Texas-San Antonio @ Oklahoma preview
Lloyd Noble Center
Oklahoma gets a chance to prepare for two upcoming clashes with top-20 teams when it hosts Texas-San Antonio on Monday. Former Oklahoma assistant coach Steve Henson brings his UTSA team to town in search of a signature win.
It’s a potential trap game for Oklahoma, which will face No. 18 USC and No. 8 Wichita State in its next two contests. Led by freshman sensation Trae Young, the Sooners are lighting up the scoreboard – they rank third in the nation in scoring (94 points per game) and have recorded at least 82 points in every contest this season. The Roadrunners also like to push the pace and have topped 90 points four times in nine games. It’s the second straight contest against a Conference USA foe for the Sooners, who defeated North Texas 82-72 on Thursday behind 32 points and 10 assists from Young.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Oklahoma
ABOUT UTSA (5-4): The Roadrunners also are leaning on rookies, as freshman guards Jhivvan Jackson (16.1 points) and Keaton Wallace (14.1) are the team’s top scorers. Jackson has been big off the bench and poured in 29 points in a 100-96 loss to Tulsa. The Roadrunners don’t have much of a post presence, as 6-8 forward Nick Allen (nine points, 4.4 rebounds) is their top frontcourt scorer and 6-6 swingman Byron Frohnen (6.7, 6.8) is their leading rebounder.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA (5-1): Young (28.8 points, 8.8 assists, 2.3 steals) has topped 30 points in three straight games and leads the nation in scoring. The homegrown point guard has some help from forward Khadeem Lattin (12.3 points, 8.8 rebounds) and backcourt mate Christian James (11.5 points). With six players listed at 6-9 or taller, the Sooners should have a big advantage in the paint against UTSA.
TIP-INS
1. Young is the first freshman to lead all NCAA Division I players in scoring in November since Indiana’s Eric Gordon in 2007 and the first player to average more than 28 points and eight assists in the month since 1997.
2. Oklahoma ranked 331st among 351 NCAA Division I teams in assists per game last season but is ninth this campaign (19.3).
3. Jackson and Wallace have combined for 45 of UTSA’s 91 3-point field goals.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma 93, UTSA 81