Insiders Pick Top Games on 2016 Schedule

Start your count down – no, not to football season – to the debut of the preseason top-10 team Lon Kruger will roll out at the Lloyd Noble Center in just 77 days, and to Sherri Coale's squad debuting Nov. 4, looking to make it's 17th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. With the Big 12 announcing the Sooners' conference slates, we had our experts offer their choices for the "can't miss" and "dark horse" games of the conference season.

As the men's schedule debuted first, let's start with them.

Toby Rowland // Voice of the SOONERS

MBB Can't Miss – Iowa State – January 2nd

What a way to open conference play. The Sooners and Cyclones will both likely be preseason top-10 teams, and have squared off in some great games the last couple years. We get one more round of Buddy Hield vs Georges Niang with the early leg up in the Big 12 race on the line.

MBB Dark Horse – Baylor – March 1st

Who knows what may be on the line in the regular season home finale when the Sooners host the Bears. Watching Ryan Spangler and Rico Gathers battle inside is worth the price of admission as March begins its madness.

Mike Houck // Analyst, '01-'15

MBB Can't Miss – Iowa State – January 2nd

The easy pick for this one was probably Kansas. After all, the Jayhawks have a long string of consecutive conference titles won or shared, and if OU is going to break that streak it very well may have to beat KU at least once. But I went with the Big 12 opener against Iowa State. Like Kansas, the Cyclones will be a preseason top-10 team. And remember last year? OU and ISU played three incredibly entertaining games. One more consideration: the start of the Sooners' Big 12 schedule is so challenging that protecting home court right off the bat is going to be imperative.

MBB Dark Horse – Baylor – March 1st

It's the final home game of the year, so Big 12 title implications could be involved. And it's the final home game in the careers of seniors Isaiah Cousins, Buddy Hield, Ryan Spangler and Dinjiyl Walker. Need to send that incredible group out with a bang.

Jessica Coody // Sooner Sports TV

MBB Can't Miss: Any of Them.

Here's why:

Number one: It's the Big 12. We have all seen how incredible this conference has been to watch, especially over the past couple of seasons.

Number 2: Something special can happen any given night. From a tip-in at the buzzer against Kansas, to a record-breaking offensive firework explosion against Texas Tech last season, you are bound to witness greatness every night.

Number 3: Ryan Spangler, Buddy Hield and Isaiah Cousins are seniors. Your time is limited to watch them play in an Oklahoma uniform. Look what they have done for this program over the past four years, be there for them, take it in and cherish the moments they are out on the court in the Lloyd Noble Center. The reality is their college careers will be over way too soon.

MBB Dark Horse – Iowa State – January 2nd

It's the Big 12 opener two days into January. People might still be traveling because of the holidays, students might still be at home, or maybe the excuse is to watch football all day. But don't – it's Iowa State/Oklahoma and there have been some EPIC battles between these two teams. The matchups between the Sooners and the Cyclones are more entertaining than Disney, skiing and the beach all put together. So make plans to cut your trip short. Students: drive your fannies back to Norman. Make sure you and your loved ones are in attendance for the Big 12 opener in the LNC!

And the picks for the women's squad...

BRIAN BRINKLEY // PLAY-BY-PLAY

WBB Can't Miss – Baylor – February 22nd

The Sooners upset the highly ranked Lady Bears last season in Norman, and will be looking for two in a row in Norman over BU. This late season matchup could have Big 12 championship implications and impact NCAA Tournament seedings as well. The two winningest programs in league history usually produce some of the most exciting games of the year in Big 12 women's basketball.

WBB Dark Horse – Iowa State – February 1st

Iowa State has traditionally given the Sooners problems, but these two teams have been pretty evenly matched the last few years. The Cyclones rarely beat themselves, so Oklahoma will have to play well and slow down ISU's potent three-point shooting to get the win. A late season battle that will also be Senior Day for Kaylon Williams, and likely will have NCAA Tournament ramifications.

TYLER PIGG // TEAM COMMUNICATIONS

WBB Can't Miss – Texas – February 14th

Conventional wisdom says its Feb. 22 against Baylor, but OU's matchup with Texas on Feb. 14 is my can't miss game. The Sooners upset the fourth-ranked Longhorns a year ago in Norman behind a career-high 14 points from Maddie Manning and that win helped propel OU to a 7-0 start in Big 12 play last season. The matchup will have an impact on NCAA seeding as well as the race for the Big 12 title heading into the final two weeks of the season.

WBB Dark Horse – Kansas – December 30th
BONUS – Iowa State – February 27th

Two games come to mind and they both bookend OU's Big 12 home schedule. The conference opener offers plenty of energy for a team, but to open the league slate at home against Kansas on Dec. 30 gives the Sooners a bit of added motivation. The Jayhawks were the only team to defeat the Sooners on their home floor a year ago at the Lloyd Noble Center. Feb. 27's Big 12 matchup with Iowa State coupled with the final home game for senior Kaylon Williams is also a can't miss. She deserves a large crowd for the impact she's made on and off the court.

Jessica Coody // Sooner Sports TV

WBB Can't Miss: Red River Showdown – Texas – February 14th

This Rivalry has really heated up again between the Sooners and Longhorns on the basketball court. Last season Texas came in as a top 10 team, the Sooners made a statement with a win inside the LNC. In Austin, Oklahoma fell in double overtime. This is no question my can't miss, plus it's Valentine's Day, forget the flowers and candy, for me there is no better place for a romantic date than the Lloyd Noble Center!

WBB Dark Horse – Iowa State – February 27th

Final home game of the regular season and senior night for lone senior and Oklahoma born and bred Kaylon "Kay-Kay" Williams. That should be enough said, but like on the men's side, there have been some great battles between these two teams over the past several seasons. The Cyclones lost a couple of key players, but by the end of the season who knows what could be on the line when Oklahoma and Iowa State matchup for the Big 12 regular season finale in the LNC.

Season tickets for Oklahoma basketball are on sale now by calling the Oklahoma ticket office at (800) 456-4668.