Will the #1 Team Please Stand Up?

3 Pointers…. 2 Teams… 1 Game. Big 12 action starts now.

Monday night the Sooners of Oklahoma traveled to Kansas University to face off in one of the best games this season has seen, none the less, the longest game the Allen Fieldhouse has seen!

#1 ranked KU fought back through 3 overtimes to secure a victory over the #2 University of Oklahoma, 109-106.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see the game in real time, so I already knew who won when I began watching (kind of a buzz kill, right?)… but for those of you who watched the game in real time, I’m sure you had quite a different idea of who was going to win this match-up. So let’s talk Big 12 hoops.
OU started the game with an unbelievable amount of energy. Last year, the Sooners had a slow start against the Jayhawks and Lon Kruger prepared these guys and made sure they had all of their bases covered going into this match-up.

From OU, you saw a lot of really quick ball movement around the perimeter; they wasted no time getting their offense going and establishing a consistent offense. They really focused on shooting from behind the arc – they ended up with a 48% 3PT shooting percentage. Both teams shot pretty remarkably from behind the 3 point line, and it seemed like when KU would make a spectacular play, OU would answer back almost immediately, doing something even better.

During the first half, KU found a rhythm that the Sooners couldn’t seem to play up to. KU’s defense was solid, they were rotating when needed, they were very aware of what Oklahoma’s players were doing, and it seemed as if the Jayhawks were always one step ahead. The Sooners had 4 turnovers in the first half alone which caused them to reevaluate and slow things down. They had to reestablish their system that was working so well for them during the beginning of the game.

Oklahoma led at the half 44-40.

During the second half, the Sooners exploded and took complete charge of the game. At one point, they had outscored the Jayhawks 10 to 4 in the matter of two minutes. With 2.8 seconds left in the game, OU was sent to the line with an opportunity to win the game with a made free throw. They were unsuccessful and we were sent into the first overtime.

Both teams continued their aggressive, and clean, play during the first and second overtimes – both scoring 9 points in the 1st, and 8 in the 2nd. Even in the third overtime, things were looking very back and forth between both teams.

During one of the last imbounds plays of the game – KU Senior guard Frank Mason sealed the game’s fate by tipping the ball and drawing a foul. And there it was, the Jayhawks extended their win streak in Allen Fieldhouse, and they declared that they are in fact the Number one team.
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Some Statistics:

Oklahoma –
Ryan Spangler: 14 PTS, 18 REB, 2 STLS
Jordan Woodard: 27 PTS, 2 STLS
Buddy Heild: 46 PTS, 8 REBS, 7 AST

Kansas:
Devonte’ Graham: 20 PTS, 7 REB
Wayne Selden Jr.: 21 PTS, 5 REB
Perry Ellis: 27 PTS, 13 REB