Oklahoma did the things they haven’t been
Following the same theme of getting back to what was happening when they were winning, Oklahoma just in general looked like the team we saw in January for the first time in several weeks. Specifically they moved the ball far better (see the more evenly distributed scoring) and they made stops on defense that allowed them to get out in transition for easy buckets. The defense as a whole was really good in this one.
That is the recipe for this Sooners team. They are a team that is a classic example of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Yes, Austin Reaves is an All-Big 12 player and De’Vion Harmon is extremely talented as well. But this team wins by playing solid, team basketball on both ends.
They lost that a little bit the last few weeks. Whether it was just a simple case of a slump or the lack of games due to various reasons for a three-week stretch in February is up for debate. But they played so much more like they need to to win in this game.
Playing a two-win team undoubtedly helps, so there is nothing to say they couldn’t revert back to the old bad habits in the very next round. But this was a really good start to their hopeful turnaround late in the season.