NCAA Basketball: Preview of the 2018-19 Big 12/SEC Challenge

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 21: K.J. Lawson #13 of the Kansas Jayhawks controls the ball as Talen Horton-Tucker #11 and Nick Weiler-Babb #1 of the Iowa State Cyclones defend during the game at Allen Fieldhouse on January 21, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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LEXINGTON, KY – JANUARY 30: Head coach Drew of the Vanderbilt Commodores. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Vanderbilt vs Oklahoma

One of the only games that shouldn’t be that close, the Oklahoma Sooners are a much better team than many give them credit for.

While Oklahoma has lost their top-25 ranking amidst a tough stretch of games, they are a firm tournament team, and are looking like a better team in the absence of Trae Young.

Christian James is putting together a stellar senior season, and Oklahoma’s supporting cast has really stepped it up. It is no longer one scorer + a bunch of other guys in Norman. The Sooners are truly playing as a team, and it is doing them wonders.

Meanwhile in Nashville, the Commodores recently suffered a devastating loss at the hands of Tennessee. Vanderbilt led for most of the game, but fell short after the #1 Vols made a big comeback.

Led by freshman sensation Simisola Shittu, Vanderbilt could use a win. Now in year three of Bryce Drew’s tenure, something’s gotta get going in Nashville. Drew has pulled in the good recruits, but they’ve failed to put wins together. That needs to change on Saturday.

Unfortunately, I don’t think it does. Oklahoma is very good at home, and overall on paper, they just have a better team.

Prediction: Oklahoma 78, Vanderbilt 65

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