Texas Basketball: 3 reasons Longhorns will thoroughly beat Oklahoma State

2. Jericho Sims is more efficient and a better rebounder than Yor Anei

The aforementioned advantage that Texas basketball has with the backcourt matchup against Oklahoma State could carryover to the frontcourt. Junior Texas center Jericho Sims is more experienced and aware off-ball on both ends of the floor than his Oklahoma State counterpart, sophomore Yor Anei.

While Anei is averaging a solid 9.3 points per game, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks, he gets into foul trouble very easily. Playing in less than 20 minutes per game in most of his 15 outings so far this season, Anei is averaging more than three personal fouls per game. That’s not a good number against a highly intelligent big man like Sims.

Meanwhile, Sims is averaging 9.3 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, one assist, and 1.2 blocks. He’s playing in slightly over 26 minutes per game, and is on fire hitting the glass recently. Before pulling down just eight boards in the win over Kansas State, Sims had a four-game streak of double-digit rebounds. He also had two games in a row with 15 boards each.

The way that Sims is hitting the glass of late inspires confidence that he can thoroughly take care of business in this matchup against the lengthy rim protector Anei. Get Anei into foul trouble early and Boynton will be forced to turn to smaller and less experienced bigs on the bench to face the board man Sims.