Sooners Look to Continue Hot Streak Against West Virginia (Game Thread)

Tip Time: 5:00 CST
Location: Charleston, W.Va./Charleston Civic Center
TV: ESPN 2
Radio: KRXO FM-107.7 in Oklahoma City; KTBZ AM-1430 in Tulsa; Sirius 114

After impressive wins over Arkansas and Gonzaga the Sooners can make a huge statement tonight with an upset win over the West Virginia Mountaineers. Should OU win they should start being considered as a Top 25 team. Should they lose it would still be a good run for Oklahoma taking two of three games during this stretch.

Let's go with the possibility of Oklahoma winning. I think that it's actually better than what most expect. You could actually make the argument that the Mountaineers 10-1 record is a bit over inflated. West Virginia's one loss on the season was at the hands of Tennessee which you really can't hold against them because the Vols are legitimately one of the top teams in the country. WVU's 10 wins have come against a schedule so weak that former Kansas State football Bill Snyder would be proud of it.

West Virginia's starting five is led by forward Joe Alexander who is second in scoring and leads the team rebounding with 15.5 and 6.7 respectively. Opposite of Alexander is forward Da'Sean Butler who contributes 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Inside the Mountaineers may be a little soft with center Jamie Smalligan who, despite being 7 foot, is only averaging 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. The Mountaineers guard play is very good with Alex Ruoff and Darris Nichols who average 16 and 11.1 points per game.

Oklahoma Projected Starters
F  23  Blake Griffin    6-10  243Fr.  13.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg
C 30 Longar Longar   6-11 234 Sr. 12.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg
G 5  Tony Crocker     6-6   193 So. 12.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg
G 15 David Godbold  6-5   221 Sr.    5.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg
G 20 Austin Johnson  6-3   165 Jr.    8.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg