No. 23 Oklahoma skids into home game vs. Texas (Feb 16, 2018)
NORMAN, Okla. -- Entering Saturday's matchup between No. 23 Oklahoma and Texas at Lloyd Noble Center, both teams are in desperate need of a win.
For the Longhorns, it's a matter of getting back into NCAA Tournament contention.
Texas (15-11, 5-8 Big 12) has lost three consecutive games since a 79-74 win over Oklahoma on Feb. 3 at home.
That game marked the start of Oklahoma's four-game losing streak. Though the Sooners (16-9, 6-7) are still in good position to make the tournament given their overall resume, they need to get things turned around before it's too late.
Though Oklahoma ran its losing streak to four with Tuesday's loss at Texas Tech, there were several encouraging signs.
Oklahoma got a career-high 23 points from Christian James, sophomore guard Kameron McGusty scored 13 for his best offensive output since the early stages of Big 12 play, and the defensive effort was sold throughout much of the game.
"I think we played great defense against Texas Tech," McGusty said. "They hit some tough shots, but I feel like we defended it well and that happens sometimes. I think we have grown a lot defensively these past couple of games and we'll continue to build on it."
But the Sooners need to get freshman Trae Young going again.
Young missed all nine of his 3-point attempts against the Red Raiders and during this slide is shooting just 17.1 percent from behind the arc after shooting 40.9 percent over the first 21 games.
"He's going to bounce back," Sooners coach Lon Kruger said. "He's going to get it going again."
Young had that same optimistic tone as well.
"I feel good," Young said. "I'm just ready for our next opponent, Texas, coming in. Hopefully, I'll get it going. I think I will get it going."
In the last meeting, Young had 19 points -- more than 10 off his season average -- but 14 assists.
On the other side, Texas has struggled especially on the offensive end during its most recent skid.
Nowhere has that been more apparent than in the play of Kerwin Roach II. In the four games culminating with the win over Oklahoma, Roach averaged better than 19 points per game.
In the last three, Roach has averaged nine, with 15 of those coming in Monday's double-overtime loss to Baylor in which he played 43 minutes.
Shaka Smart's rotation has dwindled to seven players, with only two of those -- Roach and Eric Davis Jr. -- having gone through the rigors of Big 12 play before.
After getting bounced in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in his first season at Texas two years ago and missing the tournament last season with a last-place finish in the Big 12, Smart is looking for more out of his team but knows time is running out.
"They're motivated," Smart said. "They know we're in a position where every game is extremely critical. At the same time, it's important for us to focus on whatever's next -- they next practice, the next game to prepare for, the next shootaround. The guys' mindset is on those things."
