Tag: Bubble Watch

Oklahoma could fall to 7-seed in Big 12 Tournament pending outcome of TCU game

Oklahoma holds its own cards when it comes to the Big 12 Tournament.

Oklahoma holds its own cards when it comes to the Big 12 Tournament.

The Sooners (18-12, 8-9)  are still up in the air when it comes to their Big 12 Tournament seeding with West Virginia taking down Baylor in the early Saturday slate.

With a win, Oklahoma can be no lower than a five-seed if both Texas and Texas Tech win today. The Longhorns play Oklahoma State at home and the Red Raiders host No. 1 ranked Kansas.

If the Jayhawks and Cowboys both win and Oklahoma wins, the Sooners will be slated as the three-seed next weekend and will open the tournament against West Virginia.

A Kansas win and Texas win will give the Sooners the four-seed and will play Texas Tech who would be the five-seed. If Tech beats Kansas, they will take the four-seed over Oklahoma and the two would still meet given a Texas win over Oklahoma State.

If the Sooners drop their game against TCU this evening, they will slide all the way to the seventh-seed and would play 10-seed Kansas State on Wednesday, instead of Thursday in a ‘play-in game’.

Oklahoma and TCU are set for a 5p.m. CT tip-off which can be found on ESPN2. For more broadcast details, click here.

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Three keys for Oklahoma basketball against TCU

The final game of the regular season means it’s crunch time for everyone, but especially so for both Oklahoma (18-12, 8-9)…

The final game of the regular season means it’s crunch time for everyone, but especially so for both Oklahoma (18-12, 8-9) and TCU (16-14, 7-10).

A must-win for both squads, this matchup is important regarding NCAA Tournament implications. For the Sooners, a win in Ft. Worth today would cement themselves in the Big Dance. The Horned Frogs still have some work to do but can help their cause with a win against Oklahoma before heading to Kansas City next week for the Big 12 Tournament.

Here is what the Sooners need to do to ensure a happy trip home to Norman, Okla.

START HOT

It goes without saying, but Oklahoma is much better off if they get off to a hot start. Knocking shots down early and finding the rhythm of the offense in the first ten minutes of the game will be crucial in setting the tone against TCU.

shot selection

Going 2-20 from deep in a heartbreaking loss to Texas on Tuesday is not what the Sooners needed heading into March. Smarter shots and draining the shot clock to find those shots will allow Oklahoma to rest up to play their smothering defense while tiring out the Horned Frogs. Getting into the paint has been an issue but with post-season play looming, the Sooners cannot depend on their outside shooting.

FORGET ABOUT IT

Tuesday’s loss, as heartbreaking as it was for senior Kristian Doolittle, needs to be forgotten about. There is nothing the Sooners can do to change it, so they might as well move on as soon as possible. The first ten minutes against TCU should be a good barometer as to if Lon Kruger’s squad is still reeling from Tuesday’s game.

Oklahoma and TCU are set to tip-off at 4p.m. CT on ESPN. For more broadcast details, click here.

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Oklahoma falls short on Kristian Doolittle’s senior night, loses to Texas 52-51

With the game in his hands, senior forward Kristian Doolittle had a chance to leave the Lloyd Noble Center with a lasting memory.

NORMAN, Okla. — With the game in his hands, senior forward Kristian Doolittle had a chance to leave the Lloyd Noble Center with a lasting memory.

It was his senior night, and with six seconds remaining and a two-point lead, Doolittle went to the charity stripe in the double bonus to put the game out of Texas’ reach.

He missed both free throws.

Texas’ Matt Coleman then had a prayer answered with a bank-in 3-pointer to down Oklahoma 52-51 and ruin Doolittle’s last moment inside the place he called home for four years.

“It’s really tough,” head coach Lon Kruger said following the game, regarding Doolittle. “He’ll have that memory for a long time but he’s gonna bounce right back. He’ll work through it, teammates will help him and we’ll be better on Saturday.”

Just 130 minutes before Doolittle missed his final shots inside the Lloyd Noble Center he was recognized as the lone senior on the Sooners’ squad. Over his career at Oklahoma, Doolittle personified grit, toughness, and perseverance.

In his sophomore year, Doolittle was suspended for the first half of the season due to academic issues. He rebounded by winning the Big 12 Most Improved Player in his junior season. Follow that up with the fact that Doolittle played two and a half games with a broken nose while nearly averaging a double-double and you have an ideal college basketball player. A kid that has battled through adversity, fought for not only himself but for his teammates and program and has earned the right to wear the jersey he puts on every day.

Yes—Doolittle had an opportunity to ice the game with six seconds to go, but he was not the only one who buckled against the Longhorns.

The Sooners missed eight of their 29 free throws and shot an abysmal 2-of-20 from behind the arc. As life goes, the Sooners needed to go 3-of-20 to come away with a win.

Despite the loss, Doolittle led the Sooners with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and tallied one assist, block, and steal in his final game inside the LNC.

