Oklahoma Could be a Swing Game for BYU Basketball

On Tuesday night, no. 22 BYU basketball takes on the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman. Oklahoma is the ninth game o the schedule and it marks the middle point of BYU's 18-game conference. For BYU, who is 4-4 in conference play, the Oklahoma could be a swing game that leads to a rise up the conference standings.

BYU is nearing the lighter stretch of its schedule, but it has to take on Oklahoma first.

BYU had one of the most difficult schedules in the conference over the first six games of conference play. The Cougars were competitive in every game, leading five out of six games at halftime, but second half struggles and failures resulted in a 2-4 record.

BYU bounced back on their home court with a convincing win over Texas. The Cougars carried that momentum on the road with another convincing win over West Virginia. Through eight games, BYU is 4-4 with a critical stretch of games on the horizon, and it looks like BYU might have figured out how to close games against these tough Big 12 teams.

If BYU can pull off a win over Oklahoma on the road, the Cougars would be 5-4 with three winnable games to come. After Oklahoma, BYU hosts Kansas State and UCF before traveling to Oklahoma State. KenPom gives BYU an 87% chance to beat Kansas State, an 86% chance to beat UCF, and an 83% chance to Oklahoma State. In total, KenPom gives BYU a 62% chance to go 3-0 in that stretch.

Winning games is incredibly difficult in this conference. Just ask no. 4 Kansas who lost to Kansas State on Monday night. You can't chalk up any wins until the final buzzer sounds. However, if BYU is going to finish .500 or better in conference play, the Cougars have to take advantage of this stretch. There won't be another stretch like it the rest of the way.

It all starts with Oklahoma. If BYU can beat Oklahoma, going 3-1 or even 4-0 over those four games is very attainable. That would put BYU at 7-4 or 8-4 in conference play and competing for a high seed in the NCAA tournament.

Facebook - @CougsDaily

Twitter - @Cougs_Daily and Casey Lundquist at @casey_lundquist

Instagram - @cougs_daily