TCU Basketball Preview: Oklahoma Sooners

Game Time: 2:00pm CDT | Location: Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center
TV: ESPNews | Series: OU leads 14-2 | Game Line: OU -4.5

TCU's long stretch of games against ranked opponents appears to be coming to an end after today. With Texas all but certain to drop out of the rankings on Monday, today's contest against #21 Oklahoma will end a six-game streak of games against a top 25 team. With that being said, today provides an opportunity for TCU to make a statement and end their losing streak against ranked opponents.

The Sooners enter the game with a 15-7 overall record, including 6-4 in Big 12 play. In their most recent outing, Oklahoma trounced #12 West Virginia, 71-52 in Norman. Junior OU guard Buddy Hield led the way for the Sooners, scoring 21 points, including five threes. Hield is the undisputed leader of this Oklahoma team. Averaging 17.1 points per game on the season and 20.1 points per game in Big 12 play, the entire Sooner offense runs through him.

Three other Sooners average in double-figures in scoring - Isaiah Cousins (12.0 ppg), TaShawn Thomas (10.6 ppg) and Ryan Spangler (10.3 ppg). Spangler also leads the Sooners in rebounding, averaging 8.0 boards per game. The TCU defense will have a tough task this afternoon slowing down the Big 12's fourth best scoring offense, which averages over 72 points per game.

Speaking of that TCU defense, the Frogs continue to post impressive numbers on the defensive end of the floor. Coming into today's game, the Frogs have the 8^th best field goal percentage defense in the country, allowing opponents to shoot just 37.3%. TCU has also held 17 of their 22 opponents this season to fewer than 70 points.

On the offensive end for the Frogs, the show still runs through Kyan Anderson. The Frogs' scoring leader this season needs 27 points today to pass TCU great Lee Nailon for 8^th place on the all-time points scored list at TCU. If the Frogs want to pull the upset today, Anderson needs his supporting cast to step up and contribute significantly on the offensive end. TCU hasn't scored more than 66 points in any of their last three contests.

It will be important for the Frogs to be able to work inside against a stingy Oklahoma offense. The Sooners actually match TCU's field goal percentage defense mark, allowing opponents to shoot just 37.3%. Oklahoma only allows 60.9 points per game and has held their last three opponents to fewer than 57, including a season-low 36 points allowed against Texas Tech.

The Frogs have one more chance to knock off a ranked opponent at home this afternoon, but it will be no easy task. TCU needs to play with a sustained high level of intensity and absolutely must find themselves on the offensive end if they look to pull the upset today.

Here are some other notes, provided by GoFrogs.com:

• TCU is receiving votes in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll. The last time TCU was receiving votes in February came during the 1998-99 campaign.
• TCU is 29-5 when leading at the half under head coach Trent Johnson.
• TCU has now held 27 opponents to 59 points or less under Trent Johnson.
• TCU has out-rebounded its opposition 15 times this season.
• TCU has already bettered its win total from a year ago and 2011-12.
• TCU will be playing its sixth ranked opponent Saturday vs. No. 21 Oklahoma.
• Kyan Anderson is No. 9 all-time in scoring in program history with 1,477 points.
• Anderson now has 20 20-point games in his four-year career after scoring 22 at West Virginia.
• Anderson totaled his second-straight game of five or more assists at Baylor.
• Kenrich Williams has scored in double-figures in 11 of the 22 games this season.
• Trey Zeigler has led TCU in assists in six out of the last 11 games.