University of
Oklahoma (8)
by Joshua Riddell
Projected Starters
G
6-0
PT%
79.86
G
PTE
12.97
6-4
PT%
77.07
G
PT%
81.07
F
PT%
28.79
F
Jordan Woodard
Isaiah Cousins
PTE
15.88
6-4
6-9
6-8
PT%
77.71
HS100 AC/AA
HS100 AC/AA
55
HMAC
Buddy Hield
JR
NBA
SR
NBA
SR
PTE
30.37
HS100 AC/AA
94
3-AA
NBA
54
PTE
3.84
HS100 AC/AA
NBA
PTE
27.28
HS100 AC/AA
HMAC
Khadeem Lattin
Ryan Spangler
SO
SR
NBA
Bench Rotation
G
6-1
PT%
25.71
C
PTE
0.09
7-0
PT%
0.00
F
G
PT%
0.00
HS100 AC/AA
Akolda Manyang
PTE
0.00
6-7
PT%
0.00
Dinjiyl Walker
HS100 AC/AA
Rashard Odomes
PTE
0.00
HS100 AC/AA
6-5 Christian James
PTE
0.00
HS100 AC/AA
SR
NBA
JR
NBA
FR
NBA
FR
NBA
A trip to the Sweet 16 set
expectations high for the Oklahoma
Sooners coming into 2015-16. They
soared higher when Buddy Hield
announced he would be returning
for his senior season, putting Final
Four aspirations into play. This
would replicate the Hollis Price led
2002 run to the Final Four and give
Oklahoma their third Final Four
appearance in the modern era.
The Sooners lost only graduate
transfer TaShawn Thomas from
their rotation, and with the Big
12 Player of the Year in Hield,
boast one of the strongest lineups
in the conference. He’ll be joined
by experienced players in point
guard Jordan Woodard, shooting
guard Isaiah Cousins, and center
Ryan Spangler. They are looking
for someone to step into the power
forward void created by Thomas
and will need someone to step up
quickly to fill a crucial role.
Their defense was eighth best
in the country, allowing a paltry 91
points per 100 possessions. It may
be hard for them to replicate this
success, as opponents shot only 31.7
percent on 3’s (51st in the nation)
and 65.5 percent on free throws,
which was the 19th best mark for a
defense—two things largely out of a
defense’s control.
Many areas of Oklahoma’s
defense should carry over to 201516 though, including their ability to
defend without fouling. Opponents
had a FTA/FGA percentage of just
28.4 percent, with Oklahoma not
putting their opponent in the bonus
or giving away extra points at the
free throw line.
They also protect the rim
well with a mark of 42.2 percent
on opponent’s attempts inside
the arc, 12th best in the nation.
Spangler doesn’t allow easy shots
at the rim, where he blocked 3.7
percent of shots, but someone
will have to support him in
the absence of Thomas and his
5.3 percent block rate and 14.9
percent defensive rebounding
rate. That could be 6-foot-9
sophomore forward Khadeem
Lattin, a bit player who was
productive on the defensive end
in his limited time, blocking 8.1
percent of shots and grabbing
17.8 percent of available defensive
rebounds.
Offensively, they like to get
out and run, averaging just 16.7
seconds per offensive possession.
Hield is the main user of these
transition opportunities with his
ability to get into the open floor
and finish on the move.
BBALLBREAKDOWN | 18