Oklahoma limps into Ft. Worth, Texas, for the final game of the regular season as they will take on TCU on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3p.m. CT and can be found on ESPN2.

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Three takeaways from Oklahoma’s 52-51 loss against Texas

Oklahoma (18-12, 8-9) had their souls crushed by Texas (19-11, 9-8) on a near buzzer-beater to send lone senior…

Oklahoma (18-12, 8-9) had their souls crushed by Texas (19-11, 9-8) on a near buzzer-beater to send lone senior,  Kristian Doolittle off on a sour note.

NO RHYTHM

For a team that wants to make the Big Dance, the Sooners had no rhythm tonight. Shooting below 30% from the floor for the entire game left Oklahoma looking hard for offense down the final stretch.

FREE THROWS ARE NOT FREE

Live free, die hard.

The two leaders of the Sooners squad failed to knock down gimmies in the final minute to leave the door open for the miracle-laden Longhorns. Oklahoma had 27 more chances at the line than Texas, making just 21 of 29 to the Longhorns’ two attempts and makes.

CRUSHING BLOW

This loss hits different.

Losing on senior night is never fun, but especially losing to a bitter rival on a near buzzer-beater. The Sooners have to quickly forget about the loss and move on to TCU in preparation for Saturday’s regular-season finale.

Oklahoma and TCU are set for a 3p.m. tip in Ft. Worth on Saturday. The game can be found on ESPN2.

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Three keys for Oklahoma basketball against Texas

Oklahoma (18-11, 8-8) meets up with Texas (18-11, 8-8) one last time for the Big 12 regular season.

Oklahoma (18-11, 8-8) meets up with Texas (18-11, 8-8) one last time for the Big 12 regular season.

Not only a rivalry game, but it is also senior night for the Sooners. Kristian Doolittle, the lone senior on this Oklahoma team will get one final game at the Lloyd Noble Center.

Here is what needs to happen for the Sooners to come away with a win.

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WHAT IT DOO, BABY

This is Kristian Doolittle’s last home game. What better way to send him off than by letting him do what he does best?

Letting the offense run through Doolittle is what got Oklahoma inside the bubble, so why stop now? Allowing Doolittle to pick and choose when and where to attack the Longhorns’ defense will create space and more opportunities for guys on the perimeter.

SLOW YOUR ROLE

De’Vion Harmon, Jamal Bieniemy, Alondes Williams, and Kur Kuath are all finding their roles as post-season play creeps in quickly. Getting solid minutes out of the bunch will pay dividends not just tonight but for the rest of March, and maybe even April.

DO NOT LET UP

There is no reason why Oklahoma should overlook the Longhorns. Texas is hot, winning four-straight Big 12 games while making a push towards the Big Dance.

The Sooners need to win out while Texas Tech loses out against Baylor and Kansas for Oklahoma to be named the three-seed in the Big 12 Tournament next week in Kansas City. The Sooners have to take control early and not let Texas have the chance to contend with them for 40+ minutes.

Tip-off is set for 8p.m. CT on ESPN 2. For full broadcast details, click here.

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When, where, how to watch Oklahoma-Texas

Oklahoma (18-11, 8-8) and Texas (18-11, 8-8) are set to square off in the second edition of the Red River Rivalry of the 2019-20 season.

Oklahoma (18-11, 8-8) and Texas (18-11, 8-8) are set to square off in the second edition of the Red River Rivalry of the 2019-20 season.

Both the Sooners and Longhorns are heating up at the right time with postseason play just days away.

Texas, riding a four-game win streak has had a rebirth despite losing three key players due to injury. Oklahoma, on the other hand, has won two games in a row over top-25 ranked opponents after dropping three straight with the low point of the season coming less than two weeks ago against Oklahoma State.

With both teams flirting with the ‘bubble’, this rivalry game means just a bit more than most.

Here is where you can tune in to watch or listen.

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WHERE: Lloyd Noble Center (Norman, Oklahoma)

WHEN: 8:00 p.m. CT

HOW TO WATCH: ESPN2

HOW TO LISTEN: Sooner Sports Radio Network—KOKC AM 1520 and KRXO 107.7 FM in OKC, KMOD FM 97.5 and KTBZ AM 1430 in Tulsa (click here for more options if not in either of those markets)

HOW TO STREAM: WATCH ESPN

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Notre Dame’s Small Chances at Dance Dashed by Deacons

Notre Dame had won seven of nine in conference play and gotten from just 2-6 in ACC play to 9-8 in conference play before this setback sent them back to .500 in league play at 9-9

It was a long shot at best entering Saturday afternoon that Notre Dame would hear their name called in a few weeks on Selection Sunday, but after an 84-73 loss at lowly Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon the Fighting Irish can start preparing for the possibility of an NIT berth.

Notre Dame had problems all afternoon in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as the now 13-15 Wake Forest Demon Deacons scored over 40 points in both halves. Despite a fine effort from John Mooney who totaled yet another double-double with 24 points and 17 rebounds, the Irish simply couldn’t slow down Wake Forest big man Olivier Sarr who put up 30 points in 32 minutes of action.

