March 24--NCAA West Regional, Game 1
WHO: No. 2 Oklahoma (27-7) vs. No. 3 Texas A (28-8)
WHAT: NCAA West Regional semifinal game, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Honda Center, Anaheim.
TV: TBS; Radio: 710.
UPDATE: No tournament team has shown the resiliency and tenacity of Texas A, which staged a furious last-minute rally to beat Northern Iowa in the second round on Sunday.
Trailing by 12 points with 44 seconds to play, the Aggies forced four Northern Iowa turnovers in five possessions and went on a 14-2 run to tie the score, completing what one website calculated was a 1-in-3,000 comeback. Texas A won in double overtime.
Though the Aggies have seasoned senior guards in Anthony Collins and Alex Caruso, the backcourt edge goes to Oklahoma's trio of Buddy Hield, Jordan Woodard and Isaiah Cousins, who have started 102 consecutive games together over the past three seasons along with forward Ryan Spangler.
Hield has made 46.3% of his three-point shots, 50.0% overall and 89.0% of his free throws. Woodard (44.1% three-point accuracy) and Cousins (43.0%) also are sharp shooters.
"You've got to get back defensively and protect the three-point line," Aggies Coach Billy Kennedy said. "We're a defensive-oriented team, but we haven't played a team that's as lethal offensively on the perimeter as they are."
Texas A is an elite defensive team, in part because of rangy and athletic forwards Danuel House and Jalen Jones. Oklahoma forward Khadeem Lattin, who has blocked 74 shots, can cause havoc on defense, and Spangler adds heft to the front line, but the Sooners will be without 7-foot backup center Akolda Manyang, who remains in Minnesota after the death of his brother.
The Aggies aren't nearly as accurate from three-point range (34.6% as a team) as Oklahoma, which ranks second nationally at 42.5%.
OKLAHOMA
Starters
Pos -- Player: Ht, Wt -- PPG
G -- Buddy Hield: 6-4, 214 --25.4
G -- Jordan Woodard: 6-0, 187 --12.8
G -- Isaiah Cousins: 6-4, 200 -- 13.1
F -- Ryan Spangler: 6-8, 234 -- 10.5
F -- Khadeem Lattin: 6-9, 208 -- 5.5
Key Reserves
Pos -- Player: Ht, Wt -- PPG
G -- Dinjiyl Walker: 6-1, 203 -- 3.6
G -- Christian James: 6-4, 218 -- 2.5
F -- Dante Buford: 6-7, 221 -- 3.6
C -- Jamuni McNeace: 6-10, 215 -- 1.1
TEXAS A
Starters
Pos -- Player: Ht, Wt -- PPG
G -- Danuel House: 6-7, 212 -- 15.8
G -- Alex Caruso: 6-5, 186 -- 8.1
G -- Anthony Collins: 6-1, 175 -- 4.5
F -- Jalen Jones: 6-7, 220 -- 15.4
C -Tyler Davis: 6-10, 265 -- 11.1
Key Reserves
Pos -- Player: Ht, Wt -- PPG
G -- Admon Gilder: 6-3, 186 -- 7.1
F -- Tavario Miller: 6-7, 226 -- 2.1
F -- DJ Hogg: 6-8, 216 -- 6.2
C -- Tony Trocha-Morelos: 6-10, 229 -- 7.2
