Toughness. Grit. Effort.
Oklahoma basketball is currently on a streak that has been done once before and then became the first team to win four games over top-10 opponent since at least 1974. The Sooners have now won three-straight games over top-10 teams, which is also the first team to do such a thing in 25 years.
The Sooners were short-handed on Saturday against No. 9 Alabama. They were missing its star in Austin Reaves and starting counterpart Alondes Williams due to COVID-19 protocols.
It didn’t matter, though, as Oklahoma wanted this game more than Alabama from the start. The Sooners had 13 offensive rebounds to the Crimson Tide’s six. Oklahoma had 28 points in the paint to Alabama’s 20 and finished with two more steals.
A late bucket by Elijah Harkless pushed the lead to four points with 19 seconds to go in the same. A free throw after a stop sealed the 66-61 win.
It’s another huge win for the Sooners, whose stock is soaring right now. Oklahoma could possibly be a top-15 team come Monday, maybe higher.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the big win.
Oklahoma really been knocking off all the top teams
— Jaleel Queary (@Jqueary_) January 30, 2021
i’ve hated oklahoma football literally from birth, happy to begin hating sooner hoops too
— caroline (@carolnotkennedy) January 30, 2021
Alabama-Oklahoma is a hell of a game between two traditional football schools. Both basketball programs are turning the corner
— Start Immanuel Quickley (@huisthatkid) January 30, 2021
This Alabama/Oklahoma game feels like the second weekend of the tournament.
— Roy Philpott (@RoyPhilpott) January 30, 2021
I knew this Alabama and Oklahoma game was going to be a good one!
— Sr. (@ATMBigDawgEv) January 30, 2021
Oklahoma let Alabama get the run for 3 mins and it's coming back to haunt them. Solid Defense from now for them to win this game. Alabama can hit those 3's at any time to pull ahead. Good game from Oklahoma so far with 2 starters out.
— Louie G (@Louiegeezy) January 30, 2021
Stop the game and pay the protest fine. Get the tournament director to the court. That was a block.
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) January 30, 2021
It's been almost 15 years, but "Heart, Hustle, and Hardwood" has returned to the Lloyd Noble Center.
Put the Hustle Stat Billboards back up.— Sam Duren (@Sam_Duren) January 30, 2021
Great defense.
Better offense!
Hell yeah Harkless!!#Boomer— Gabe Ikard (@GabeIkard) January 30, 2021
Wow what a shot by Harkless over an amazing defensive effort
— Ben Kenney (@benzkenney) January 30, 2021
The Sooners’ have some absolute hoopers, lots of clutch wins. Fun team.
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) January 30, 2021
Oklahoma just had maybe the best win of the season. Without Austin Reaves, their leading scorer, they just knocked off red hot Alabama by five. I guess this guy Kruger can coach a little.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) January 30, 2021
What an absolute gritty, gutty, whatever you want to call it victory. Program win. Credit to Lon Kruger, staff and players.
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) January 30, 2021
This team is why I love college basketball.
— Kaci Nicole (@PennyLane449) January 30, 2021
OU = basketball school
— Casey Shaw (@sampedalino) January 30, 2021
Tremendous job by Oklahoma. Sooners took Alabama out of what it wanted to do on the offensive end, and dominated the offensive glass at the other end. Took two punches — at the end of the first and midway through the second — and responded well. Just a tough, tough group.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) January 30, 2021
Lon Kruger has taken OU to a Sweet 16 and Final Four, but I contend, with this group, this season is his best coaching job in Norman. pic.twitter.com/xRWSJk2Mbw
— Tyler McComas (@Tyler_McComas) January 30, 2021
Oklahoma is 6-1 since Cal State Northridge transfer Elijah Harkless joined the starting lineup with three straight wins against Kansas, Texas and Alabama. Harkless has helped make OU's defense awesome and clinched this one with a tough bucket.
— CJ Moore (@CJMooreHoops) January 30, 2021
Time to make Lon Kruger part of any National Coach of the Year conversations.
— CJ Moore (@CJMooreHoops) January 30, 2021