#9 Oklahoma vs #8 UConn NCAAB Pick: Huskies Look to Keep Winning (Mar 21)

• Oklahoma was defeated in an 85-84 thriller by Kentucky in the SEC tourney.
• UConn bowed out of the Big East Semifinals against Creighton, losing 71-62.
• These teams last met on January 10, 2005, in a game that Oklahoma won 77-65.

Oklahoma and UConn clash in what should be a great game. The battle-tested Sooners enter as underdogs against the two-time defending champion Huskies. The winner of this game will likely find themselves matched up with 1-seed Florida, but they cannot look ahead too early.

Oklahoma Looks to Quiet Doubters

Oklahoma landed as a 9-seed, despite being a bubble team. Their 13-0 non-conference record draws a stark contrast to a 6-12 result in SEC play. Wins over Arizona, Michigan, and Louisville helped the Sooners to safely make it. They’ll aim to add another non-conference win vs UConn.

The Sooners are led on offense by Freshman Jeremiah Fears, who averages 17 points per game. Fears got red-hot down the stretch, averaging 22.6 ppg over his last 8 games. Fears has also scored 28 points or more in 3 of Oklahoma’s last 4 games. He will be crucial in this matchup.

UConn Wants the Threepeat

After winning the National Championship in 2023 and 2024 as a 4-seed and 1-seed, respectively, UConn faces a much tougher path this year. Sitting at an 8-seed, they draw a dangerous matchup against Oklahoma with a clash against 1-seed Florida only on the horizon.

Despite entering the tourney at 23-10, the Huskies were ranked #3 in the country in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, showing they have the talent to hang with the best. UConn has seen a lot of roster turnover during the past two years. Currently, Solo Ball leads the offense with 14.6 ppg.

Oklahoma Sooners vs UConn Huskies Pick

This game is a matchup between two sleeping giants that could go either way. Both have the potential to win not only this game but upset Florida and advance to the Sweet 16. While Oklahoma played well against non-conference opponents back in November and December, it’s a different landscape now. They’ve been flailing for a while. Take UConn to win this game.