Who Wins the NCAA Resume Battle: Oklahoma or Texas?

When the longtime rivals meet in their regular-season finale on Saturday in Austin, Texas, it will be a make-or-break game for Oklahoma and Texas in their pursuit of an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.

The Longhorns (17-13, 6-11) and Sooners (18-12, 5-12 SEC) are both seen as being on the bubble for NCAA participation. In order to strengthen their resumes before the SEC tournament in Nashville next week, each team will be looking for a final win.

Oklahoma defeated No. 15 Missouri 96-84 at home on Wednesday before traveling to Austin. In the victory, Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high 31 points, including a 12-for-12 performance from the free-throw line. Jalon Moore scored 11 points, while Mohamed Wague and Sam Godwin both contributed 12 points.

Godwin missed the second half due to a right knee injury, but he scored all of his points before halftime. The Sooners were up 13 points at that moment and managed to stay ahead despite a shooting swoon in the middle of the second half.

“It was very big to see our team come out and actually lock in defensively, be connected, communicate and be resilient,” Moore said. “I congratulate my teammates for that, for continuing to stay with each other, regardless of what it was. And we got the W.”

Texas also enters the Saturday match with a strong record after defeating No. 25 Mississippi State 87-82 in overtime on the road on Tuesday to end a three-game losing streak.

Tramon Mark led the Longhorns with 24 points, including two crucial late free throws. In the victory, Arthur Kaluma scored 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, Tre Johnson scored 23 points, and Kadin Shedrick contributed 10 points.

Before Mississippi State came back to force overtime, the Longhorns had a nine-point lead with 3:52 remaining. To boost its value, Texas won a game it really needed and never fell behind in overtime.

Following a hip ailment that kept him out since early January, guard Chendall Weaver could help Texas on Saturday. With Weaver hurt, Texas is 6-9.

Texas coach Rodney Terry remarked on Chendall’s contributions, stating, “What Chendall brings is his relentless effort, and his energy is infectious. When you observe our team during the early part of the season, his presence on the court is pivotal to our success. He consistently makes plays that lead to victories and inspires his teammates to elevate their defensive performance.”

He continued, “The ability to make such impactful plays transforms the dynamics of the team. His absence is significantly felt. We often discuss critical moments in games, and during those times, Chendall Weaver is present, executing plays that contribute to our success.”

In the historical rivalry, Oklahoma holds a slight edge over Texas with a record of 57-49. However, the Longhorns have demonstrated dominance recently, winning eight consecutive matchups and nine of the last ten encounters with the Sooners. The most recent victory for Texas was a 77-73 win in Norman, Oklahoma, on January 15.