Big 12 Basketball: Power Rankings in the home stretch

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Feb 13, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots the ball over Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte’ Graham (4) during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Oklahoma Sooners, 20-4, 8-4 Big 12

One of the most popular, and old, basketball cliches says that you live by the three and you die by the three. Oklahoma may be learning that the hard way right now.

Oklahoma Sooners /

Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners are shooting 44% on the year on three-pointers, first in the nation. However, they’ve cooled off over their past three games, shooting just 32% from downtown, and going 1-2 in those games.

This could be a tiny cold stretch over the course of an otherwise fantastic season for the Sooners. Or, it could be a legitimate concern. At this point, I would say that Jordan Woodard‘s streak of poor shooting should definitely be a concern. He’s just 4 for his last 23 from beyond the arc.

This isn’t to take anything away from the teams they have played, either. Kansas probably had their best collective effort on defense in their victory over the Sooners on Saturday, and Texas’ fantastic defense was chronicled earlier in these rankings.

But Oklahoma takes so many threes that one off-game come tournament time could spell an early exit for them. That would be a heartbreaking way for Buddy Hield to go out. At the same time, though, if they get hot for six games in March, they’re going to be very, very hard to beat.

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