Film Study: Breaking Down the Sooners’ Biggest Strength

The Oklahoma State Cowboys will have their hands full when they take on No. 4 Oklahoma for the second time this season. The Sooners have one of the best offenses in the country and excel in one category in particular. In this brief film study, we’ll take a look at how Oklahoma attacks their opponents from beyond the arc.

Oklahoma is third in the conference in 3-point and field goal percentage and first in scoring offense, averaging more than 92 points per game. Additionally, the Sooners have shot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc in six of their last 10 games. In three of those games, OU shot better than 50 percent, including a 56-percent performance against OSU in a 109-89 victory.

Freshman phenom Trae Young has played a large part in that, and it’s no secret he’s one of the best shooters that college basketball has seen in a long time. His crazy range and ability to use ball screens to get open:

And the handles to attack switches off the dribble:

Make him one of the best (if not the best) in the NCAA. Young has the green light to shoot from almost anywhere, and the Norman, Oklahoma, native has been tearing up the conference with almost 30 points per game.

But it’s not just Young that makes the Sooners successful. He has talent around him that help spread the floor and punish defenses who are overly aggressive.

Surprisingly enough, Young isn’t the Sooners’ best player when it comes to 3-point percentage. Four players on the Sooner roster are shooting over 40 percent for the season (there’s a fifth but he’s only attempted one shot). Players like Christian James, Brady Manek and Rashard Odomes are all excellent shooters in their own right.

Young’s ability to drive and find an open man has been nothing short of exceptional, but great passes mean nothing if your teammates can’t knock them down. Luckily for him, he’s got one of the conference’s best shooting ensembles.

Kansas State has shown a blueprint to stopping the Sooners in their 87-69 victory this past week. They forced Young to have a season-high 12 turnovers and held the Sooners to 28 percent shooting from 3-point range. To replicate such a defensive performance is easier said than done, but the Wildcats have set the precedent. Now it’s up to the Cowboys to try and stop Young & Co. from earning a series sweep.

How many points do you think the Sooners will score on Saturday? Leave your predictions in the comments below!