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Oklahoma Basketball: Oklahoma Sooners Look Ready For Big Things

By Matt Johnson

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Oklahoma’s Ryan Spangler looked into the camera and answered Fran Fraschilla’s question without hesitation.

When asked what he and the Oklahoma Sooners’ goals were in the aftermath of Sunday’s impressive win over Wisconsin, the senior forward told ESPN’s color commentator they expect to win the Big 12 and go to the Final Four.

Such queries are typical fodder for sports journalists early in the season. After all, every team has aspirations of winning their league and heading to college basketball’s grandest stage.

Whether those goals are attainable is another matter entirely. Knowing this, players and coaches often side-step and soft-play responses lest their words come back to haunt them.

There was something different in Spangler’s response. He was focused. He has determined. And if his Sooners’ teammates follow through on the burly forward’s words, there will be plenty of good times to be had in Norman this winter.

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Oklahoma was wholly impressive in defeating the Badgers 65-48. They jumped on Bo Ryan’s team early and never looked back, holding Wisconsin to 23.5% shooting while forcing Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes to a combined 8-for-35 performance from the field.

On the offensive end, the Sooners had three players score in double-figures, paced by Spangler’s double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds. And by the end of their afternoon inside the Lloyd Noble Center, Oklahoma may have put itself squarely in the conversation for big dividends come March.

The Sooners are now 4-0 and are averaging more than 80 points per contest. But where Oklahoma may be stamping its identity is on the defensive end. Counting Sunday’s result, they’re allowing just 61.2 points per game and are holding the opposition to 31 percent shooting.

Admittedly, ringing up those numbers against the McNeese States and Incarnate Words of the world isn’t going to turn too many heads. Doing it against Wisconsin is another matter however. The Badgers’ shooting performance was their worst since 2006 and one of the lowest of the Bo Ryan era.

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Some might chalk it up to an off-night for the Badgers. Others will state Oklahoma still has plenty to prove. And with a bevy of basketball left to be played, they’re probably right.

But there is another possibility lurking beneath the surface of Sooners basketball in 2015-16. Maybe Lon Kruger’s outfit is just that good. One look at the team’s makeup showcases why.

Simply put, Oklahoma has the pieces to make a run.

In Spangler, the Sooners have a double-double waiting to happen on a nightly basis. The 6-foot-8 banger has been through the ups and downs of a four-year career that started at Gonzaga and is ending in Norman. He’s averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 63% from the floor.

In other words, he’s the rock upon which Oklahoma builds its frontcourt foundation.

The situation is even better in a crowded backcourt featuring Buddy Hield, Jordan Woodard and Isaiah Cousins.

Hield has never been shy about shooting the basketball and hasn’t always been the greatest marksman (41.2 percent overall and 35.9 percent from three in 2014-15).

But the native of Freeport in the Bahamas is pouring in 22 points per game on 50% shooting from the field.

He’s also 11-of-21 from three and has connected on 17-of-19 free throws. If Hield continues on that pace, he’ll gain some All-American nods by the end of the season.

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In Cousins and Woodard, the Sooners possess two more guards who cause defenses to sweat. Cousins is averaging 12.5 points while Woodard is scoring at a 9.5 per contest clip. More importantly, they’re a calming and steady influence for a veteran Sooners’ squad featuring six seniors.

The X-factor for Kruger and the Oklahoma Sooners could be the development of Khadeem Lattin and Akolda Manyang in the frontcourt.

The 6-foot-9 Lattin has started all four games but has only played an average of 14 minutes per contest.

As for Manyang, the seven-foot junior college transfer is still getting his feet wet at the Division I level. If those two step up as the season moves along, Oklahoma suddenly vaults into legitimate title contention.

Even if they don’t, the Sooners figure to enjoy a big season. Why? Because they have size, depth and are playing sticky defense. Even more importantly, Oklahoma possesses nine players who are either juniors or seniors. All that experience should come in handy over the next few months.

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Can the Sooners really win the Big 12 for the first time since 2005 and advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2002? If Spangler’s sentiments indicate anything, it’s that Oklahoma is serious about following through, and Kruger’s team just may have pieces to make it a reality.

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