In the calendar year 2018, the Oklahoma Sooners looked like they weren't missing a beat without Trae Young. Oklahoma dominated the non-conference portion of their schedule, dropping just one game. Oklahoma defeated the Wofford Terriers, Florida Gators, Southern California Trojans, and Creighton Bluejays. The Sooners went 12-1 in non-conference play and looked like they were ready to build on last year.

As soon as Big-12 play began, however, Oklahoma fell apart.

Oklahoma went just 7-11 in Big-12 play and was upset early in the Big 12 tournament by a young West Virginia Mountaineers team.

As the competition has stepped up, the Sooners have wilted. Those struggles pushed the Sooners down to be a 9 seed in the South, and if they were to knock off the Mississippi Rebels, they'd likely go up against the top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers in the second round.