After winning its first 13 games and vaulting to No. 12 in the AP poll, Oklahoma has done a 180, losing each of its first four games as a new member of the Southeastern Conference.
But the Sooners (13-4, 0-4) won’t be the only team looking for its first SEC win Saturday in Norman as they host South Carolina (10-7, 0-4) in a matchup of teams yet to win in 2025.
Wednesday night in a 77-73 loss at home to Texas, Oklahoma trailed by 23 points early in the second half before staging a too-little, too-late rally.
“That first 25 minutes was unacceptable toughness and effort,” Sooners coach Porter Moser said. “There’s no excuse, starting with me.”
It was the second straight home game in which Oklahoma committed a season-high 18 turnovers. Against the Longhorns, Sooners guards Jeremiah Fears and Duke Miles had six turnovers apiece.
Fears has had sensational moments, such as his game-winning four-point play to cap a 30-point performance in an 87-86 victory last month over then-No. 24 Michigan. But this is the freshman’s first go-round in conference play.
The Sooners will turn to Fears (16.8 points per game) and top scorer Jalon Moore (18.1) to pull them out of their funk. Against Texas, Moore’s career-high 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting went for naught.
South Carolina is struggling, as well, after posting a 26-8 record and making the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Gamecocks have had a challenging SEC schedule, falling to Auburn, Alabama and Mississippi State, all of whom are currently ranked in the top 15.
On Wednesday, South Carolina fell at Vanderbilt 66-63 as the Gamecocks committed 25 turnovers, their most in a game since 2011.
“You can’t turn the ball over like that,” Gamecocks coach Lamont Paris said. “I think we have to go back to the drawing board.”
South Carolina will look to its leaders, Collin Murray-Boyles (15.6 points, 9.1 rebounds) and Jamarii Thomas (12.3 points).
Last Saturday, Murray-Boyles scored 25 points as the Gamecocks threw a scare into then-No. 2 Auburn in a 66-63 loss.
With Oklahoma new to the SEC, this is the Sooners’ first meeting with South Carolina since 1992. Oklahoma leads the all-time series 4-1.
