Big 12 Basketball: 2018-19 key storylines for Kansas State at Oklahoma

2 of 3

LUBBOCK, TX – FEBRUARY 13: Christian James #0 of the Oklahoma Sooners shoots the ball over Niem Stevenson #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the game on February 13, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 88-78. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Keys to the Game

Oklahoma is a veteran team that uses a nine-man rotation. Five of the Sooners’ major contributors are seniors with two others being sophomores. The Sooners can either go big with a traditional lineup or use four guards with a low-post.

Christian James leads the way for the Sooners with 16.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Brady Manek is the only other OU player to average double-figures with 11.6 points along with 7.6 rebounds. Overall, they are a well-balanced team with five players averaging nearly nine points and seven players that produce five or more points.

Kansas State is a veteran team as well with five of their top-six players being upperclassmen. Coach Bruce Weber uses a shorter rotation, but he will deploy up to 10 different guys. The Wildcats use a more traditional lineup, although they will sometimes go with three guards.

Brown leads four players in double figures with 15. 2 points along with 4.1 caroms and 2.4 assists. Wade, who is the team’s leading rebounder, along with Stokes and Xavier Snead are the others.

Keys to the game

1. Rebounding: Both teams are excellent rebounding teams with the Wildcats having a slight edge on the defensive boards. The teams are also about even on the offensive boards with the Sooners collecting 8.9 percent of all available rebounds on that end and the Wilcats picking up 8.6 percent. So, who ever wins the battle on the boards will have an upper hand.

2. Barry Brown Jr. and 3. Christian James: I believe both players will come to play so it could come down to who has the ball in their hands last. They will likely be matched up against each other defensively.

4. Staying out of foul trouble: OU has done a great job getting to the charity stripe during conference play and the Sooners don’t really commit fouls. KSU doesn’t get to the line as much as Oklahoma, although the Wildcats don’t commit fouls either. The Sooners are slightly better from the free throw line. Oklahoma has slightly more quality depth.

4.Turnovers: Kansas State is better ball-handling club and forces more turnovers. So, turnovers may be the x-fact.

Home/Oklahoma Sooners