Oklahoma needs a win badly.

The Sooners began their season with a 10-2 non-conference record but enter Saturday’s game with No. 18 Kansas State on a three-game losing streak.

Losing its first three Big 12 Conference games was extremely disappointing as OU felt like it simply lost the physical battle in defeats at the hands of to Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma State. They let those teams push them off their spots and knock them out of their offensive flow with physical defense.

Against KSU, the Sooners can expect much of the same.

Key to OU win: The Sooners must compete and fight back. Or, better yet, initiate the battle by striking first. One of OU’s problems in its first three games has been they are reacting to the other team’s aggressiveness instead of making them react to them.

Key to KSU win: Physical play and balanced scoring. Four different Wildcats average at least 9.2 points per game, making it difficult to focus on stopping one particular offensive threat.

Stat line that will tell the tale: OU’s shooting percentage. After three straight games shooting under 40 percent, the Sooners have to get back on track shooting the ball. They need to get quality shots and make them.

Sooners X factor: Carl Blair. After playing arguably his best game of the season in OU’s Bedlam defeat, Blair plans to continue to be aggressive against the Wildcats. His 20 points and 10 rebounds was one of the few bright spots for OU against OSU. If he continues to play with passion, it should rub off on his teammates.

Wildcats X factor: Thomas Gipson. The first Wildcat freshman to record a double-double since Michael Beasley, Gipson has seen his minutes fall since mid-December. But he’s a threat to make an impact at 6-foot-7, 275 pounds. If he plays physical and rebounds the ball well, he could present problems for the Sooners.