How the state's men's basketball teams have fared so far and their NCAA Tournament chances

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How the state's men's basketball teams have fared so far and their NCAA Tournament chances

BY Staff Reports
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
1/09/13 at 6:58 AM

Read the basketball midseason reviews:

OSU

ORU Original Print Headline: Season rewind

With college football ending for another season, it's time for local fans to turn their attention to basketball.

If you're just now diving into Oklahoma college hoops this season, you've come at a good time. Tulsa plays a key Conference USA game Wednesday, Bedlam takes place Saturday afternoon, and Stephen F. Austin visits Oral Roberts for a Southland Conference showdown Saturday night.

Here's a look at what the state's four Division I basketball teams have done while you were watching football: OKLAHOMA hosts Bedlam Saturday with a 10-3 record. Nothing wrong with 10 wins one game into your conference schedule, but the Sooners have run a little hot-and-cold. They're defending better, competing harder and winning close games. They're also inconsistent on offense, and lacking punch from players who need to provide it.
OU (10-3, 1-0)
RPI: 19

The jury is still out on this young team, which has three freshmen playing at least 24 minutes a game. OSU has dropped out of the Top 25 after losing twice last week, and while a 10-3 record doesn't sound impressive, the Cowboys are playing at a higher level than last year's losing season, particularly on defense.
OSU (10-3, 0-1)
RPI: 36

When surveying a 2012-13 TULSA roster that included six first-year freshmen and two additional newcomers, some TU fans might have wondered whether Danny Manning's first team would even reach the 10-win mark by season's end. Having already reached the nine-win mark, a .500-or-better finish is quite plausible.
TU (9-6, 1-0)
RPI: 106

ORAL ROBERTS failed to capitalize on opportunities to win home games against OU and TU. Losing those games played a role in the Golden Eagles finishing an ambitious fall semester two games below .500. The season will boil down to whether ORU can win the Southland Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Grade? Incomplete.
ORU (7-7, 2-0)
RPI: 115

Associated Images:

From the left:
Romero Osby SUE OGROCKI / AP
Marcus Smart BRODY SCHMIDT / AP
Pat Swilling Jr. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World
Damen Bell-Holter MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World file