Free throws help turn tide for Sooners

Over the last two seasons, Oklahoma has struggled to close out games with late free throws.

But in Saturday’s 73-68 win over TCU at Lloyd Noble Center, the Sooners excelled at the line late and held off the Horned Frogs.

Oklahoma was 7-for-8 from the line in the final minute, which included a pair by that gave the Sooners the lead for good with 55 seconds remaining.

McGusty had missed a couple free throws in the closing seconds that could’ve given Oklahoma the lead at Texas on Jan. 23 but wasn’t about to let something similar happen again.

“I felt like I had a lot of confidence,” McGusty said. “The team had a lot of confidence. We gave off the positive vibe and knew we were going to win that game.”

The Sooners were 17 of 22 from the line while TCU was just 4 of 9.

Odomes’ absence leads to rotation adjustments

Without in the lineup Saturday, Oklahoma coach had to use some pairings that he hasn’t used much this season.

He went to that early when he paired reserve

forwards

and with starter

on the first change and stuck with the bigger lineup for about five minutes. He also used point guards

and together for a time, with Shepherd playing shooting guard.

Kruger said the adjustment was dictated by Odomes’ absence. The sophomore is averaging 27 minutes.

“When you take that out, you gotta kind of patch it together,” Kruger said. “I thought the other guys did a great job.”

Odomes didn’t practice Thursday and Friday due to back spasms, but Kruger said he expected him to be able to play Wednesday.

Seniors get brief court time

On the Sooners’ Senior Day, it wasn’t until 2.1 seconds remained in the game that any seniors got on the floor for Oklahoma.

That’s when, with OU up five, and

were inserted. “Daniel and C.J. have been hugely important to this program,” Kruger said. “These guys (their teammates) understand that and appreciate them even more than what a normal fan would because every day they’re about making their teammates better and doing whatever they can to challenge every day in practice.” The Sooners’ other senior,

watched the game from the bench after undergoing surgery to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament a little more than a week earlier. Woodard’s sister,

sang the national anthem.