OU and Hawaii Collide in Semifinals Tonight

Hawaii

^3/2 Oklahoma

2015 Diamond Head Classic

Dec. 23 | 8 p.m. CT | Honolulu, Hawaii

Live Stats

ESPN2

Notes

Bracket

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WEDNESDAY'S GAME BASICS

No. 3 Oklahoma continues play at the 2015 Diamond Head Classic versus the University of Hawaii in the winner's bracket Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT inside Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. OU is 1-1 all-time against the Rainbow Warriors. OU advanced by beating Washington State on Tuesday, 88-60, while UH defeated Northern Iowa, 68-52, in the final game of day one.

ON THE AIR

Wednesday's contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM “The Franchise” in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Scott Thompson announcing. The game will be televised by ESPN2 with Roxy Bernstein and Brad Daughtery calling the action. CLICK HERE to access WatchESPN.

GAMEDAY STORYLINES

• No. 3 Oklahoma takes on the University of Hawaii in the winner's bracket of the 2015 Diamond Head Classic. OU is 1-1 all-time against the Rainbow Warriors. OU advanced by beating Washington State, 88-60, while UH defeated Northern Iowa, 68-52, in the final game of day one. The winner of tonight's OU-UH matchup will advance to the tournament's final on Friday, Dec. 25, at 7:30 p.m. CT (ESPN2) against either Auburn or Harvard. The loser will play in the third place game on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT (ESPN2).

• OU, one of just five remaining D-I teams still undefeated, currently ranks second in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (.472) by hitting 93-197 of its shots from downtown this season. Six Sooners are averaging at least .425 from beyond the arc, led by Isaiah Cousins, who is shooting .526 (20-38). OU's average of 10.3 3-point makes per game ranks 13th nationally. Oklahoma's all-time record for 3-point field goal percentage in a season is .414 (1986-87).

• Through nine games this season, Sooner opponents have struggled shooting from the field. OU ranks No. 2 in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.344), including sixth nationally in 3-point field goal defense (.265). On the season, OU foes are just 61-230 from downtown (compared to Oklahoma's 93-197, .488 3FG% effort).

• The Sooners enter Wednesday's game ranked in the top five in both scoring offense with 87.8 points per game (fifth) and scoring margin (+23.4, fourth) by holding opponents to just 64.4 points per contest. OU is led in scoring by 2015 Big 12 Player of the Year Buddy Hield, who is averaging 23.7 points (sixth nationally).

• The Sooners are getting significantly more production from their bench than a season ago. Through nine games in 2015-16, OU's reserves (excluding walk-ons) are averaging 65.2 minutes played (out of possible 200), 21.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Last season, Oklahoma's reserves (excluding walk-ons) averaged 42.5 minutes played (out of possible 200), 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest (35 total games).

SCOUTING THE RAINBOW WARRIORS

• Hawaii is 8-1 overall on the season under first year head coach Eran Ganot. The school is off to its best start to a season since 2004-05 (8-0).

• The Rainbow Warriors are led in scoring by Aaron Valdes, who is averaging 17.8 points. He ranks second in the Big West in both scoring and field goal percentage (.570).

• Also averaging double-figure scoring for UH are Stefan Jankovic and Isaac Fleming with 14.5 and 11.9 points per game, respectively. Jankovic leads the team on the boards with his 6.6 rebounds per contest.

• The 'Bows are active defensively, ranking No. 11 in the country in steals per game (9.6) and No. 18 overall in turnovers forced per contest (16.8).

• Guard Roderick Bobbitt ranks 15th nationally with his 6.6 assists per game. He also ranks 21st overall in steals per contest (2.43).

• The Rainbow Warriors are 11-8 all-time in the Diamond Head Classic. They defeated Northern Iowa, 68-52, in the final game of day one to advance to the winner's bracket.

• Oklahoma and Hawaii are tied 1-1 in the all-time series. OU earned its win on Dec. 30, 1982, at the Rainbow Classic in Hololulu, Hawaii, by a 96-85 final. UH defeated OU in the NIT on March 22, 1971, by an 88-87 final (2OT).

CONTINUITY A STRENGTH FOR SOONERS

• OU's quartet of Cousins, Hield, Spangler and Woodard have each started every game (77 total) for OU the past three seasons, tallying 308 combined starts. With the addition of Khadeem Lattin (9 starts), Oklahoma boasts a starting five with 317 combined career starts.

CHASE FOR 1K, HIELD BREAKS INTO TOP 10

• Seniors Isaiah Cousins and Ryan Spangler and junior Jordan Woodard are all on the cusp of scoring 1,000 points in their respective OU careers. Cousins needs 19 points, Spangler needs 247 and Woodard 217 to be added to the current 41-member list at OU.

• With Buddy Hield's 213 combined points this season, the senior has become the school's 10th all-time leading scorer with 1,579 career points. He has passed Don Sidle (1,548), John McCullough (1,507 career points), Chucky Barnett (1,462), Harvey Grant (1,391) and Steven Pledger (1,392) all this season. Additionally, Hield's 226 3-point FG makes ranks fourth all-time at OU.

HIELD'S HOT START

• OU guard Buddy Hield is off to a hot start to begin his senior season. The Bahamas native is averaging 23.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 29.4 minutes. He is shooting 49.6 percent (69-139) from the field, 51.8 percent (29-56) from long distance and 88.5 percent (46-52) from the charity stripe.

• His 23.7 points per game average ranks first among Big 12 players this season and sixth nationally. His 51.8 3FG% ranks seventh in the country.

• Entering Wednesday's contest, Hield has registered three consecutive games scoring 25 or more points. He has scored 30-plus points three times this season.

SOONERS AMONG NATION'S BEST

• Oklahoma currently ranks second in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (.472) by hitting 93-197 of its shots from downtown this season. Six Sooners are averaging at least .425 from beyond the arc, led by Isaiah Cousins who is shooting .526 (20-38). OU's average of 10.3 3-point makes per game ranks 13th nationally. OU's all-time record for 3-point field goal percentage in a season is .414 (1986-87).

• The Sooners currently rank No. 2 in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.344), including sixth nationally in 3-point field goal defense (.265). On the season, OU foes are just 61-230 from downtown (compared to Oklahoma's 93-197, .472 3FG% effort).

• OU ranks second in the country in total rebounds per game (45.3), including first in defensive rebounds per contest (33.6). Five Sooners are averaging at least 4.5 rebounds per game this season, led by Ryan Spangler (9.8) and Khadeem Lattin (5.6).

• The Sooners rank in the top five in both scoring offense with 87.8 points per game (fifth) and scoring margin (+23.9, fourth) by holding opponents to just 63.9 points per contest. OU is led in scoring by 2015 Big 12 Player of the Year Buddy Hield, who is averaging 23.7 points (ninth nationally).

UP NEXT

• The winner of tonight's OU-UH matchup will advance to the tournament's championship game on Friday, Dec. 25, at 7:30 p.m. CT (ESPN2) against either Auburn or Harvard. The loser will play in the third place game on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT (ESPN2).