No Relief for Oklahoma as No. 4 Tennessee Rolls Into Town

Can Oklahoma Handle Another Ranked Opponent?

The Oklahoma Sooners (16-6, 3-6 SEC) have faced a brutal stretch of ranked opponents, and it doesn’t get any easier as No. 4 Tennessee (19-4, 6-4 SEC) arrives in Norman for a Saturday matinee matchup.

Oklahoma is coming off a 98-70 loss at No. 1 Auburn, where they struggled with turnovers, paint defense, and physicality. Meanwhile, Tennessee rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat No. 15 Missouri 85-81 on Wednesday, showing resilience in a high-pressure game.

With four more ranked teams left in their next five games, the Sooners must find answers quickly to stay competitive in the SEC.

Tennessee: Elite Depth and Scoring Versatility

Recent Performance

• Current Streak: Won 2
• Record: 19-4 (6-4 SEC)
• Last Game: Defeated No. 15 Missouri 85-81

Tennessee is riding a two-game winning streak, overcoming a sluggish first half against Missouri by exploding for 57 points in the second half.

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Key Players to Watch

• Chaz Lanier (G, 22 years old): 17.5 PPG, the team’s leading scorer, thriving in Tennessee’s motion offense.
• Zakai Zeigler (G, 21 years old): 12.7 PPG, 5.5 APG, on the Bob Cousy Award watch list for the nation’s best point guard.
• Igor Milicic Jr. (F, 22 years old): 21 points vs. Missouri, showing clutch scoring ability.

Tennessee rotates 10 players regularly, with Zeigler leading at 34.4 minutes per game. This depth allows Coach Rick Barnes to exploit mismatches by forcing defensive switches and creating open driving lanes.

Barnes adjusted the offense against Missouri, urging more cutting and better ball movement in the second half, which fueled their comeback.

Tennessee’s defense ranks among the best in the SEC, meaning Oklahoma must execute flawlessly to avoid another blowout loss.

Oklahoma: Searching for Stability in a Brutal Schedule

Recent Performance

• Current Streak: Lost 1
• Record: 16-6 (3-6 SEC)
• Last Game: Lost to No. 1 Auburn 98-70

Oklahoma’s schedule has been a gauntlet, with five consecutive ranked matchups. The loss at Auburn exposed defensive issues, particularly in the paint, where they were outscored 46-20.

Key Players to Watch

• Jalon Moore (F, 22 years old): 17.9 PPG, leading scorer, but needs more support.
• Jeremiah Fears (G, 21 years old): 15.9 PPG, dangerous perimeter shooter.
• Dayton Forsythe (G, 19 years old): 13 points vs. Auburn, showing potential as a scoring option.

Forsythe, a freshman from Oklahoma, impressed against Auburn, making 11-of-11 free throws. His increased scoring role gives the Sooners another offensive weapon, but they desperately need defensive improvements.

Coach Porter Moser knows his team can’t afford mental lapses against an elite Tennessee squad:

“Not much went right,” Moser admitted after the Auburn loss. “If you want to beat the best, you have a small margin of error. And we had way too large of a margin.”

The biggest concern? Oklahoma’s turnovers and rebounding issues, both of which Tennessee will exploit.

Key Storylines and Matchup Breakdown

Can Tennessee Keep Exploiting Mismatches?

✅ Tennessee’s motion offense forces defensive switches, creating high-percentage shots.
✅ Oklahoma must defend cuts and screens better, or risk another second-half collapse.
✅ Chaz Lanier’s off-ball movement could be a nightmare for Oklahoma’s defense.

Oklahoma’s Interior Defense Must Step Up

✅ The Sooners allowed 46 points in the paint to Auburn—a huge concern vs. Tennessee.
✅ Can Jalon Moore and Jeremiah Fears improve rim protection against Tennessee’s physical frontcourt?
✅ If Oklahoma can’t hold their own inside, expect another big second half from the Volunteers.

Best NCAAB Picks for Today’s Matchups: Win with Confidence 

Can Oklahoma Limit Turnovers?

✅ 15 turnovers vs. Auburn led to 22 points—an issue against Tennessee’s pesky defense.
✅ Zakai Zeigler is an elite on-ball defender who could create easy fast-break points.
✅ If the Sooners can’t clean up their ball security, they’ll struggle to keep it close.

Game Details

📅 Date: Saturday, February 10, 2024
🕒 Time: 12:00 PM ET
📍 Location: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK
📺 TV: ESPN

Can Oklahoma finally break through, or will Tennessee continue rolling toward the SEC Tournament?