Big 12 Basketball power rankings: Oklahoma climbs after SEC invasion
By Andrew Tineo
464. . 11-4 (6-3). Previous: 4th. Sooners . 2. team
Previous games: 80-79 win over No. 5 Texas, 66-61 win over No. 9 Alabama
Next games: Monday at. No. 10 Texas Tech, Saturday vs. Iowa State
It is debated that no team had a better week in the country than Oklahoma. They have won three straight over Top 10 teams and it started with a nail-biter in Austin.
Oklahoma held that lead for just about the whole game but made it close late. Austin Reaves led the way with 23 points on 7-15 from the field. On a night, where Brady Manek missed all five of his shot attempts, There needed to be a few more players to step up.
It would be De’vion Harmon and Elijah Harkless, that both finished in double figures in scoring. After leading by as much as nine in the second half, Texas would make sure to not let that lead grow. A full-court pass that would get stolen by Harkless would add another huge win for the Sooners.
That would not be all of the fun, as they would return home to play arguably the best team in the SEC in Alabama. On a night where Oklahoma was without Reaves, it was Harmon that stepped up and played a great game. He finished with a team-leading 18 points and filled up the stat sheet, with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
The Oklahoma defense was suffocating and was their best performance on that end of the floor on the season. John Petty was held in check and the Crimson Tide got outrebounded and coughed the ball up 16 times.
The Sooners are playing their best basketball at the right time. It won’t get easier as a potential Top 15 matchup looms on Monday.