Oklahoma (7-3) plays host for the first time in a month as Central Florida (9-2) trades warm, sunny Orlando for the chilly plains of Norman.
Following a tough 83-73 loSs to Creighton (9-2) on Tuesday, the Sooners find themselves clawing for momentum as Big 12 conference play lurks at the turn of the new year. Here are three keys Oklahoma needs in order to get back on track.
TAKE THE LID OFF
It sounds obvious but if the Sooners could simply make shots on a consistent basis, they would be much better off. Oklahoma needs to get hot and get hot early. Being back home for the first time since Nov. 21, the Sooners should be able to shoot much better in their friendly confines. Shooting 33% as a team against Creighton and 37% against Wichita State, Oklahoma needs to find better looks in order to keep themselves out of a losing streak.
INVOLVE THE BACKCOURT
A large part of the Sooners’ woes of late is due to the lack of shots being knocked down by the guards. Jamal Bieniemy and De’Vion Harmon have to make shots in order for the ball to find the open man and good looks. Both Bieniemy and Harmon were ice cold against Creighton with Harmon going 1-7 (1-5 3PT) and Bieniemy chalking up an 0-8 shooting performance. Kristian Doolittle, Brady Manek and Austin Reaves can only take the team so far by themselves.
BRING YOUR OWN ENERGY
With the students out for the holiday break, the student section will be nearly barren. It will be important for the Sooners to bring their own energy to start hot. Just as Oklahoma has not played a game at the Lloyd Noble Center in a month, the Knights have not left Orlando in the month of December. If the Sooners can start hot, they have an opportunity to take UCF out of their element as the Knights knock the dust off their travel luggage.
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