The Sooners jumped from No. 11 to No. 6 in the Associated Press poll and from No. 13 to No. 6 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches version. They began the year ranked No. 12 and 14, respectively.
Ahead of Oklahoma in both polls are No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Connecticut, No. 3 Pittsburgh, No. 4 Duke and No. 5 Gonzaga.
This marks OU's first top-10 AP ranking since Dec. 20, 2005, and the Sooners' highest AP ranking since Nov. 29, 2005 (were ranked No. 5). They have been ranked higher in only three seasons (2001-02, 2002-03 and 2005-06) since the 1989-90 campaign.
Oklahoma posted victories over UAB (77-67) and top-10 Purdue (87-82 in overtime) last week at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Blake Griffin was named the tournament's most outstanding player and was joined on the all-tournament team by his brother, Taylor.
OU is one of only two schools in the country (Texas is the other) with its men's and women's basketball and football teams all ranked in the AP top 10. The Sooners' men's and women's hoops teams are both ranked No. 6, while the football team is No. 4.
Jeff Capel's Sooners host preseason top-25 opponent USC this Thursday at 6 p.m. CST in a Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series matchup. A limited number of tickets are available (for as little as $10 apiece) at the OU Athletics Ticket Office (800-456-4668) or online at www.SoonerSports.com.