Tag: londes Williams

Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) and West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) played a physical game against each other with the Sooners coming out on top 69-59. For Oklahoma, the win takes them back to five-hundred in Big 12 play.

Here is how it happened.

PERIMETER DEFENSE

The Sooners put together one of their best defensive performances of the season, holding the Mountaineers to just 24-for-76 (31.6%) from the floor, and even more impressively, 6-for-15 (40%) from three. Only five West Virginia players recorded 3-pointers.

KRISTIAN DOOLITTLE

Doolittle did it all against WVU, leading all players with 27 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and tacking on two steals. He shot 9-for-15 from the floor. Against Bedlam last week, Doolittle joined the 1,000-point club with the Sooners.

HARMON OFF THE BENCH

After shooting just 1-for-5 in the loss against Texas Tech, freshman De’Vion Harmon took full advantage in his minutes off the bench against the Mountaineers. He scored eight points on three-for-four shooting, contributing to 16 total bench points for the Sooners. The former four-star is averaging just 7.6 in 27.8 minutes per game. He has struggled to find his role with Lon Kruger’s squad but could thrive in a sixth-man role for the Sooners.

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Finally.

On the back of Kristian Doolittle, Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) finally climbed over the proverbial hump. His 27 points and 12 rebounds gave him his sixth career double-double and the Sooners their tenth home win of the season.

The Sooners have had close calls against No. 3 Kansas, No. 1 Baylor, and had a tough loss to Texas Tech in the week that was accompanied by a 10-hour bus ride home from Lubbock, Texas. Welcoming No. 13 ranked West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) to Norman, Okla., it felt like the Sooners had their backs against the wall, needing to claw their way to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Oklahoma did just that.

Doolittle willed the Sooners to a seven-point halftime lead, thanks to his 14 points. Both he and Brady Manek combined for the first 17 points from Oklahoma.

“Whenever we can get them going, that’s good for our team,” Jamal Bienimey said postgame. “I think that led the way throughout the rest of the game and carried us, helped us today.”

Doolittle continued to be a catalyst on both ends of the floor in the closing 20-minutes. Alongside his points and rebounds, Doolittle dished out an assist, a block, and grabbed two steals. While opening an 18-point lead, Doolittle and De’Vion Harmon were always leading the way on fast breaks.

Causing the fast breaks was Oklahoma’s incredible defense, something Bob Huggins saw more of a flaw on the Mountaineers’ end rather than the Sooners’ abilities.

“We missed 22 shots within two feet of the basket. Seems impossible, but we missed 22 shots within two feet of the basket,” Huggins said postgame.

The Sooners forced West Virginia to shoot just under 32% despite the fact that the Mountaineers outshot Oklahoma 76-49.

Oklahoma finally proved that they can compete with teams bigger and better than them, all they need is one good outing. The performance bodes well for the Sooners as the NCAA Tournament creeps ever closer. Projected as a 10-seed earlier today, Oklahoma’s win over projected two-seed West Virginia can only better their chances come March.

All the cards are face-up from here on out for the Sooners as they host Iowa State on Wednesday at 8p.m. on ESPN.

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Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) and West Virginia (18-5, 6-4) battled hard all afternoon with the Sooners coming out on top 69-59.  Hosting the No. 13 team in the country, Oklahoma played their most complete team game of the season.

DOOLITTLE DOES A LOT

Kristian Doolittle had arguably the best game of his career Saturday afternoon. The lone Sooner senior had 27 points, 12 rebounds, a block, two steals, and an assist in the win over the Mountaineers. Being stagnant offensively over the past handful of games, Doolittle exploded to will Oklahoma over West Virginia. His fingerprints were all over the game as he led fastbreak after fastbreak alongside De’Vion Harmon.

IS THIS THE CORNER THAT NEEDED TO BE TURNED?

The Sooners have been all over the place in the rollercoaster that is the 2019-20 season. With close calls against No. 3 Kansas at home and No. 1 Baylor on the road, a win over No. 13 West Virginia may be exactly what they needed to turn the corner this season. Coming into the game, West Virginia was projected as a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament and Oklahoma a 10-seed. Today’s game is a reminder that March Madness often begins in February.

COFFEE’S FOR CLOSERS

Despite getting the win, the Sooners failed to close out the game in a proper fashion. Nearly falling victim to West Virginia’s patented press defense Oklahoma saw their 18-point lead dwindle down to five over the final six minutes. Oklahoma had their flaws down the stretch but came through when it mattered most.

Oklahoma is back in action Wednesday when they host Iowa State at 8p.m.

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Oklahoma (14-8, 4-5) and No. 13 West Virginia (18-4, 6-3) face off in a crucial Big 12 matchup.

The Sooners last won exactly one week ago, laying the wood against Oklahoma State 82-69 in the first Bedlam matchup of the season. On Tuesday, Oklahoma fought for 35-minutes, coming up short in the final five minutes of the game against Texas Tech on the road.

To get back on track, here is what the Sooners have to do.

FIND DOO

Once again Kristian Doolittle is M.I.A. offensively. Averaging nearly 18 points a game a month ago, Doolittle has slipped down to just 14.1 points per game. Granted, Brady Manek has been a walking heat check and the emergence of Alondes Williams has led to fewer shots for Doolittle, but still, Doo has to be a  part of the offense for Oklahoma to have a chance against ranked opponents.

STAY HOT

Not so much in their game against Texas Tech, but the Sooners showed they can shoot against Oklahoma State. If they want to keep the Mountaineers sweating for all 40 minutes, Oklahoma needs to get hot early and stay consistent from the field throughout the game. Having lulls not only kills momentum but it has shown it can affect the Sooners’ defensive efforts as well.

CHANGE UP

Defensively, Oklahoma has done a relatively good job with a few exceptions. West Virginia is going to test the Sooners’ defense as head coach Bob Huggins loves to give different looks throughout the game. Lon Kruger is going to have to be just as creative in changing from man to zone frequently to try and slow down the Mountaineers’ attack.

Oklahoma and West Virginia are set to tip-off at 1p.m. CT on ESPNU. For more broadcast details, click here.