Young continues to move up freshman lists for Sooners

NORMAN — After Tuesday’s performance, Sooners freshman point guard

Trae Young figures to become Oklahoma’s all-time freshman leader in assists Saturday.

Young scored 27 points and had nine assists in the Sooners’ 75-65 win over Texas Tech in front of 8,801 at Lloyd Noble Center. Young tied Jordan Woodard for second on the Sooners’ freshman list with 152.

He’s just two assists behind Tommy Mason-Griffin for the top spot at 154.

Young also tied Mason-Griffin for seventh-place on Oklahoma’s freshman scoring list with 438 for the year.

Next up for Young on that list is Alvan Adams, at 464.

Wayman Tisdale is OU’s all-time freshman leading scorer with 810 points.

After the game, Sooners coach Lon Kruger said he’d like to give Young more time away from the point.

“As we go into it, we’ll probably do that, let him play off the ball more,” Kruger said. “Anything to try to keep up with what the defenses are doing, continue what works and then try to adjust as we need to and anticipate what they’re going to do to stop (Young).”

Official leaves game

About five minutes into the second half, during a stoppage, official Bert Smith came over and had a discussion with longtime Oklahoma trainer Alex Brown.

After a brief discussion, Smith and Brown walked into the tunnel as the game continued with only two officials.

Brown soon returned to the bench as Smith left with Oklahoma team doctor

Brock Schnebel.

Smith did not return, leaving with an apparent hamstring injury.

Up next: TCU

Oklahoma hosts No. 16 at home at noon Saturday in a sold-out Lloyd Noble Center in a game that will be televised on ESPNU.

The Sooners knocked off the then-No. 10 Horned Frogs 90-89 on Dec. 30 in Fort Worth. TCU has never won in Norman.

This is the earliest the Sooners have faced an opponent for the second time since taking on West Virginia on Jan. 5, 2013, though the first meeting between the schools that year was a non-conference contest.

The Mountaineers had agreed to play in the Old Spice Classic before moving from the Big East to the Big 12. Saturday’s game is a continuation of a tough early-season schedule for Oklahoma. Tuesday night, the Sooners played a top-10 opponent for the third time in four games.

Oklahoma has played four games already against top-10 opponents, going 3-1. Tuesday was the first of those games at home.

Doolittle continues to progress

Sophomore forward

Kristian Doolittle kept making strides Tuesday, playing a season-high 21 minutes and scoring four points with three rebounds.

As importantly, the Sooners outscored Texas Tech by 16 when he was on the floor.

“He’s not 100 percent but he’s working that direction,” Kruger said. “Doo’s a guy that talks on the floor, he’s a guy that anticipates well on the floor, we need him to do those things on the floor.”

With Doolittle’s progression, Matt Freeman played a season-low six minutes while starter

Brady Manek also played a season-low 13 minutes.

Manek scored just four points after being held scoreless Saturday against West Virginia.