As of right now, the game’s still on, with K.T. Turner acting head coach in Shaka Smart’s absence.
The Game
Texas vs. Oklahoma, in Austin
The Time
6:00 PM Texas Time
The Television
ESPN2
The Opponent
Oklahoma. The Sooners. Fresh off a victory over Kansas.
Oklahoma was an NIT darling earlier in the year, but their recent string of good play has them rather nationally irrelevant (enjoy that first weekend exit in the other one, idiots). Nevertheless, they’re relevant in that they play against Texas tonight. Here’s what to know about ‘em:
- That dude who looks like Larry Bird’s still on the team.
- They’ve got a pretty balanced attack.
And I think that might be it. I mean, I could get into the nit and grit with this (not the NIT and grit, though—again, Oklahoma’s played themselves out of contention as things currently line up), but that’d be overkill. They’re a basketball team. A solid one. One Texas is better than and should beat at home.
What Texas Needs to Do
Don’t galaxy brain this. We’re gunning for a Shaka Smart extension. That’s been our goal this year since day one. We want a Big 12 title to secure that extension, and to win the Big 12 title, you need to beat Oklahoma. That’s in the bylaws.
On the Court
Hopefully Texas’s players are all healthy. It’s possible they aren’t. Curious how Brown/Kai Jones/Cunningham are after they all missed the K-State game.
Either way, it’s guard play that’s going to count tonight. Oklahoma’s stronger inside than outside defensively, so if Texas can get Courtney Ramey (or Jase Febres??) going, it’s going to stretch a stretchable unit. There’ll also be opportunities on the glass, so if Brown and Kai Jones are healthy, they’ll have plenty of food on their plates, and if they aren’t, Jericho Sims (and Kamaka Hepa?) will have a lot of work to do, but not the worst environment in which to do it.
Hook ‘em.
