2016–17 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team


The 2016–17 Oklahoma Sooners basketball team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Sooners were led by Lon Kruger in his sixth season. They played their home games at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma as a member of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 11–20, 5–13 in Big 12 play to finish in ninth place. They lost in the first round of the Big 12 tournament to TCU.

2016–17 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record11–20 (5–13 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaLloyd Noble Center
Seasons
2016–17 Big 12 men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 3 Kansas162 .889315 .861
No. 13 West Virginia126 .667289 .757
No. 12 Baylor126 .667278 .771
No. 16 Iowa State126 .6672411 .686
Oklahoma State99 .5002013 .606
Kansas State810 .4442114 .600
Texas Tech612 .3331814 .563
TCU612 .3332415 .615
Oklahoma513 .2781120 .355
Texas414 .2221122 .333
2017 Big 12 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll[1]

Previous season

The Sooners finished the 2015–16 season 29–8, 12–6 in Big 12 play to finish in third place in conference. They defeated Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament before losing to West Virginia in the semifinals. The Sooners received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Cal State Bakersfield, VCU, Texas A&M, and Oregon to advance to the Final Four for the fifth time in school history. At the Final Four, they lost in the national semifinal to the eventual champion Villanova by 44 points, the largest margin in Final Four history.[2]

Following the season, senior guard and player of the year winner Buddy Hield graduated and was selected as the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.[3]

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Ryan Spangler00F6'8"234RS SeniorBridge Creek, OKGraduated
Dinjiyl Walker2G6'1"203SeniorVaughan, ONGraduated
Isaiah Cousins11G6'4"200SeniorMount Vernon, NYGraduated/2016 NBA draft
Bola Alade14G6'4"193RS FreshmanPlano, TXWalk-on; transferred to Texas–San Antonio
Buddy Hield24G6'3"214SeniorEight Mile Rock, BahamasGraduated/2016 NBA draft
Akolda Manyang30C7'0"243JuniorRochester, MNDismissed from the team due to felony assault; transferred to Utah Valley[4]
Austin Mankin41F6'7"210JuniorCoppell, TXGraduate transferred to Harding

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Darrion Strong0G6'2"180JuniorChicago, ILJunior college transfer from Coffeyville Community College

Recruits

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Kameron McGusty
#10 SG
Katy, TXSunrise Christian Academy (KS)6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)165 lb (75 kg)Jul 20, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Kristian Doolittle
#17 PF
Edmond, OKEdmond Memorial High School6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg)Dec 2, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Matt Freeman
PF
Auckland, New ZealandWestlake High School6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)200 lb (91 kg)Aug 6, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247Sports:    ESPNN/A
Jordan Shepherd
PG
Asheville, NCAsheville Christian Academy6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg)Aug 6, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247Sports:    ESPNN/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Oklahoma 2016 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  • "2016 Oklahoma Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  • "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.

2017 Recruits

US college sports recruiting information for 2017 recruits
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Trae Young
#4 PG
Norman, OKNorman North High School6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg)Feb 16, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 93
Brady Manek
#30 PF
Harrah, OKHarrah High School6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)235 lb (107 kg)Oct 22, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 81
Hannes Polla
C
Lathi, FinlandHelsinki Basketball Academy (FI)6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)265 lb (120 kg)Sep 8, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 80
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

2016–17 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G0Darrion Strong6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg)JrCoffeyville CCChicago, IL
F1Rashard Odomes6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)200 lb (91 kg)SoCopperas CoveCopperas Cove, TX
G3Christian James6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)218 lb (99 kg)SoBellaireHouston, TX
C4Jamuni McNeace6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)215 lb (98 kg)RS SoAllenAllen, TX
F5Matt Freeman  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)217 lb (98 kg)FrWestlake BoysAuckland, New Zealand
G10Jordan Woodard6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)187 lb (85 kg)SrEdmond MemorialArcadia, OK
F11Kristian Doolittle6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)FrEdmond MemorialEdmond, OK
F12Khadeem Lattin6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)208 lb (94 kg)JrRedemption Christian HomeschoolHouston, TX
G13Jordan Shepherd6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg)FrAsheville ChristianAsheville, NC
G15Grant Quinn (W)6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg)FrLiberty ChristianArgyle, TX
G20Kameron McGusty6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg)FrSunrise ChristianKaty, TX
F21Dante Buford6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)221 lb (100 kg)RS SoArlington Country DayJacksonville, FL
G22Daniel Harper (W)6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg)RS SrNormanNorman, OK
F25C. J. Cole (W)6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)245 lb (111 kg)RS SrSperrySperry, OK
F30Marshall Thrope (W)6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)235 lb (107 kg)RS FrBishop KelleyTulsa, OK
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule

[5]

