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No. 18 Oklahoma visits Creighton Wednesday
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Published: 11/19/2014  at  4:37:00 AM
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OKLAHOMA SOONERS (1-0)

at CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS (2-0)

CenturyLink Center Omaha - Omaha, NE
Tip-off: Wednesday, 8:00 p.m.
Line: Oklahoma -5.5, Total: 155.5

No. 18 Oklahoma hits the road on Wednesday night to take on 2-0 Creighton.

The Sooners are being considered the sleeper team in the Big 12, and for good reason. Head coach Lon Kruger has done a terrific job in rebuilding the program back to a contender, and may have his most talented team yet. Oklahoma (19-12 ATS last season) got its season started off with a 78-53 victory against Southeastern Louisiana. The biggest thing for the Sooners was the way their defense played, holding the Lions to 53 points on only 33% shooting. Last year, Oklahoma allowed at least 80 points 15 times, going 8-7 in those games. The offense was tremendous, but the defense kept the Sooners from truly contending in the Big 12. That defense will be tested against a Creighton team that is averaging 94.0 PPG in its first two games. While Doug McDermott is no longer on the team, the Bluejays still have plenty of great shooters. Although favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points are 23-3 ATS (89%) in a game involving two teams who had good records (60% to 80%) from last season, with 3+ more starters returning from last season than the opponent, Creighton is 20-7 ATS (74%) after a win by 15+ points in the past three seasons, and 9-1 ATS (90%) after two straight 15-point wins in this same timeframe. The Sooners have no injuries of note, while the Bluejays are still without SG Avery Dingman (ankle).

Which high-scoring team will prevail on Wednesday night? For the latest college basketball picks, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks. The experts have begun the 2014-15 season with a bang, posting a collective 77% ATS mark (23-7) in Best Bets through Tuesday. All five experts are 67% ATS or better on Best Bets, led by StatFox Gary's perfect 6-0 ATS mark. StatFox Dave is 4-1 ATS, StatFox Zach is 5-2 ATS, and StatFox Brian and StatFox Scott are both 4-2 ATS to open the season.

The star player for Oklahoma is SG Buddy Hield, who had a huge season opener on Sunday with 25 points on a perfect 7-of-7 threes (school record) while pulling down seven rebounds (four offensive). The 6-foot-4 junior is capable of scoring from anywhere on the court, and showed that in the opener with nearly as many points as minutes played (28). The Sooners have a loaded backcourt, as Hield is joined by SG Isaiah Cousins, who opened the season with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. PG Jordan Woodard shot poorly in the victory (1-of-6 FG), but still wound up with seven points and game highs in both assists (seven) and steals (four). PF Ryan Spangler also posted a double-double for the Sooners with 11 points (4-of-6 FG) and 11 rebounds in 25 turnover-free minutes. Spangler is the leading returning rebounder in the conference, allowing the wings to leak out and get some easy transition opportunities.

Creighton has been thriving offensively with 94.0 PPG on 47% FG (34% threes) and 83% FT in its first two games. Balance has been key for the Bluejays, as six players are averaging at least nine points per contest. C Will Artino (17.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 62% FG) is the leading scorer on the team, and also has a team-high six steals. The 6-foot-11 senior gives the team a true post scorer, which is something the team has not had the past couple of seasons. He does a great job of getting position on the block, where he can finish over both shoulders. SGs Isaiah Zierden (17.0 PPG, 7-of-14 threes, 1.5 SPG) and Ricky Krekow (11.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG) are both talented players on the offensive end of the court, scoring in different ways. Zierden has the ability to hit the deep three-point shot, while Krekow is looking to attack the basket. This is a game that could easily see both teams approach the 80-point barrier.


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