Three keys for Oklahoma basketball against No. 19 West Virginia

With ‘Selection Sunday’ quickly approaching, today’s game against No. 19 West Virginia (19-9, 7-8) is Oklahoma’s (17-11, 7-8)…

With ‘Selection Sunday’ quickly approaching, today’s game against No. 19 West Virginia (19-9, 7-8) is Oklahoma’s (17-11, 7-8) final shot at a quality road win.

The Sooners did beat the Mountaineers three Saturday’s ago in a 69-59 rout at home. However, West Virginia is a completely different team in Morgantown. With Oklahoma succumbing to a hostile environment at Oklahoma State last Saturday, the Sooners need to block out the noise, put their heads down, and ball out.

BRINGING BRADY BACK

Two points. That is all Brady Manek scored against Oklahoma State last Saturday. With Kristian Doolittle coming off of a nose procedure on Thursday, Manek needs to be the rock of the Sooners offense. Look for the sharpshooting center get shots up early to find his rhythm.

EVERYBODY SHOOTS, EVERYBODY SCORES, EVERYBODY WINS

Against Texas Tech, Oklahoma had a slurry of guys take shots that do not normally take shots. Jamal Bieniemy, De’Vion Harmon, Kur Kuath, and Alondes Williams were all taking jumpers in the early parts of their matchup against the Red Raiders. Despite not knocking most of them down, it seemed as though the Sooners were trying to find who they could rely on outside of the ‘Big Three’ of Doolittle, Manek, and Reaves for Tournament time.

STAY HEALTHY

No one has missed a game for Oklahoma so far this season. Doolittle played through a broken nose against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech while being the only major injury suffered by Lon Kruger’s team. With the final stretch before them, the Sooners cannot afford any injuries on the final day before the month of March.

Oklahoma and West Virginia are set to tip-off at 3p.m. CT on ESPN2. For more broadcast details, click here.

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