The Fighting Irish had been shooting better from beyond the arc but that hit the skids Saturday as they went just six of 22 (27.3%) from three. Conversely the Deacons made more (seven) while attempting far fewer (15) from three.

Notre Dame had won seven of nine in conference play and gotten from just 2-6 in ACC play to 9-8 in conference play before this setback sent them back to .500 in league play at 9-9. In an incredibly disappointing ACC top to bottom, Saturday’s loss against 14th place Wake Forest will certainly end their NCAA Tournament hopes with anything short of an unlikely ACC Tournament title.

Notre Dame returns to action Wednesday night as they will host Florida State, who is currently tied with Louisville atop the ACC standings with a 14-4 record.

Watch: Gibbs Floater Saves Notre Dame at Boston College

relive a memorable come-from-behind victory at Boston College courtesy of a TJ Gibbs floater with just .1 seconds remaining

Notre Dame is over .500 in ACC play for the first time all season after a less than stellar but still, by the skin of their teeth, victorious night at Boston College Wednesday.

The game story will be posted here shortly but for the moment, take a quick ten or so seconds and relive a memorable come-from-behind victory at Boston College courtesy of a TJ Gibbs floater with just .1 second remaining.

Style points might not have been anywhere to be found for Notre Dame in getting by now 13-16 Boston College but hey, a win is a win and that’s infinitely more important than anything else right now in regards to Notre Dame’s very slight NCAA Tournament chances.

Notre Dame – Latest on Bubble Watch

Win all four and the case gets stronger with a win that could potentially knock Florida State out of ACC contention for the regular season championship.

Notre Dame basketball picked up a much-needed win over Miami on Sunday, moving them to 17-10 overall on the season and perhaps more importantly, 8-8 in ACC play.  With four games to go before the ACC Tournament it’d appear that a minimum of three wins are needed to even have a chance at an NCAA Tournament berth.

There are those that spend seemingly 52 weeks a year breaking down potential brackets with who is in and who is getting whatever seed.  Let’s go to them to check on the latest on Notre Dame’s very faint bubble hopes:

USA TODAY –
Notre Dame considered, just not taken too seriously.  The good news is that the Fighting Irish find themselves in the “considered” list here and not on the “on life support” list.  However, a total of 11 teams are listed before Notre Dame finds it’s way on the list.  Best way to describe things here are like in “Dumb and Dumber” and the whole “So you’re saying there’s a chance!” line.

Joe Lunardi – ESPN
The bad news here is Notre Dame does not get listed in either the “first four out” or “next four out”.  The good news?  We’ll let you know when we find it.

John Gasaway – ESPN
Gasaway goes conference by conference and lists who is safely in the dance and which teams have work to do.  The good news is that Notre Dame doesn’t appear to have any work to do in his eyes.  However the Fighting Irish basketball team isn’t listed in the “safely in” category, either.

My thoughts: 

You absolutely can’t lose any game other than the Florida State contest in the remaining four regular season games.  A win over Florida State would also go a long way but another bad loss against the likes of Boston College, Wake Forest or Virginia Tech would be disasterous.

Win all four and the case gets stronger with a win that could potentially knock Florida State out of ACC contention for the regular season championship.

If Notre Dame loses to Florida State but plays them close again, all hope probably isn’t lost but a strong showing in the ACC Tournament could at least aid Notre Dame’s hopes.

In short – just win.  A lot.  Doesn’t matter if its close or in blowout fashion, just win otherwise the hopes are going to be gone aside from the extremely unlikely chances that Notre Dame could win the ACC Tournament.

 

USA TODAY Still Not Putting Notre Dame’s Tournament Hopes on Life Support

Seven conference games remain for Notre Dame before the ACC Tournament and Saturday’s against Duke is the final before the stretch run that will see only Florida State as a likely NCAA Tournament team.

Despite the heartbreaking 50-49 loss at Virginia Tuesday night that set Notre Dame back to 6-7 in ACC play, not everyone has the Fighting Irish’s NCAA Tournament chances being dead just yet.

The USA TODAY released their latest “bracketology” projection and no, Notre Dame is not in the dance yet again, but they’re still in the “being considered” category and not in the “on life support” category that the outlet sorts bubble teams by.

Duke, Florida State, Louisville and Virginia are the four ACC teams that are represented in this latest projection as making the dance.

It has been a year of close calls for Notre Dame as they’ve nearly gotten wins against three of those schools listed above but fell just short in each case.  The Fighting Irish get their chance at Duke on Saturday night, where a win would mean a ton.

Seven conference games remain for Notre Dame before the ACC Tournament and Saturday’s against Duke is the final before the stretch run that will see only Florida State as a likely NCAA Tournament team.

As rough as it has been and as frustrating as things have sometimes gone, there’s still a chance this team ends up somehow dancing which would be quite the feather in Mike Brey’s cap.