They aren’t exactly mirror images – but pretty darn close. Sean Miller’s Arizona Wildcats and the Oklahoma Sooners.

They face one another in Norman, Okla., in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series on Sunday afternoon. If this year’s history is any indication on any outcome, Arizona has its work cut out for it. The Big 12 has been rolling on the Pac-10.

Young, inexperienced teams with a couple of seniors and juniors and a host of sophomores and freshmen. Don’t expect a game of poetry in motion but a game where the team that has the fewest mistakes will win.

Remember that Oklahoma is at home and that alone means it has about a five-to-seven point edge. Oklahoma is a 7 to 7.5 point favorite.

UA coach Sean Miller said even though Oklahoma has some new faces the program has established itself to where even though the “faces change the results will be the same.’’

Miller called the Sooners tough and physical just not as deep in the past. Ditto for Arizona save for the consistency on the tough and physical part.

Prediction: Oklahoma by nine.

***

Already this season, Arizona has seen some of the best play from junior Jamelle Horne; it’s also seen some of his most mediocre. On Wednesday against UNLV, it was as though Horne was invisible. Save for his 10 rebounds (did anyone even notice?) he wasn’t a factor in what was a winnable game for Arizona. And, to be honest had he hit that 3-pointer in the waning seconds of the second overtime, UA would now be 4-2 and not 3-3. It was all but in, but bounced out. But, …

“Jamalle has to get more comfortable 15 and in,’’ Miller said, “using that great athletic ability he has. We’re working on that.’’

Horne needs to step it up. Two seasons ago, interim coach Kevin O’Neill talked about Horne’s need for consistency. Last season, interim coach Russ Pennell said the same thing. Weeks into this season, UA’s Miller has been saying the same thing. The UA camp is still waiting. The guess is he’ll continue to struggle more often than not and sprinkle in huge games. It’s who he is. There’s little question he’s gifted athletically, but he often floats through games unnoticed. That can’t happen if UA is to win 20 games.

On the flip side, UA’s Lamont “MoMo’’ Jones is a bit like that. He’s inconsistent. And it could be in one play. It often looks like he’s trying too hard to do well. That never works. He has to relax and not let his feet get ahead of, well, his head. You can almost see him thinking on the court. He’s a freshman so that’s expected. … but he can’t let it continue too longer. Teammate Nic Wise needs help. …

***

UA sophomore Kyle Fogg has slumped a bit this season. Miller attributes the slow start to Fogg being ill to start the season and a knee injury he suffered about the same time. “He’s practicing hard every day,’’ Miller said. “We need him to be better. He can do a lot of good things for our team on offense. He has to learn how to play man-to-man defense every possession.’’

Miller pointed out Fogg has fouled out three games already “and that’s pretty hard to do when you are a guard playing 20 minutes.’’

We still have a long way to get closer, come together as a team, everybody on the same page. Hardest part to coach. We’re working hard in that area. Schedule will help us a lot.

***

The Pac-10 is 2-6 when it comes to the Big 12-/Pac-10 series. Not good. In fact, horrible. Could get worse today in Norman and at UCLA where No. 1 Kansas plays. Miller said there was “an expected dropoff’’ in talent which in turn means competition with so many good players now in the NBA, but he feels things will change in the future. “It’ll comeback quickly,’’ he said.

Prediction: Not until next year.

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Former UA interim head coach Kevin O’Neill is now 2-4 with the USC Trojans after falling to Texas and Georgia Tech this week. I may be in the minority but I enjoyed my time with O’Neill, a colorful and outspoken character. He was full of one-liners and insight. He also brought us “it is what it is’’ when speaking of his time replacing the then ill-Lute Olson and the overall situation.

Now, O’Neill brings us this about the Trojans, a team depleted of talent as it tries to figure out what happened under former coach Tim Floyd.

“We are what we are. We really don’t have enough right now, obviously, to come here (Texas)  and win,” O’Neill told reporters. “I didn’t learn anything I didn’t know coming in here.”

***

And, it looks like the rebuilding process at Grand Canyon University under former UA interim coach Russ Pennell is going to take some time. Grand Canyon is 2-8 (it also won an exhibition game) and headed to Fairbanks, Alaska,  this week to play in a tournament.

STEVE RIVERA can be reached at Steve.Rivera95@gmail.com. Visit SteveRiveraventures.com

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