OU Basketball: Sooners announce non-conference schedule

NORMAN- The Oklahoma Sooners have released their non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2020 basketball season.

In preparation for the Big 12 conference grind, the Sooners will play host to SEC foes Alabama and Florida, as well as taking road trips to visit Xavier and UCF.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to begin competing again and are excited for the matchups on our schedule,” said head coach Lon Kruger in a press release. “While some things may look different this season, one constant is how tough the Big 12 will continue to be.”

“We believe this set of games will prepare our team for the depth and challenge of the Big 12.”

Oklahoma will open the season at home against UTSA, a squad coached by former Kruger assistant Steve Henson. 

The Sooners will then hit the road to face UCF in a rematch of last season’s 53-52 thriller at the Lloyd Noble Center.

After the trip to Orlando, Oklahoma will host Florida in the first leg of the home-and-home series between the two programs. The Sooners last played the Gators in the 2018 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, topping Florida 65-60.

A trip to Xavier will be Oklahoma’s final road test of the non-conference schedule. The Sooners meet the Musketeers as a part of this year’s Big 12/Big East battle. Oklahoma dropped their portion of the Big 12/Big East battle last season at Creighton 83-73.

Kruger’s squad will return to the Lloyd Noble Center for their final three contests before heading into Big 12 play. 

The Sooners will host Florida A&M and Houston Baptist before gearing up to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

Oklahoma last faced Alabama in January of 2018, with the Trae Young led Sooners falling 80-73 to Collin Sexton’s Crimson Tide.

In conjunction with the non-conference schedule, the Sooners also announced the Lloyd Noble Center would play host to crowds this season limited to approximately 25 percent capacity. Seating capacities are subject to change per the press release. 

The entire schedule, including the dates and times for all of Oklahoma’s conference games will be released at a later date.