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OU-Texas to close out the regular season, stakes are massive in Austin

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•03/08/25•

BPrzybylo

Jeremiah Fears31
OU guard Jeremiah Fears. (Alonzo Adams - Imagn Images)

If you hopped off the OU basketball bandwagon, well, welcome back. If you’ve been on this ride for the last couple of months, you know the story.

Here we go. Season finale. It’s OU and Texas in Austin in a game both teams would love to have Saturday night on the SEC Network. The prevailing thought is the winner is back into the NCAA Tournament field. The loser? Outside looking in and needing a run in Nashville next week in the SEC Tournament to even have a chance.

Both had to play with desperation earlier this week and did it. Texas was victorious in a wild overtime game at Mississippi State on Tuesday. The Sooners came right back to Norman and earned their best ranked win of the season, against Missouri, on Wednesday night.

So the stage is set. You could argue the winner is in the Tournament, and the loser could be looking for a new head coach next season.

That’s just how close this line is for Porter Moser and Rodney Terry. Some really nice moments for them this season and some head-scratching rough times, too.

The Sooners have continued to hang around the proverbial bubble because of the strength of non-conference victories. Wins against Arizona, Louisville and Michigan have carried their weight all season. Some fans are irked at the 5-12 conference record, but the SEC has earned that respect.

Now 18 wins, five of them of the Quad 1 variety, OU is back to controlling its destiny. And back to playing really good basketball.

In the last four games, the Sooners have scored at least 80 points and scored more than 90 in each of their last two victories.

First time out? This is one of several coulda/woulda/shoulda games for the Sooners. OU slept walk through the first half against the Longhorns. OU trailed by as many as 23 points in the second half before waking up and rallying.

OU got it close to three points multiple times and two points in the final seconds but fell 77-73. At the time, it made the Sooners 0-4 in the SEC.

It proved to be an initial turning point as OU played much better from that second half on. And the last two weeks have been some of the most inspirational and high-level ball from the team since the non-conference season.

Godwin out

OU will be without Sam Godwin, a huge blow. Godwin had been tearing it up in the last couple of weeks. But he took a hard fall Wednesday night in the first half. It is to be determined if Godwin will be able to suit up again this season.

A source told SoonerScoop it was a Grade 2 MCL sprain for Godwin. Recovery time is usually around 2-4 weeks, best case scenario.

So for a team that has been punched and punched time and time again, one more opportunity to fight back. Fight through the hard. Earn the first win for Moser against the Longhorns in eight tries. And, just maybe, punch that ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

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