Oklahoma vs. Creighton: 2018-19 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
Oklahoma and Creighton each aim to notch a non-conference win that could prove to be very pivotal when March rolls around.
TV schedule: Tuesday, December 18, 9:00 PM ET, ESPNU
Location: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma
If you thought the Oklahoma Sooners stopped playing basketball the minute Trae Young left the gym, you were wrong.
And it’s time for people to start recognizing these Sooners for what they are: a better team than a year ago.
The Sooners are 9-1 this season, knocking on the door of the AP Top 25. They’re being led by the strong play of senior Christian James, as well as the high-flying transfers that rolled into Norman this year.
Oklahoma hasn’t been tested to the extreme, but they have been the likes of Notre Dame, Dayton, Wichita State, Florida, and USC. Their only loss of the season came against a ranked Wisconsin squad.
Of course, Creighton was just mere moments away from pulling off what would’ve been the best upset of the season to date.
Alas, the Bluejays couldn’t pull off the upset of then top-ranked Gonzaga. They couldn’t knock off Nebraska or Ohio State either, though they do have an upset over Clemson on their early resume.
The Bluejays are led by the two-headed monster of sophomores Ty-Shon Alexander and Mitch Ballock.
Alexander leads the team in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game. But Ballock is shooting .500 from 3-point range, knocking down an impressive 34 of his 68 3-point attempts.
In a couple of years, these two could be leading the Bluejays to a Big East title. For now, they might have to settle for a year riding the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Despite some essential wins, Oklahoma hasn’t earned the accolades of the college basketball community yet. They didn’t crack the AP poll this week (they’re right outside it, though) and aren’t scheduled to play a game on ESPN for the rest of the season.
Next. Big 12 Power Rankings. dark
Nevertheless, these Sooners seem content to continue flying under the radar while building a compelling case for a top-six seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Prediction: Oklahoma 76 – Creighton 69