Porter Moser says losing streak does not impact long-term plan

Things could not be going worse for the Oklahoma Sooners in the second season of the Porter Moser era. The Sooners have lost four straight games and seven of their last eight games. Oklahoma is 12-13 overall and 2-10 in the Big 12.

While it is just the second season of the Moser era, things are not looking good in the long-term right now. But despite the struggles, Moser does not plan to change anything for his master plan for Oklahoma basketball.

“No, no, no. I’m constantly trying to tinker to find things,” Moser said after a 23-point home drubbing by the Kansas Jayhawks. “We’ve moved Otega (Oweh) into the lineup, we’re trying to get some young guys, playing Joe (Bamisile) and — take it, you’re going to live through some things. The master plan? No, my goal is to build this culture up. I know in the offseason, you build your roster up but right here, I’m trying to — I just met with Otega, trying to talk to him about some things. There are teaching moments I’m trying to teach these young guys. It doesn’t have anything to do with anything of this mastermind. Everything we’re doing now is for both short-term and long-term. … I don’t even think like that. I’m thinking I’m constantly trying to figure out ways to win right now, but also build the culture. Habits, culture, the way we do things here. I’m not trying to do a short-term thing.”

After an impressive 10-year run at Loyola-Chicago — which included a run to the Final Four in 2018 — Moser was hired to replace Lon Kruger at Oklahoma. Year 1 appeared to be a solid start to the new regime in Norman, as Moser took Oklahoma to a 19-win season, just missing out on the NCAA Tournament. But this year has not gone according to plan.

Oklahoma started out 9-3 and had wins over the likes of Nebraska, Ole Miss and Florida. But since Big 12 play has started, the Sooners have faltered. Oklahoma has yet to string together back-to-back wins since mid-December and would be on an eight-game losing streak had it not been for a surprising upset of No. 2 Alabama in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

Moser’s contract was extended through the 2028 season last March, according to OU Daily, so his future is not likely in any imminent danger. But things will not get easier anytime soon, as Oklahoma will play host to No. 12 Kansas State this Tuesday evening.