GAME SPECIFICS
Date: Saturday, Jan. 13
Tip: 2:42 p.m. CST
TV: ABC (regional coverage)
Radio: Sooner Radio Network (Flagship KOKC 1520 AM in OKC)
Series: OU leads 45-22
OKLAHOMA PROJECTED STARTERS
F 32 Taylor Griffin (6-7, 232, So., 7.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
G/F 24 Nate Carter (6-6, 220, Sr., 6.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
G 2 Michael Neal (6-3, 198, Sr., 9.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
G 5 Tony Crocker (6-5, 187, Fr., 11.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
G 20 Austin Johnson (6-3, 160, So., 9.4 ppg, 3.5 apg)
TEXAS PROJECTED STARTERS
F 5 Damion James (6-7, 227, Fr., 7.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg)
F 35 Kevin Durant (6-9, 225, Fr., 23.4 ppg, 10.9 rpg)
G 3 A.J. Abrams (5-10, 155, So., 16.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
G 14 D.J. Augustin (5-11, 175, Fr., 13.6 ppg, 6.5 apg)
G 24 Justin Mason (6-2, 185, Fr., 9.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Sooner Scoop
Longar's suspension leaves OU without their leading scorer and rebounder as well as a defensive presence inside and another player short on the bench. The suspension will also force OU into a smaller line-up and could result in the Sooners pressing more on defense and getting up and down the floor more quickly.
The burden of scoring will be on the guards who are due for a breakout game. Tony Crocker is coming off one of his most impressive performances Wednesday night when he scored 16 points and eight rebounds. He will need to more than duplicate that performance and get some serious help from Michael Neal and Austin Johnson to keep OU in the game.
Oklahoma will also need to put out their best defensive performance of the season as well in order for them to have a chance to win. The Sooners rank sixth in the country in field goal percentage defense (.370), 11th in scoring defense (55.9 ppg) and 13th in rebounding margin (+8.0).
Scouting the Longhorns
Freshman Kevin Durant is not just one of the best players in the conference he's one of the best players in the nation. He's averaging a double-double, scoring 23.4 points and grabbing 10.9 rebounds. He'll provide an serious match-up problem for OU because he can hurt you both inside and outside. A.J. Abrams averages 16.5 points per game and leads the Big 12 in three point shooting knocking down 3.9 shots per game (.436%). Guard D.J. Augustin is averaging 13.6 points per game and dishes out a Big 12-best 6.5 assists per game. Guard Justin Mason and former OU signee forward Damion James average 9.4 and 7.5 points, respectively. James also averages 8.0 rebounds to rank third in the Big 12.
Official Machine Prediction 74 - 56 Texas. I hate to be the pessimist here but I really don't expect OU to be in the game after the half.
You can read the Longhorns' preview at Burnt Orange Nation. Make sure to leave you comments here before, during and after the game.