Sooners Open ESPN Events Invitational Against Nebraska on Thanksgiving

NORMAN – Oklahoma opens the ESPN Events Invitational against former Big 12 foe Nebraska on Thursday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. (CT) at State Farm Field House in Kissimmee, Fla.

The game will open the evening quarterfinal slate and will be televised on ESPN with Mark Neely and Randolph Childress on the call. Fans may also listen on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing.

OU and Nebraska have met 187 times and Oklahoma leads the all-time series 104-83. The Sooners and Huskers last played during the 2010-11 season.

OU enters the clash with Nebraska on a three-game winning streak, beating UAPB, UNC Wilmington and South Alabama.

Oklahoma beat the USA Jaguars 64-60 on Friday, Nov. 20, holding South Alabama scoreless over the final five minutes. Grant Sherfield led the Sooners with season highs in points (17) and assists (8). Tanner Groves recorded his first double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) of the season and dished out a career-best six assists.

ON THE AIR

Thursday's game will be televised on ESPN with Mark Neely and Randolph Childress on the call.

The contest is scheduled to tip at 4 p.m. CT and will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing.

SCOUTING THE HUSKERS

Nebraska is in the fourth year of the Fred Hoiberg era and are 3-1 to open the 2022-23 schedule. The Huskers have victories over Chadron State, Maine, Omaha and Arkansas - Pine Bluff. NU last played Sunday, Nov. 20 and beat UAPB 82-58 in Lincoln, Neb.
Sam Griesel holds team highs in points per game (13.3), points (53), minutes per game (33.6), assists (17) and assists per game (4.3). C.J. Wilcher scores 12.3 points per contest and Keisei Tominaga adds 10.3 points off the bench. Juawan Gray, Emmanuel Bandoumel, and Blaise Keita all average 6.8-plus rebounds per game. Griesel, Wilcher, Gary, Dandoumel and Keita have started all four games.

FAMILIAR FACES

Doc Sadler, who joined the Sooners as special advisor to the head coach, spent the previous three years at Nebraska. Sadler spent time on Fred Hoiberg's staff as both a special assistant to the head coach and an assistant coach. He had previously worked for Hoiberg at Iowa State during the 2013-14 season, helping the Cyclones to a Sweet 16 appearance and ISU's first Big 12 Tournament title since 2000. Sadler also served as the Nebraska head men's basketball coach for six seasons (2006-12), finishing with a 101-89 record.

LAST MEETING: NEBRASKA

Oklahoma's Cade Davis buried an initially ruled 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds left, but after the final buzzer, the shot was changed and Nebraska earned the 59-58 victory. The win was the last meeting before Nebraska left the Big 12.
Doc Sadler, Oklahoma's special advisor to the head coach, was the Nebraska head coach. It was NU's first victory in Norman since 1999.
Andrew Fitzgerald scored a team-high 15 points and added five rebounds. Davis finished with 13 points and a team-best eight boards.

LON KRUGER INDUCTED INTO NCBHOF

After a career that spanned four-plus decades and 10 as the Oklahoma head men's basketball coach, Lon Kruger was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday, Nov. 20 in Kansas City, Mo.
The 2022 Class included Kruger, Richard Hamilton (UConn), Larry Miller (North Carolina), Frank Selvy (Furman), Jimmy Walker (Providence) and coaches John Beilein and Jerry Krause. Roy Williams and Jim Calhoun will be formally honored with the Class of 2022 and were previously recognized as part of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Founding Class in 2006.
Kruger is Oklahoma's first coach to be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He will join former Oklahoma standout and three-time All-American Wayman Tisdale in the Hall of Fame.

LAST TIME OUT

Jacob Groves drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with under three minutes left and delivered a thunderous block to secure the 64-60 victory for the Sooners over visiting South Alabama.
Following two missed shots by South Alabama, Groves buried the go-ahead three with only seconds left on the shot clock, giving Oklahoma the 62-60 lead. South Alabama forced a turnover with 30 seconds left and transitioned down the floor. USA's fastbreak dunk attempt was swatted by a flying Groves.
Grant Sherfield tallied season highs in points (17) and assists (8). Tanner Groves dished out a career-best six assists and recorded a double-double, finishing with a season-high 15 points and 11 rebounds. Sam Godwin and J. Groves scored nine points apiece.

RANKING SUMMARY

Oklahoma is ranked in the top 50 in four NCAA categories. OU is 11th in 3-point percentage defense (22.2%), 32nd in defensive rebounds per game (30.75), 27th in scoring defense (55.8) and 40th in fouls per game (14.0). The Sooners lead the Big 12 in defensive rebounds per game and 3-point percentage defense.
Tanner Groves is fourth in the nation and first in the Big 12 in defensive rebounds per game (9.75) and 32nd nationally in rebounds per game (10.0). Jalen Hill leads the Big 12 in minutes per game (32:38) and Grant Sherfield is third (32:19).

UP NEXT

Oklahoma is scheduled to face either Memphis or Seton Hall on Friday, Nov. 25. Tip time and TV designation will be determined after the two quarterfinal matchups.