Final Four: Sooners & Wildcats Tied In All-Time Series

<p>Oklahoma and Villanova have clashed&nbsp;on the basketball court three times in the past with the Sooners owning a 2-1 all-time advantage. Here's a breakdown of those three games.&nbsp;</p>

Thursday, March 31st 2016, 7:10 pm

By: Brett Coppenbarger


When OU and Villanova clash in the Final Four on Saturday, it won’t be a familiar occasion for the two college basketball programs. Despite the Sooners and Wildcats squaring off once already this season, it was only the fourth time these two teams have ever played with the all-time series tied at 2-2.

With the fifth and most important matchup nearing, here’s a recap of the first four times these teams met for battle:

2015: No. 7 Oklahoma 78 No. 9 Villanova 55

On a neutral court at Pearl Harbor, the Sooners blew the Wildcats out of the building as OU shot 53.8 percent from behind the arc while also out-rebounding (41-33) and out-assisting (18-8) the Wildcats. OU outscored Villanova by 17 in the second half on the way to its 23-point win.

Isaiah Cousins led the Sooners with 19 points, 10 assists and six rebounds while shooting 4-for-4 from three-point range. Buddy Hield scored 18 points while Ryan Spangler notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

No Villanova player scored more than 10 points as the Wildcats shot 4-for-32 from downtown.

2006: Villanova 67 Oklahoma 51

After signing with Oklahoma before switching the Villanova, Scottie Reynolds let the Sooners knew what they missed out on as he scored 10 points to help lead the Wildcats to a win at Lloyd Noble Center in Jeff Capel’s first year as head coach at OU.

Mike Nardi led Villanova with 23 points while Curtis Sumpter added 14 of his own. Future pro Dante Cunningham was a factor as well with eight points.

Villanova got up double-digits after a 15-to-2 run in the first half and OU was unable to mount a comeback despite Tony Crocker’s then career-high of 19 points. Longar Longar added 12 points for OU while Austin Johnson was next in line with eight points.

Oklahoma committed 18 turnovers in the loss. 

2005: No. 4 Villanova 85 No. 5 Oklahoma 74

The Sooners had to hit the road for Pennsylvania to take on a very good Villanova team led by star guard Randy Foye. OU was led by Taj Gray and Kevin Bookout, who combined to score 27 of OU’s 39 points in the second half but the Wildcats scored 50 points after intermission to get the best of the Sooners.

Foye scored a career-high 32 points on 14-for-21 shooting while Allan Ray added 21 and Kyle Lowry contributed 10 of his own. The Wildcats shot 57 percent in the game and forced the Sooners into 17 turnovers.

Terrell Everett had 11 points and nine assists for OU while Michael Neal added eight points off the bench.

1988: Oklahoma 78 Villanova 59

Stacey King led the Sooners to a regional final win over the Wildcats on the way to the 1988 Final Four. This was a fun Oklahoma team that also featured Mookie Blaylock, who added 14 points and five rebounds, while Harvey Grant scored 12 points. Ricky Grace (9pts, 5ast) and Dave Sieger (8pts, 6ast) also played heavy minutes in the win.

Doug West scored 18 points to lead Villanova while Kenny Wilson added 15 points. Rodney Taylor only scored two points in the game but grabbed 11 rebounds as the Wildcats were out-assisted 18-to-11.

OU coach Billy Tubbs later said the Sooners had to go into the Final Four that year very fatigued, and the Elite Eight game against Villanova was awesome, but not well-attended.

2006: Villanova 67 Oklahoma 51

After signing with Oklahoma before switching the Villanova, Scottie Reynolds let the Sooners knew what they missed out on as he scored 10 points to help lead the Wildcats to a win at Lloyd Noble Center in Jeff Capel’s first year as head coach at OU.

Mike Nardi led Villanova with 23 points while Curtis Sumpter added 14 of his own. Future pro Dante Cunningham was a factor as well with eight points.

Villanova got up double-digits after a 15-to-2 run in the first half and OU was unable to mount a comeback despite Tony Crocker’s then career-high of 19 points. Longar Longar added 12 points for OU while Austin Johnson was next in line with eight points.

Oklahoma committed 18 turnovers in the loss. 

2005: No. 4 Villanova 85 No. 5 Oklahoma 74

The Sooners had to hit the road for Pennsylvania to take on a very good Villanova team led by star guard Randy Foye. OU was led by Taj Gray and Kevin Bookout, who combined to score 27 of OU’s 39 points in the second half but the Wildcats scored 50 points after intermission to get the best of the Sooners.

Foye scored a career-high 32 points on 14-for-21 shooting while Allan Ray added 21 and Kyle Lowry contributed 10 of his own. The Wildcats shot 57 percent in the game and forced the Sooners into 17 turnovers.

Terrell Everett had 11 points and nine assists for OU while Michael Neal added eight points off the bench.

1988: Oklahoma 78 Villanova 59

Stacey King led the Sooners to a regional final win over the Wildcats on the way to the 1988 Final Four. This was a fun Oklahoma team that also featured Mookie Blaylock, who added 14 points and five rebounds, while Harvey Grant scored 12 points. Ricky Grace (9pts, 5ast) and Dave Sieger (8pts, 6ast) also played heavy minutes in the win.

Doug West scored 18 points to lead Villanova while Kenny Wilson added 15 points. Rodney Taylor only scored two points in the game but grabbed 11 rebounds as the Wildcats were out-assisted 18-to-11.

OU coach Billy Tubbs later said the Sooners had to go into the Final Four that year very fatigued, and the Elite Eight game against Villanova was awesome, but not well-attended.

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Oklahoma and Villanova have clashed on the basketball court three times in the past with the Sooners owning a 2-1 all-time advantage. Here's a breakdown of those three games. 

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