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Bracketology 2023: Creighton, West Virginia and Baylor among week’s big winners

By Joey Loose

Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) dribbles as Texas guard Artery Morris (2) defends during a game between Tennessee and Texas at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023.Kns Ut Basketball Vs Texas
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) dribbles as Texas guard Artery Morris (2) defends during a game between Tennessee and Texas at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023.Kns Ut Basketball Vs Texas /
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Oklahoma forward Jalen Hill Ou Vs Alabama
Oklahoma forward Jalen Hill Ou Vs Alabama /

Oklahoma

Things haven’t gone as smoothly for Oklahoma as they may have hoped, but that doesn’t mean there’s any reason for panic. The Sooners have a strong team with plenty of talent, they just have the misfortunate of playing in the nation’s best basketball conference. At week’s end, the Sooners find themselves 2-6 in Big 12 play, but it’s about what they did over the weekend that really helped matters.

You might be thinking that Oklahoma’s inclusion is bizarre, considering they lost by 27 points at TCU earlier in the week, but we’re not focusing on that game. Instead, look at what the Sooners did over the weekend. They hosted #2 Alabama as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge and promptly sent the Crimson Tide packing, jetting off for a 93-69 victory with their finest offensive performance of the season. Among that explosion was a 30-point game from Grant Sherfield and a 26-point outing from Jalen Hill.

Even with that rough conference record, Oklahoma is still in decent shape. They’re going to have plenty of high-level opportunities for wins, and the beatdown they delivered to an Alabama squad that looked unbeatable is going to resonate in college basketball. The Sooners haven’t taken care of business yet in conference play but might have the league’s best nonconference win. Wins like this are currency and you can bet the Sooners’ path to the Big Dance got smoother this weekend.

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