Oklahoma’s men’s basketball team (13-13, 3-10 SEC) is gearing up for a crucial matchup against Texas A&M (18-8, 8-5) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT, with the game being broadcast on the SEC Network. The Sooners look to clinch their third victory in four games at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.
This weekend holds special significance as Oklahoma honors its 2015-16 Final Four team, marking the 10-year reunion. A ceremony will take place during halftime to retire Buddy Hield’s jersey, as he becomes the sixth player in OU history to have his number lifted to the rafters. Hield, a consensus national player of the year in 2016, stands as the second all-time leading scorer for the Sooners with 2,291 points.
Oklahoma has shown signs of improvement following a tough stretch of nine consecutive losses. The team rebounded to secure victories against No. 15 Vanderbilt and Georgia, showcasing strong offensive performances in both games, with shooting percentages soaring at 56% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Notably, guard Grant Sherfield has been instrumental in this resurgence, elevating his scoring to an average of 18.7 points over the last seven games, including a notable transition from a lengthy scoring drought earlier in the season.
In the previous meeting this season on January 10, Oklahoma faced a tough loss against Texas A&M, surrendering a late game lead. The Sooners committed a season-high 17 turnovers during that match, a statistic they hope to improve upon in the upcoming game. The head coach has highlighted the importance of this matchup, particularly given his past connections to A&M.
Despite their current SEC standing, Oklahoma has maintained competitive efforts in multiple games, often holding halftime leads. Their capability to challenge highly ranked teams and maintain scoring momentum provides a promising outlook as they take the court this Saturday.
Fans will be treated to a dual celebration of basketball excellence and team history, hoping for a spirited performance from the Sooners against a formidable Aggies team, who are also looking to rebound after a recent win that ended a four-game losing streak.