NCAA Profile: Oklahoma Sooners

Team: Oklahoma Sooners

Conference: Big-12

Coach: Lon Kruger

Record: 25-7, 12-6

KenPom Ranking: 7

Good wins: Wisconsin, Villanova, Hawaii, Iowa State (sweep), West Virginia (sweep), Baylor (sweep), Texas Tech, Texas

Impact Players: Buddy Hield (one of the front runners for National Player of the Year; 25.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 50% shooting, 90% from the free throw line, 46% from downtown), Isaiah Cousins (13.0 ppg), Jordan Woodard (12.6 ppg), Ryan Spangler (10.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg)

How did they get in?: Oklahoma finished in third place in a loaded Big 12 and also held the number one ranking in the AP Poll back in January. They are ranked 6th in the RPI, own 13 top 100 wins and are 7-4 against the RPI top 25. They had the 17th toughest schedule in the nation and took Kansas to the brink (three overtimes) at The Phog.

How far can this team go in the NCAA Tournament?: The Sooners could find themselves in Houston in April because of two reasons: Hield and the region they are in. Hield is a top notch scorer with unlimited range and the ability to drop 20 in his sleep.

Meanwhile, the Sooners are in the easiest region (the West) with Oregon, Texas A&M, Baylor and Duke looming as the only possible contenders. And all of those teams have their flaws just like the Sooners.

The problem with Oklahoma is they can shoot themselves out of games. If the three ball isn't falling, they don't rely on their defense and they don't have enough scoring in the post to earn a victory. This is a squad that can lose in the second round or cut down the nets when it's all set and done.

Last time in the NCAA Tournament: 2015, they lost to Michigan State in the regional semifinal (Sweet 16)