January 23, 1999. The last time we beat the Sooners and one of Tom Asbury's few wins against a ranked team. The last season that the Cats managed postseason play (A loss to former Sooner Coach Billy Tubbs and tcu). The last time the Cats won more than 6 games in the league. The 66-51 win at home improved the Cat's record to 3-4 in the league and provided a little hope for a fanbase that was souring as they began to "discover" that Asbury really wasn't a "good fit" (which means he lost too much). However, K-State would fail to string more than 2 wins in a row during conference play and Asbury's team would have one last gasp by making a run in the Big 12 Tournament before losing Asbury's 14th game to Kansas. (Amazingly, Asbury faced ku every season except one in the league tournament on his way to a 0-17 record vs the Hawks.) After this game though, OU/Sampson would beat Asbury one more time (to even Asbury's record against OU to 4-4), before absolutely owning Wooldridge, most of the time in heartbreaking fashion and those memories simply don't need to be recounted here.
Now we face the Sooners for a chance to win 10 games in the league and a 4th place finish. The Sooners have been a very competitive team in Jeff Capel's first year, and despite losing 5 in a row (and only 2 wins on the road, vs Baylor and D2 Chaminade) there seems to be some apprehension going into this contest for Cat fans. OU in some ways has a team similar to ours; especially in that they really have no "true PG" and are long on the perimeter, but they have more inside punch than the Cats. The Sooners have been a strong defensive team, allowing only 63 PPG (2nd) in league play, 43% FG (5th), and 30% 3PT (3rd) against them. Also 3rd in the league in rebounding margin and 2nd in offensive rebounds. Offensively though, OU has struggled similar to the Cats, shooting 41% (8th), 33% from 3 (10th), and scoring only 65 PPG (10th).
Individually, OU is led by Carter who is very similar to David Hoskins as a smaller guy who can score in the lane and gets to the FT line a lot. OU has a couple bigs in Longar and Griffin; Longar showing how a big man can develop into a double digit scorer and Griffin who is a younger player that struggles with consistency. On the perimeter the Sooners are led by Neal who is the Sooner's 3rd double digit scorer and best perimeter scorer, Godbold, who is OU's best 3 PT shooter, Johnson, who reminds me of a Clent Stewart, and Crocker, who is a solid all around guard.
Because of the style of both teams, this looks like a game that should be in the 60s, and should be a test for the Cats. However, in their final home game (we hope), the Cats should be able to win this game with so much on the line. I see a game very similar to the NU and MU games in Manhattan as the Sooners stay within reach the entire game before the Cats take control the final few minutes for the win. Cats 67, Sooners 58.
