Texas Basketball: 3 reasons the Longhorns can upset OU

2) Why Texas basketball can upset OU

Winning the battle on the boards

Not only should the Longhorns have the ability to hold Reaves and the Sooners at bay shooting from deep, winning the battle on the boards should be in their favor in this game. Texas tops the Big 12 in total rebounds per game as a team this season, at just under 40 per game. They also sit in the top five in the conference in rebounds allowed per game, around 35.

Considering that Oklahoma ranks near the bottom of the Big 12 in rebounds allowed per game, around 37, and in the bottom five of total rebounds per game, around 35.

If the likes of freshman power forward Greg Brown and senior center Jericho Sims can keep the Longhorns alive in the battle on the glass against Oklahoma, then it will go a long way to pulling off the upset. Sims is very efficient on the boards for Texas so far during Big 12 play. He’s ranked in the top 10 in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage, total rebounding percentage, and block percentage, in the Big 12 in each of the last two seasons.

Sims is playing better as a whole of late in Big 12 play too. He’s averaged 7.8 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks, in 17 games played so far this season.

Meanwhile, Brown is doing better hitting the glass of late too. Brown ranks in the top three in the Big 12 in defensive and total rebounding percentage so far this season. He even ranks in the top 18 in Division I in defensive rebounding percentage.

Texas can also get a boost on the boards off the bench in this game from the breakthrough sophomore power forward Kai Jones and sophomore forward Brock Cunningham. Oklahoma will have a lofty challenge to try and outrebound Texas come Feb. 16.