Even if you’re not a fan of college basketball, it’s almost impossible to ignore the powerhouse that is The University of Oklahoma Sooners basketball team. Winning multiple Big 12 Championship titles and earning its well-deserved reputation as one of the most dominant forces in NCAA hoops history, OU Basketball has always been a force to be reckoned with.
Has Oklahoma Ever Won a National Championship in Basketball
Yes. The University of Oklahoma Sooners won the National Championship in both 1946 and 1948 . Both titles were won while coach Bruce Drake was at OU’s helm, making him the first ever person to win multiple NCAA National Championships as a college basketball head coach.
Who is Bruce Drake?
Bruce Drake is an American former college women’s basketball coach. He is best known for serving as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball team for fifteen years, from 1947 to 1962. During his tenure Drake led the Lady Sooners to three consecutive AIAW National Championships (1972-74), making him one of only a few coaches in NCAA history to have won multiple national titles in both men’s and women’s basketball.
What is the Difference Between 1946 and 1948?
The National Championship in 1946 (with Drake as assistant coach) was won by an Oklahoma A&M team that had no relation to current University of Oklahoma athletics. The Sooners’ first NCAA title came under Dick Romney in 1948.
Most Notable Players in OU History
The University of Oklahoma Sooners have had several notable players both in its past and present program. Here are some of the names you need to know if you’re a fan of OU basketball: Stacey King, Wayman Tisdale, Blake Griffin, Mookie Blaylock, Harvey Grant, Alvan Adams, Merv Johnson, Tommy Mason-Griffin, Wayman Strickland, Hollis Price, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Buddy Hield.
Who is the Most Successful Coach in Oklahoma History?
There have been five head coaches of the University of Oklahoma Sooners basketball team. As a team, they have won a combined total of six NCAA Division I national once and nine Big 12 Conference championships.
Of those coaches, Bruce Drake was the first to win multiple National Championships as well as being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In terms of winning percentage, Eddie Sutton holds that title among head coaches at OU.
What Are the Highest Attendance Games in OU History?
The University of Oklahoma’s Lloyd Noble Center is a 13,611-seat multi-purpose arena that has been home to the team since it opened on March 4 , 1984 . There have been several games throughout the Sooners’ history that drew sellouts or near sellouts. The highest attendance numbers ever recorded at a basketball game was during a Big 12 Conference matchup against the Texas Longhorns on February 13 , 2003 . The Sooners won that game by a final score of 84 – 82.
What is the Sooners’ All-Time Record?
The University of Oklahoma Sooners have an all-time record of 1,630 wins and 870 losses.
Over its history, the Sooners have made 30 appearances in the NCAA Tournament , reaching the Final Four three times ( 1946, 1948, 1988 ) and appearing in 13 Championship games , winning the title in 1946 and 1948.
In addition, OU has made a total of 25 appearances in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) , reaching the Finals on three occasions ( 1941, 1969, 1996 ) and having won it twice ( 1941, 1996).
Oklahoma was also retroactively recognized as the 1939 National Champion by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll .
Who is Currently the Head Coach at OU?
Currently, the head coach of the University of Oklahoma Sooners is Lon Kruger. He has been coaching at OU since the 2015 season and in his second year led them to their first Final Four since 2002 when they lost in overtime to Villanova in the National Championship game.
Oklahoma is coming off two straight losing seasons, finishing 11-20 (8-10) last year and 17-15 (7-11) the prior season. The Sooners were 10th place in both years of conference play under Kruger but won one more game on average than they lost during the regular season.
What is Oklahoma’s All-Time Record in Postseason Play?
In postseason play, the University of Oklahoma Sooners have a record of 70 wins and 61 losses.
In addition to their two NCAA Championships, they have appeared in four Final Fours ( 1946, 1948, 1988 , 2002 ) and been to the NIT Finals 13 times, winning twice ( 1941, 1996 ).
They also won the Preseason NIT in 2012.
