Porter Moser addresses challenge of scheduling smaller in-state schools

One may be shocked to find a lack of in-state opponents on the Oklahoma basketball nonconference schedule for 2024-25. However, Sooners coach Porter Moser explained that there is a reason behind that.

OU has often played schools such as Oral Roberts, Tulsa and others in the past, but a Bedlam contest against Oklahoma State is the only such game this season. Although Moser understands fans can look forward to those matchups, he had to weigh that against creating a balanced strength of schedule to build his team’s tournament resume.

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“I’ve been on both ends of that,” the coach said at SEC Media Days. “I’ve been at Little Rock wanting to play Arkansas. I’ve been at Loyola wanting to play Illinois. And I’ve been at Oklahoma not wanting to play Oral Roberts. So I’ve been all over the map. So that’s the real answer, is that when you’re that underdog, yeah, that policy. When you’re that one, you want freedom of scheduling, knowing certain games can hurt you.”

Quality wins are of paramount importance in college basketball as it factors into a team’s NET rating, one of the tools used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. Oklahoma has not made the 68-team field in any of Porter’s three seasons at the helm, so the schedule was made with fixing that in mind.

That’s not to say that the season won’t face their fair share of lower quality opponents. However, there’s also a good mix of upper level competition from teams such as OSU, Michigan and Georgia Tech. They will also compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis, with their first game coming against Providence.

Still, Porter Moser believes there simply wasn’t room on the schedule for teams such as Oral Roberts.

“I think nowadays more than ever with the NET and all that, you’ve really got to factor in what can hurt you more than can help you,” he said. “I think that’s got to be the answer. Before it wasn’t as big of a thing about it, but nowadays you’ve just got to ask yourself, what’s the most strategic thing that could hurt you or help you. If you lose a Quad 3 or 4 home game or did you play a Quad 4 neutral game. You’ve just got to ask yourself that question, ‘Is it worth the risk and reward?’

“I’m at Loyola and Little Rock, hell, yeah, it’s worth the risk. I’m at Oklahoma, it’s not.”

The Sooners tip off the 2024-25 season on Nov. 4 against Lindenwood.