard and averages 16.7 points and 4.7 assists.
Between the two they’ve helped the Sooners get off to their best start in recent memory.
This being a rivalry game, don’t pay attention to the records. What is interesting is that the game will be played on a neutral court. Without the homecourt advantage at either the Lloyd Noble Center or Gallagher-Iba Arena, the atmosphere should be an interesting one.
Oklahoma 78, Oklahoma State 74
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Oklahoma (74.9% Chance of Winning)
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
