FINAL: Florida 84, Oklahoma 52
If you missed this game and set it to record on the DVR, let me help you out. Just delete the recording. This was perhaps the worst effort/performance from this OU team all season, and it occurred on ESPN with Dick Vitale and Brent Musberger calling it. This was not close, and not a fun one to watch. Here is a brief summary of what happened, and it will save you two hours of your Saturday afternoon.
- Both teams began the game cold. In the first four minutes, Florida was 1-5, while Oklahoma shot just 2-8. The Sooners were the beneficiaries of three Khadeem Lattin free throws, which gave them a 7-3 lead going into the first media timeout.
- With 7:47 to go in the half, Oklahoma’s shooting struggles continued, only shooting 25 percent from the field. However, they managed to draw 11 fouls and shoot 11 free throws, knocking down 10 of them. This resulted in the game being tied up at 20-20.
- With 3:33 to go in the half, the Gators extended their lead to seven points. A major reason for this was their production off the bench. Florida owned the bench scoring advantage 22-8 at this point in the half.
- Florida ended the half on a 14-2 run, while the Sooners went 1-11 to go into halftime. This allowed the Gators to extend their lead to 15 points.
- Rashard Odomes lead the team at the half with seven points. The Gators grabbed four steals, while the Sooners didn’t have any.
- Florida did not slow down, coming out of the half and extending their 15-point lead to 22 points, forcing Kruger to call a quick timeout.
- The Sooners cut down the 22-point lead to 15 points with just 11:53 to go, giving OU some hope to make a run down the stretch.
- The Florida Gators were way too much for the Sooners, separating themselves entirely and winning 84-52.
- Oklahoma finished shooting 28 percent from the floor and six percent from the 3-point line. The Gators accumulated 16 assists, while the Sooners only acquired four total.
- Kameron McGusty and Odomes lead the way scoring wise, with McGusty putting up 10 points and Odomes adding 13.
3 Takeaways
1.No Veterans
The veterans for this OU team have been non-existent for most of the season. Jordan Woodard did not score a point, and only played 14 minutes. Lattin and Christian James combined for a total of nine points, as Dante Buford did not log one minute. It is great experience for the young Sooners, but this is a major reason for the bad record this year.
2. Lack of Depth
What was thought to be an advantage going into the season is now a major weakness. With the lackluster performances of the returning players, the depth that the Sooners could have had is now their Achilles heel. Lon Kruger has been forced to rely heavily on his young guns earlier than expected, which should provide some excitement for next season.
3. Experience
There were very few good things to take away from this one. One of the only highlights was seeing young guys get good experience for the years to come. It is refreshing to see Kruger not reward half-hearted seniors, but it is cringing to watch these lopsided losses.
On Monday, the Sooners play in Norman against their in-state rival Oklahoma State at 8:00 PM CT on ESPN.
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