Texas Longhorns Hoops @ Oklahoma Sooners: Preview & Open Thread

The Texas Longhorns (8-9, 0-4) played well against Kansas, but still came up on the losing end. There's no rest for the weary. A quick turnaround awaits, as Texas travels to Norman to battle the Oklahoma Sooners (12-4, 3-1) on ESPN's Big Monday.

Statistically, the Sooners are a fringe top 50 team with a shot at making the NCAA Tournament. There really isn't any NBA talent on the roster, but experience and solid coaching by second-year head coach Lon Kruger has Oklahoma playing well.

Senior forward Romero Osby leads the team with 13.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. Shooting guard Steven Pledger, also a senior, is the other scoring threat at 11.4 PPG. Rounding out the frontcourt are a pair of upperclassmen. Junior transfer Amath M'Baye (formerly from Wyoming) starts, and senior Andrew Fitzgerald plays significant minutes off the bench. Both are big bodies that will play solid defense.

The guard rotation is a bit of a mish-mash. Freshmen Buddy Hield and Je'lon Hornbeak were top 100 recruits and have gotten the starting nods. Senior Sam Grooms, a starter last year, and freshman Isaiah Cousins, also rotate in. Hield and Grooms serve as the primary lead guards. Junior Cameron Clark will spell Pledger as the microwave scorer off the bench.

The Longhorns are looking for their first Big 12 win. Can they take down Oklahoma in Norman?

LINEUP

PROJECTED STARTERS

Texas: G - Javan Felix (#3 - Fr.) | G - Julien Lewis (#14 - So.) | F - Ioannis Papapetrou (#33 - Fr.) | F - Jonathan Holmes (#10 - So.) | C - Cameron Ridley (#55 - Fr.)

Oklahoma: G - Buddy Hield (#3 - Fr.) | G - Steven Pledger (#2 - Sr.) | G - Je'lon Hornbeak (#5 - Fr.) | F - Romero Osby (#24 - Sr.) | F - Amath M'Baye (#22 - Jr.)

BENCH

Texas: G - DeMarcus Holland (#2 - Fr.) | G - Sheldon McClellan (#1 - So.) | F - Connor Lammert (#21 - Fr.) | F - Jaylen Bond (#5 - So.) | C - Prince Ibeh (#44 - Fr.)

Oklahoma: G - Sam Grooms (#1 - Sr.) | G - Isaiah Cousins (#11 - Fr.) | F - Cameron Clark (#21 - Jr.) | F - Andrew Fitzgerald (#4 - Sr.) | F - Tyler Neal (#15 - Jr.)

INJURIES/ISSUES

Texas: G - Myck Kabongo (#1 - So. - Out Until Feb - NCAA Eligibility)

Oklahoma: N/A

TEXASSPORTS.COM MEDIA/NOTES

TEXAS (8-9, 0-4)
at Oklahoma (12-4, 3-1)
Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 • 8:30 p.m. CT
Norman, Okla. • Noble Center (12,000)

TV: ESPN
Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Stephen Bardo (analyst)
National Radio: Compass Media Networks
Drew Bontadelli (play-by-play), Mike Wozniak (analyst)
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network
Craig Way (play-by-play); Eddie Oran (analyst).
Satellite Radio: XM 202 / Sirius 216
Streaming Audio: TexasSports.com
Live Stats: GameTracker