What can OU learn from loss at Kansas? Here's why Bill Self says Sooners are 'really good'

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Bill Self let out a tired groan as he sat down for his postgame press conference.

The Kansas head coach and his players got pushed to their limit by OU on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse. The Sooners led by 10 points with 5:19 left in the contest, but the No. 2-ranked Jayhawks did just enough to rally and escape with a 79-75 win.

It marked a painstakingly-close loss for the Sooners, who hoped to earn their first win in Lawrence since 1993. And as Self looked over the box score, he couldn't help but give the opposition its due credit.

"They did everything you're supposed to do to win a game on the road," Self said of the Sooners. "They did a lot of good things... If you look across the board, what else could they have done a lot better?"

OU is probably also asking itself that.

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Kansas basketball win streak at Allen Fieldhouse vs. OU reaches 22 games

The Sooners have now lost 22 straight games at Allen Fieldhouse. But if Self's praise isn't enough, they can also take solace in knowing they've been this close to snapping their 30-year drought for a second straight season.

It was OU that made the late push in last season's game at Kansas. The Sooners trailed 67-59 with 1:32 remaining, but Jordan Goldwire erupted for eight straight points down the stretch.

Goldwire then attempted a game-tying mid-range jumper at the buzzer only to watch it rim out, sealing Kansas' 71-69 win.

That same grittiness was also displayed Tuesday by an OU team that fell just a few plays short of victory.

"They've got great coaching, great players and guys who know how to play basketball," said Kansas forward Jalen Wilson, who is a returner. "They don't really make too many mistakes... They just make you have to make tough shots."

Of OU's 22 straight losses at Allen Fieldhouse, only six have been by fewer than five points.

Two of those games have been the last two meetings under second-year OU head coach Porter Moser.

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"Porter can really coach," Self said. "He took Loyola to the Final Four... He's a terrific coach. They're going to be really good. Their players, to me, look like they like each other. They play well together, and they're definitely tough."

Moser displayed a strong game plan against Kansas in his first two trips to Lawrence as OU's head coach.

KenPom.com rankings shine spotlight on OU vs Kansas

In both meetings, the Sooners placed an emphasis on their transition defense.

Since KenPom first began keeping track of the stat in 2010, Kansas has ranked top 75 in the nation all but one season for the shortest average possession length. Self's Jayhawks like to run, but the Sooners have limited fastbreak opportunities under Moser by getting three to four players back in transition.

Kansas averaged 12.3 fastbreak points per game last season. It only scored six fastbreak points against OU in its 2022 meeting at Lawrence.

Kansas is averaging 13.2 fastbreak points per game this season. It got held to eight fastbreak points Tuesday.

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The Jayhawks didn't have many answers to the Sooners' defense Tuesday aside from getting to the free-throw line. They went 31-for-39 from the charity stripe (79.5%).

"They're comfortable playing at a pace to slows people down," Self said of OU. "They take care of the ball, for the most part, so you don't get run-outs... Our only way to score was to drive it. That was our strategy, was try to get to the free-throw line."

Even with a proper game plan and good execution for 35 minutes, a win at Allen Fieldhouse still eluded OU Tuesday.

It's a feeling the Sooners share with a number of other teams that have been tasked with facing the Self-led Jayhawks in Lawrence. In his 20 years as Kansas' head coach, Self is 301-16 at home.

The Sooners have contributed to that total a lot lately. Still, their recent valiant efforts haven't gone unnoticed.

"We just found a way," Self said. "But give OU credit. They were good."

OU vs. West Virginia

TIPOFF: 11 a.m. Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman (ESPN2)

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Kansas basketball coach Bill Self praises Porter Moser, OU Sooners