Texas Basketball: 3 reasons Longhorns will thoroughly beat Oklahoma State

1. Texas’ defense can suffocate the limping Oklahoma State offense

The defensive might of the Texas basketball program was put on full display when they held a deep and versatile Kansas State rotation on offense to just 50 points. Even in their four losses this season, Texas is usually able to hold their opposition under 40 percent shooting from the field. They’re also very good at limiting the amount of possessions their opponents get.

Whenever Longhorn basketball fans get down on Smart, they can always know that the defense will show up soon. The Longhorns problem never rely consistently lies on the defensive end of the floor. A lack of consistent scoring is always the problem for Smart and the slow schemes he likes to run.

At this point of the regular season, the Longhorns still rank among the top 50 FBS programs in the country in defensive rating and in the top 25 in points allowed per game (60.7). Meanwhile, Oklahoma State ranks outside the top 300 FBS programs in points scored per game (66.3), and at No. 300 in offensive rating.

This is a game where two Big 12 teams are very similar in nature. Both standout on the defensive end of the floor and struggle at times to put the ball in the basket. The problem for Oklahoma State is that they are rarely getting more than 50 points on the board of late.

The advantage should go to the Longhorns from the tip-off. This game begins at 7 p.m. CT in Stillwater, and Oklahoma State did open the day as a 2.5-point favorite.