Porter Moser shares thoughts on first matchup with Kansas State

Oklahoma will face their third straight ranked Big 12 opponent on Tuesday as they take on No. 12 Kansas State at home. The first-year head coach of the Wildcats’ Jerome Tang has led his team to an impressive 19-6 record so far this season. And Sooners head coach Porter Moser spoke about the job he’s done and what other program the Wildcats remind him of ahead of their matchup.

“Lots of shades of Baylor, but he’s also put his own flare on what they’re doing,” Moser said. “They got two all-league players that are playing really well then they got really good other players that are playing very well. I think they’ve been really consistent, that’s what really sticks out to me is how consistent they’ve been à la Baylor. Baylor seems to be usually a team, I mean they’re an older program that got it being consistent, but to have them being consistent this fast.”

It’s hard to mention the Wildcats without mentioning forward Keyontae Johnson, who transferred to K-State this offseason from Florida and has dominated, ranking second in the Big 12 in points per game averaging 17.6 and third in the conference in rebounds per game with 7.6.

“Keyontae Johnson could be up for National Player of the Year, not just conference player of the year, he’s really digging in. I’ve seen him when I’m scouting other teams that he’s played against, but now I’ve locked in on them, he is so powerful. Can shoot it, can post you up, can iso, drive you, just phenomenal. I mean that addition, they got it late, I mean he’s really good,” Moser said.

Johnson is surrounded by plenty of talent, including the Big 12 assist and steals leader Markquis Nowell and one of the most dangerous sixth-men in the conference Desi Sills.

“And then Markquis Nowell, who’s a returner, to average 20 and seven. The ball just goes everywhere, he’s just so good at distributing the ball but he can score. He’s consistently been getting 20 a game and seven assists,” Moser said. “So I think Desi Sills is a transfer portal guy that’s done really well off the bench, I think he’s a four or five straight double-figure guys.”

There’s no question the that the Sooners will have their hands full with the Wildcats firepower, but K-State is coming off of one of their worst stretches of the season going just 1-4 in their last four contests.

“They’ve got some size and length that is really playing their roles, I think he’s got guys playing their roles. But I just think Kansas State’s been really really consistent, he does such a nice job and he’s got two, could be two, National Player of the Year, could be most improved player of the year in Nowell, two first-team all-leaguers. Those two guys along with how their other guys are playing so consistent,” Moser said.

It sounds like consistency has been the key for Kansas State, as Oklahoma will be seeking their third conference win of the season against the Wildcats when they tip off at 9:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday.