It is the common practice of polls to lazily move teams down a few spots for a loss, regardless of context, but it would be ridiculous to penalize the Sooners for their loss in Allen Fieldhouse on Monday.
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The fact that Oklahoma was able to overcome all of the factors working against it – the venue, featuring the loudest crowd in college basketball and where Kansas has rewarded its loyal fans losing just three times since 2007, an 11-time defending league champion as the opponent, not to mention that OU has not won a game at Kansas in 23 seasons – is a huge accomplishment in and of itself. Kansas took a four-point lead, but an insane Hield three helped lead to Oklahoma taking a two-point lead, as well as possession of the ball.
Senior forward Ryan Spangler countered with 14 points and a game-high 18 rebounds for Oklahoma. Scoring nearly 90 points a game and shooting almost 50 percent from beyond the arc, the Kansas offense will be a pill to handle when we watch the Kansas Oklahoma game live streaming or on TV tonight.
Graham had 22 points and junior guard Wayne Selden added 21 points for Kansas. The star finished with 46 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds on the big stage.
“We beat a team that could win the national championship”, Kansas coach Bill Self said.
The 40th matchup between the Nos. The Big 12 also was the last to accomplish the 1-2 feat in the AP poll, accomplishing it for six straight weeks with KU and Texas from November 30, 2009 to January 4, 2010.
But Oklahoma and Hield kept pace. The Sooners trailed 32-21 in the first half. Hield scored half of OU’s 44 points in the first half. Two of the nine were in the Big Eight Conference less than one month apart – March 10, 1990 in the Big Eight Tournament semifinals (No. 1 Oklahoma 95, No. 2 Kansas 77) and February 13, 1990 (No. 2 Missouri 77, No. 1 Kansas 71).
The Jayhawks lead the nation in three-point percentage at 46.0 percent and are fifth in overall field goal percentage at a blistering 51.6 percent.
The game shaped up as one between the brilliance of Hield and balance of Kansas. But Kansas needed more.
Kansas took the lead and iced the game with four clutch free throws down the stretch – first from Devonte’ Graham, then from Frank Mason III. Oklahoma led for the majority of the half but fell behind late. Brent Musburger and Dick Vitale had the call for ESPN and I don’t care how many games they’ve called in their long and glorious careers, they’ve not called one like this. After making both, the Sooners still had a chance.
Kansas and Oklahoma traded a trio of 3-pointers to open the second overtime. 1 and 2 next week too. Mason again drove the left side of the lane, but this time he pulled up for a short jumper that was never close, and the game was headed to a third OT.
SC and Notre Dame stayed second and third in the Top 25.
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Kansas (12-1, 1st) has been dominant since a 79-73 loss to Michigan State back in mid-November. Not having to play at Allen Fieldhouse anymore this season is a very comforting thought – good luck to all the rest of you! – and Oklahoma has a chance to settle the score when the Jayhawks visit Norman on Saturday, Feb. 13.
