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It's not often that the conference has a game of this magnitude so early in the conference season, but that's exactly what the Big 12 has when #2 Oklahoma plays #1 Kansas in Lawrence. At stake is the top spot in the conference standings as well as a leg up on the top contenders (Sooners would have beaten Iowa State and Kansas in back-to-back games). Phog Allen Fieldhouse is the mecca of Big 12 basketball and for the first time in a long time Oklahoma has a team that's capable of pulling the road upset. Here's how the Sooners and Jayhawks stack up when comparing the stats.
Scoring Depth
| Oklahoma Top Scorers | ||
| Player | Points Per Game | |
| Buddy Hield | 24.7 | |
| Jordan Woodard | 13.9 | |
| Isaiah Cousins | 13.3 | |
| Ryan Spangler | 11.1 |
| Kansas Top Scorers | ||
| Player | Points Per Game | |
| Wayne Seldon Jr. | 15.5 | |
| Perry Ellis | 15.2 | |
| Frank Mason III | 13.1 | |
| Devonte' Graham | 10.5 |
Both teams go four deep when it comes to players regularly scoring in double figures. The Jayhawks are more balanced with Seldon and Ellis being near identical, but the Sooners have the "Buddy Factor" as one of the top players in America. Oklahoma also averages almost nine points per game more with their top four players than Kansas does. Advantage Sooners
Shot Selection
| Team | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
| Oklahoma | 48% | 45% | 71% |
| Kansas | 52% | 46% | 71% |
Led by Wayne Seldon's blistering 55% shooting from the floor, the Kansas Jayhawks have a clear advantage when it comes to making buckets. Both teams have been excellent from beyond the three-point line this season but the Jayhawks just a bit better. Both teams are solid from the charity stripe, but both could also stand to improve a bit. Advantage Kansas
Under The Basket
| Team | Rebounds Per Game | Blocks Per Game |
| Oklahoma | 44 | 5 |
| Kansas | 38 | 4 |
Oklahoma's Ryan Spangler is a double-double machine and leads the Sooners with 10.2 boards per game. Rebounding is a strong point of emphasis for Lon Kruger and the entire team has bought into it. Akolda Manyang and Khadeem Lattin are Oklahoma's rim protectors but regardless you'd better go up strong against both teams or you may see the ball sent into the stands. Advantage Oklahoma
Takeaways And Giveaways
| Team | Turnovers Per Game | Steals Per Game |
| Oklahoma | 12 | 6 |
| Kansas | 11 | 8 |
As good as both of these teams are offensively, you don't really want to give either any extra possessions with the ball. Both coaches preach ball security and both teams do a decent job at both protecting the ball and taking it away. The Jayhawks are just a tad better at it though. Advantage Kansas
Dishing The Dimes
| Team | Assists Per Game |
| Oklahoma | 16 |
| Kansas | 19 |
Oklahoma combo guard Isaiah Cousins dishes out an average of 4.8 assists per game but is overshadowed by KU's Frank Mason III who deals out 5.5. Led by Mason, the Jayhawks have three players that average more than three assists per game. The Sooners have two. Advantage Kansas
Intangibles
| Team | vs. Current Top 25 | Record | Points For | Points Against | Streak |
| Oklahoma | 1-0 | 12-0 | 87 | 67.5 | W12 |
| Kansas | 2-1 | 12-1 | 88.3 | 65 | W11 |
Oklahoma started off their season at Memphis and have since traveled to Hawaii twice. It's safe to say that they are a seasoned team, but they've also not yet faced a team the caliber of Kansas. The Jayhawks have played a stronger schedule and are producing stats that are equal or greater than Oklahoma's. It's tough to win anywhere on the road in the Big 12, especially in Lawrence. Advantage Kansas