SATURDAY'S GAME BASICS
Oklahoma (15-10, 3-9 Big 12) heads to Fort Worth for a Saturday morning showdown with TCU (17-7, 5-6 Big 12). If history is any clue, the Sooners and Frogs could be looking at yet another close contest. The last three meetings between OU and TCU have been decided by a combined six points with the Sooners escaping with victories in all three matchups – including off a game-winning late bucket from Kristian Doolittle earlier this season in Norman.
ON THE AIR
The Big 12 matchup will tip at 11 a.m. CT and air on the Sooner Radio Network (107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Tune In Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing. Mark Neely and Reid Gettys will call the action on ESPN2. Fans with proper cable verification can also stream the game on the Watch ESPN app.
THREE POINTERS
• Sophomore forward Brady Manek has scored in double figures in seven of his last eight games. One of the most consistent scorers during his two seasons in Norman, Manek boasts 614 career points. With at least seven games remaining this season, Manek is 86 points shy of hitting 700 career points. Only four Sooners have recorded 700 total points in their freshman and sophomore seasons during the Big 12 era: Blake Griffin (1,278), Trae Young (876), Willie Warren (868) and Buddy Hield (756).
• Freshman guard Jamal Bieniemy is expected to make his ninth appearance in the OU starting lineup on Saturday. In his seven previous starts, the rookie point guard has totaled 29 assists and only seven turnovers in 262 minutes. OU's only scholarship freshman, Bieniemy boasts a season assist/turnover ratio of 3.50, which ranks second in the Big 12, sixth nationally and third among Division I freshmen. Bieniemy and Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State) are the only two Big 12 players averaging at least 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals and less than 1.0 turnovers.
• Junior forward Kristian Doolittle continues to show progress in his game as the season goes along. The highlight of his season came in OU's first matchup with TCU, where Doolittle produced 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting - including the game-winning bucket in the final seconds. Doolittle has averaged 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals during conference games while shooting .466 from the field. During Big 12 play, Doolittle ranks in OU's top-three in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, field goal perecentage and free throw percentage.
Kristian Doolittle hit the game-winner against TCU in the first meeting last month.
SERIES HISTORY: TCU
• OU owns a 22-4 all-time record against the Horned Frogs and has won 14 of the last 17 meetings. OU leads the series 11-3 since the Frogs joined the Big 12 in 2012.
• The Sooners and Horned Frogs faced off in some tight contests over the past two seasons. The last three meetings between OU and TCU have been decided by a combined six points. The Sooners came out on top in all three, including a 76-74 victory earlier this season in Norman.
• Oklahoma is 9-2 all-time when facing the Frogs on the road in Fort Worth.
QUICK HITS
• Oklahoma is the only school in the country with a win over a team from every major conference (Power Five + Big East).
• The Sooners are 9-3 when limiting opponents to under 70 points and 4-1 when opponents score less than 60.
• Oklahoma is 14-3 when it scores at least 30 points in the first half.
• The Sooners are 12-1 when outrebounding their opponents. In its 15 wins, Oklahoma is winning the rebounding margin by an average of 5.3 boards.
• OU opponents are shooting 39.8 percent from the field – the second lowest opponent field goal percentage in the conference and 20th nationally. The Sooners rank 19th in KenPom.com's adjusted defensive efficiency.
• Oklahoma is 16th in the nation and first in the conference in defensive rebounding with 28.9 defensive boards per game. OU's 38.9 total rebounds per game rank 34th in the country and second in the Big 12.
• OU has three players ranked in the top 10 in rebounding in the Big 12: Christian James (sixth, 7.0), Kristian Doolittle (eighth, 6.5) and Brady Manek (eighth, 6.5). TCU is the only other school with multiple players (two) ranked in the top 10.
• Oklahoma is 13-4 when outscoring its opponents in the paint. OU is averaging 33.8 paint points per game.
• Christian James ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring (15.4) and sixth in rebounding (7.0). He is the only Big 12 guard averaging at least 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds.
• Oklahoma is the only Big 12 team with multiple players possessing at least five double-doubles. James leads the Sooners with six games of at least 10 points and 10 rebounds while Manek has produced five. Neither Manek or James owned a double-double in their career prior to this season. James and Manek are two of only four Big 12 players with season averages of at least 11.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.
• The Sooners almost always have team success on nights that Brady Manek is rolling. During his career, OU is 22-10 when Manek scores in double figures, 14-3 when he scores at least 15 points and 8-2 when he hit four or more 3-pointers.
UP NEXT: TEXAS
• The Sooners have a full week between games as their schedule reaches the "bye week" portion. After not playing a midweek game, Oklahoma will host rival Texas on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Norman. The 11 a.m. CT contest will air on ESPNU.
• Oklahoma leads the all-time series, 54-40, including a 28-12 advantage in Norman.
• The Sooners are 7-8 against Texas under Lon Kruger. The Longhorns have won four straight meetings.
