OUTLOOK First round: Defeated Winthrop, 74-50
Second round: Lost to Purdue, 66-62
Oklahoma is a physically and mentally tough basketball team that controls the tempo with its halfcourt presence. In fact, I don't think there is a better, tougher, halfcourt offensive team around.
The Sooners run their plays and set a lot of hard, tough screens. Eduardo Najera is a big-time player. What has been good for the Sooners is that they haven't had to rely on Najera the last couple of weeks. They have some good shooters, like J.R. Raymond and freshman Hollis Price. Nolan Johnson has really stepped up in the last few weeks and is now scoring in double figures. So they have some good offensive weapons. Kelley Newton comes off the bench and is a stand-still 3-point shooter.
They are a big team, but not too deep, especially at the guard positions. If they don't make shots, especially the smaller guards like Raymond and Price, that is when they struggle. The Sooners will play tough defense and take an ugly win. They will be a difficult NCAA matchup for other teams because of how hard they play on the offensive end. Rarely do you see that. They make teams play great defense. If you let up, they will score baskets.
Last year the Sooners were a Sweet 16 team, and this year they have a chance to do at least the same amount of damage because they are even better with more weapons. -- Jon Sundvold, ESPN
ROSTER
PROBABLE STARTERS |
F -- Nolan Johnson (6-4, Jr., 9.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.7 apg)
F -- Eduardo Najera (6-8 Sr., 18.7, 9.5, 2.1)
C -- Renzi Stone (6-10 Sr., 4.7, 3.8, 1.5)
G -- Hollis Price (6-1 Fr., 6.9, 2.2, 3.4)
G -- J.R. Raymond (6-2 So., 14.0, 3.6, 3.6)
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TOP RESERVES |
G -- Tim Heskett (6-1, Jr., 7.6, 1.5, 1.4)
G -- Kelley Newton (6-2, Jr., 6.3, 1.5, 0.8)
C -- Victor Avila (6-10, Sr., 5.1, 4.2, 0.7)
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NOTABLE
Seed, Region and Bid: 3, West, At-large
Total NCAA Tournament Bids: 19
NCAA Tournament Record: 21-19 (.525)
Final Four Appearances: 2 (1988, 1947)
NCAA Tournament Championships: 0
Best NCAA Tournament Finish: Runner-up (1988, 1947)
Final ESPN/USA Today ranking: 13
Final Asscoiated Press ranking: 12
Final Ratings Percentage Index: 10
Final Sagarin Computer Ranking: 12
RECORD VS. RANKED TEAMS (4-5)
Dec. 22 -- Lost to No. 4 Cincinnati, 72-57
Jan. 15 -- Lost to No. 15 Texas, 79-76
Jan. 22 -- Beat Iowa State, 80-75
Jan. 31 -- Beat No. 13 Texas, 83-59
Feb. 12 -- Lost to No. 13 Oklahoma State, 74-71
Feb. 20 -- lost to No. 21 Kansas, 53-50
Mar. 4 -- Beat No. 11 Oklahoma State, 69-56
Mar. 11 -- Beat No. 15 Texas, 81-65
Mar. 12 -- Lost to No. 9 Iowa State, 70-58
(Opponents ranking reflects ranking on game day)
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Overall Record: 21-19 (.525)
Final Four Appearances: 2 (1947 and 1988)
1999--Thirteenth seed in Midwest Region
Defeated Arizona in first round, 61-60
Defeated North Carolina-Charlotte, 85-72
Lost to Michigan State in regional semifinal, 54-46
1998--Tenth seed in East Region
Lost to Indiana in first round, 94-87 (OT)
1997--Eleventh seed in West Region
Lost to Stanford in first round, 80-67
1996--Tenth seed in Southeast Region
Lost to Temple in first round, 61-43
1995--Fourth seed in Southeast Region
Lost to Manhattan in first round, 77-67
1992--Fourth seed in West Region
Lost to Southwestern Louisiana in first round, 87-73
1990--First seed in Midwest Region
Defeated Towson State in first round, 77-68
Lost to North Carolina in second round, 79-77
1989--First seed in Southeast Region
Defeated East Tennessee State in first round, 72-71
Defeated Louisiana Tech in second round, 124-81
Lost to Virginia in regional semifinal, 86-80
1988--First seed in Southeast Region
Defeated Tennessee-Chattanooga in first round, 94-66
Defeated Auburn in second round, 107-87
Defeated Louisville in regional semifinal, 108-98
Defeated Villanova in regional final, 78-59
Defeated Arizona in National Semifinal, 86-78
Lost to Kansas in National Championship, 83-79
1987--Sixth seed in West Region
Defeated Tulsa in first round, 74-69
Defeated Pittsburgh in second round, 96-93
Lost to Iowa in regional semifinal, 93-91 (OT)
1986--Fourth seed in East Region
Defeated Northeastern in first round, 80-74
Lost to DePaul in second round, 74-69
1985--First seed in Midwest Region
Defeated North Carolina A&T in first round, 96-83
Defeated Illinois State in second round, 75-69
Defeated Louisiana Tech in regional semifinal, 86-84 (OT)
Lost to Memphis in regional final, 63-61
1984--Second seed in West Region
Lost to Dayton in second round, 89-85
1983--Seventh seed in Mideast Region
Defeated UAB in first round, 71-63
Lost to Indiana in second round, 63-49
1979--Fifth seed in Midwest Region
Defeated Texas in second round, 90-76
Lost to Indiana State in regional semifinal, 93-72
1947--Western Regionals
Defeated Oregon State in regional semifinal, 56-54
Defeated Texas in regional final, 55-54
Lost to Holy Cross in National Championship, 58-47
1943--Western Regionals
Lost to Wyoming in regional semifinal, 53-50
Defeated Washington for regional third place, 48-43
1939--Western Regionals
Defeated Utah State in regional semifinal, 50-39
Lost to Oregon in regional final, 55-37
Record by Region:
In East: 1-3 (.250)
In South/Southeast: 7-3 (.700)
In Midwest: 6-4 (.600)
In West: 6-7 (.462)
In Mideast: 1-1 (.500)
Record by Seed:
As a 1st seed: 12-5 (.706)
As a 2nd seed: 0-1 (.000)
As a 4th seed: 1-3 (.250)
As a 5th seed: 1-1 (.500)
As a 6th seed: 2-1 (.667)
As a 7th seed: 1-1 (.500)
As a 10th seed: 0-2 (.000)
As an 11th seed: 1-1 (.500)
As a 13th seed: 2-0 (1.000)
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