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordSite (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
11/08/2016*
7:00 pm, SSTV
WashburnW 84–64 
Lloyd Noble Center (7,789)
Norman, OK
Regular season
11/13/2016*
4:00 pm, SSTV
Northwestern StateW 97–61 1–0
Lloyd Noble Center (8,456)
Norman, OK
11/17/2016*
6:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Tulane
Tire Pros Invitational quarterfinals
W 89–70 2–0
HP Field House 
Orlando, FL
11/18/2016*
6:30 pm, ESPNU
vs. Northern Iowa
Tire Pros Invitational semifinals
L 67–73 OT2–1
HP Field House 
Orlando, FL
11/20/2016*
4:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Clemson
Tire Pros Invitational 3rd place game
W 70–64 3–1
HP Field House 
Orlando, FL
11/25/2016*
2:00 pm, SSTV
Abilene ChristianW 72–64 4–1
Lloyd Noble Center (9,303)
Norman, OK
11/29/2016*
7:00 pm, SSTV
Northern ColoradoW 87–67 5–1
Lloyd Noble Center (7,579)
Norman, OK
12/03/2016*
12:00 pm, BTN
at No. 17 WisconsinL 70–90 5–2
Kohl Center (17,287)
Madison, WI
12/07/2016*
7:00 pm, SSTV
Oral RobertsW 92–66 6–2
Lloyd Noble Center 
Norman, OK
12/10/2016*
3:00 pm, ESPN2
vs. Wichita State
All-College Basketball Classic
L 73–76 6–3
Chesapeake Energy Arena (11,157)
Oklahoma City, OK
12/17/2016*
11:30 am, CBS
MemphisL 94–99 OT6–4
Lloyd Noble Center (9,081)
Norman, OK
12/21/2016*
7:30 pm, CBSSN
vs. Auburn
Basketball Hall of Fame's Birthday of Basketball
L 70–74 6–5
Mohegan Sun Arena (3,462)
Uncasville, CT
12/30/2016
6:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 4 BaylorL 50–76 6–6
(0–1)
Lloyd Noble Center (10,254)
Norman, OK
01/03/2017
8:00 pm, ESPNU
at TCUL 57–60 6–7
(0–2)
Schollmaier Arena (5,576)
Fort Worth, TX
01/07/2017
2:00 pm, ESPNews
at Kansas StateL 64–75 6–8
(0–3)
Bramlage Coliseum (12,295)
Manhattan, KS
01/10/2017
8:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 2 KansasL 70–81 6–9
(0–4)
Lloyd Noble Center (9,788)
Norman, OK
01/14/2017
7:30 pm, ESPNU
Texas TechW 84–75 7–9
(1–4)
Lloyd Noble Center (8,601)
Norman, OK
01/18/2017
6:00 pm, ESPN2
at No. 7 West VirginiaW 89–87 OT8–9
(2–4)
WVU Coliseum (11,895)
Morgantown, WV
01/21/2017
1:00 pm, ESPN
Iowa StateL 87–92 8–10
(2–5)
Lloyd Noble Center (9,673)
Norman, OK
01/23/2017
8:00 pm, ESPN
at TexasL 83–84 8–11
(2–6)
Frank Erwin Center (10,898)
Austin, TX
01/28/2017*
1:00 pm, ESPN
No. 25 Florida
Big 12/SEC Challenge
L 52–84 8–12
Lloyd Noble Center (10,859)
Norman, OK
01/30/2017
8:00 pm, ESPN
Oklahoma State
Bedlam Series
L 66–68 8–13
(2–7)
Lloyd Noble Center (10,103)
Norman, OK
02/04/2017
6:00 pm, ESPNU
at Texas TechL 69–77 8–14
(2–8)
United Supermarkets Arena (10,194)
Lubbock, TX
02/08/2017
8:00 pm, ESPN
No. 13 West VirginiaL 50–61 8–15
(2–9)
Lloyd Noble Center (8,608)
Norman, OK
02/11/2017
5:00 pm, ESPN2
at Iowa StateL 64–80 8–16
(2–10)
Hilton Coliseum (14,384)
Ames, IA
02/14/2017
8:00 pm, ESPN2
TexasW 70–66 9–16
(3–10)
Lloyd Noble Center (7,545)
Norman, OK
02/18/2017
7:00 pm, ESPNU
at Oklahoma State
Bedlam Series
L 92–96 9–17
(3–11)
Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611)
Stillwater, OK
02/21/2017
6:00 pm, ESPN2
at No. 9 BaylorL 54–60 9–18
(3–12)
Ferrell Center (6,135)
Waco, TX
02/25/2017
5:00 pm, ESPNU
Kansas StateW 81–51 10–18
(4–12)
Lloyd Noble Center (10,181)
Norman, OK
02/27/2017
8:00 pm, ESPN
at No. 1 KansasL 67-77 10–19
(4–13)
Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
03/04/2017
2:00 pm, ESPNews
TCUW 73–68 11–19
(5–13)
Lloyd Noble Center (9,526)
Norman, OK
Big 12 tournament
03/08/2017
6:00 pm, ESPNU
(9) vs. (8) TCU
First round
L 63–82 11–20
Sprint Center (18,972)
Kansas City, MO
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

x- Sooner Sports Television (SSTV) is aired locally on Fox Sports. However the contract allows games to air on various affiliates. Those affiliates are FSSW, FSSW+, FSOK, FSOK+, and FCS Atlantic, Central, and Pacific.

References