It’s truly fitting that Oklahoma’s season ended the way it did. Inspiring play for stretches of the game but not enough consistency was the Sooners demise in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament. It’s been the calling card for Oklahoma’s season from beginning to end. Their season ended the way it started: with a loss.
Oklahoma entered the Big 12 tournament knowing they had to win four games in four days to make it to the NCAA tournament. Despite holding multiple Quad 1 wins, the head-scratching losses put them in this do-or-die predicament.
Oklahoma’s matchup against their Bedlam rival went the same way it’s gone the other two times the teams have played. Oklahoma State won 57-49 and ended Oklahoma’s season.
The Sooners jumped out to an early 7-4 lead before the Cowboys settled in and went on an 18-1 run that stole the momentum Oklahoma built early in the game. Poor shot selection and a sturdy Oklahoma State defense made life rough for the Sooners as they tried to set up their half-court offense.
The Sooners mounted a spirited push to force themselves back into the game led by Bijan Cortes with two big threes. Oklahoma would whittle the lead down to just six points before halftime.
The Sooners received next to nothing from Grant Sherfield and Tanner Groves. They combined to shoot 6 of 28 from the floor for 21 points in the loss. The two shot 1 of 12 from three. While Groves contributed in the second half, Sherfield wasn’t able to find his shooting stroke,
Caleb Asberry paced the Cowboys with 15 points and junior guard Bryce Thompson dropped in 12.
For the Sooners, Tanner Groves led the way with 13 points and 12 boards. No other Oklahoma player landed in double digits while Sooners as a team shot an ugly 25% from the field. Ultimately, the Sooners’ inability to generate offense from their go-to guys was their downfall.
Oklahoma State kept the defensive intensity up in the second half and would salt away victory and punch their ticket to the next round to face No. 7 Texas.
Playing in the postseason seems like a pipe dream for Oklahoma. Porter Moser and his staff will likely begin evaluation mode, looking to retool for next season.
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