Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M prediction and preview. Who’s Got Next analyzes the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 matchup between the Sooners and Aggies.

How they got here

Oklahoma beat No. 15 CSU Bakersfield 82-68 in first round, beat No. 10 VCU 85-81 in second round; Texas A&M beat No. 14 Green Bay 92-65 in first round, beat No. 11 Northern Iowa 92-88 2OT in second round.

Why Oklahoma will win

All the hype goes to guard Buddy Hield, and rightfully so. The kid lights up the scoreboard like few players in recent memory, and his 36 points and seven rebounds in OU’s win over VCU in the second round showed just how dominant he can be. He can score inside and out, and he wants the ball when the clock is winding down. But Hield isn’t working by himself. When the Sooners are successful, Hield gets help inside from forward Ryan Spangler, a great rebounder who does his best work scoring on putbacks. Hield also needs guards Isaiah Cousins and Jordan Woodard to provide some balance and keep opponents honest. To get to the Elite Eight, Hield can’t be forced to have to do too much, and the Sooners have to take care of the basketball. OU is never out of a game thanks to Hield, but there needs to be balance for the Sooners to move on.

Why Texas A&M will win

The Aggies rose from the dead in the second round vs. Northern Iowa, rallying from a double-digit deficit in the final minute to force overtime, and then they won in double OT. Texas A&M pulled of the miracle by pressing late, and it showed the kind of defensive intensity this team can bring to the floor. The problem is it doesn’t always have that intensity, and that makes it vulnerable. The Aggies are guard-oriented and rely on Danuel House and Alex Caruso to do most of the damage. House can score in buckets, and although he’s a bit streaky, he can make shots from anywhere on the floor. He has to avoid getting into a duel with Hield because he needs to keep his teammates involved. Caruso, in particular, has to provide balance by being steady with the ball, and he has to find his teammates when they cut through the lane. Center Tyler Davis is a presence inside, and he will have to assert himself to give the Aggies an option down low.

Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M Prediction

Oklahoma has the best overall talent, and it has the size to beat the Aggies. TAMU showed what it is made of in the second round, but the Sooners play tough defense and have the kind of athleticism that will allow them to play any style.