Texas vs. Oklahoma: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

Texas and Oklahoma are a pair a teams going through losing streaks at the wrong time. Will Texas get the regular season sweep?

TV schedule: Saturday, February 17, 12:00 p.m. ET. ESPN

Arena: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma

Just two weeks ago, Texas won a huge home game against the Oklahoma Sooners, 79-74. It was a statement game for the Longhorns, who needed a signature win to stay on the positive side of the bubble. Matt Coleman and Kerwin Roach had great games, with 22 and 19 points a piece. Mo Bamba had 13 points and nine rebounds, while Dylan Osetkowski went 8/10 from the free throw line to make up for his poor shooting numbers.

On the other side, Trae Young had the first of several off nights from the field. He went 7/22 from the field, and 2/14 from deep. He did have 14 assists to go with 19 points, but the team couldn’t keep Texas off the line in the loss. It was the first of four losses in a row, with the latest coming this week to Texas Tech.

It’s left the Sooners with a 16-9 (6-7) overall record, and creeping closer and closer on the bubble cut line. The good news is that the overall strength of schedule has been the team’s saving grace, but some more wins are needed.

While Oklahoma hasn’t won in a while, neither has Texas 15-11 (5-8). Since the win against the Sooners, the Longhorns have lost three in a row, including getting blown out at TCU and losing a heart-breaker in double-overtime to Baylor. Bamba had 16 points and rebounds each, while three others chipped in with 15 points.

Next: Where Young and Bamba rank as Naismith finalists

This game is close to a must-win for both teams, but particularly Oklahoma. It’s in Norman, and the Sooners have already fell to the Longhorns once already. For Young personally, it could be the difference between winning many of the awards, or the momentum taken him out altogether.

Prediction: Oklahoma 78 – Texas 70