Bedlam basketball still special to OU, means something
Things might never be what they used to be between OU and Oklahoma State. Maybe time will heal all wounds for the Bedlam rivals.
But men’s basketball wants to keep it going. And it is as the Sooners and Cowboys are set to resume the Bedlam Series at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
OU head coach Porter Moser said repeatedly last season he wanted to keep the game going in some fashion. It’s not a home-and-home. It’s a neutral site, but it should be a lively atmosphere in Oklahoma City.
And actually? Wasn’t all that hard to make it happen.
“I don’t think it was very tough,” Moser told SoonerScoop. “I think both teams from the onset – that Arkansas game was always in Tulsa and then this became that game in Paycom. I think it’s a great rivalry game. I think it’s a great game for the state. Great game for both teams. I don’t think it was that tough.”
OU is 9-0 for the second straight season, now ranked No. 13 in the AP poll. OSU, under first-year coach Steve Lutz, is playing much better in recent weeks. The Cowboys come in at 6-2.
Bedlam always means something
Moser has always tried to get the roster full of Oklahomans. Not a problem this season, with four Okies on the roster.
Oh, they get it. They fully understand what Bedlam means, including freshman Dayton Forsythe.
“No, it does, guys from Oklahoma,” Moser said. “Dayton walks up to me and he says ‘Man,’ I’ve been following this game for 17 years, it seems like. His whole life. And so it is. Growing up in the state, those Oklahoma guys, we got four of them on our team. So it is. It means a lot.”
It’s Forsythe’s first, and it’s Sam Godwin’s last. The super senior would love nothing more than to earn one more Bedlam victory and keep that trophy back at his apartment.
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Breaking down the Cowboys
Moser said it’s going to be about pace and turnovers. Both teams like to do the same things. It’s about who gets it accomplished first and more efficiently.
“I think both teams create a lot of offense from their defense,” Moser said. “I think that’s going to be the battle within the battle to see who can take care of the ball. They do a phenomenal job of just digging and raking, getting deflections and turning them into baskets.
“Their pace of play, especially after a made basket, is top 15 in the country. Very physical on defense. We’re trying to do the same thing, run on our turnovers. Both teams cause a lot of turnovers. I think that will be the battle within the battle, taking care of the ball and eliminating those transition baskets.”
And it’s a Bedlam introduction for Lutz, but no introduction needed for Moser. He said he’s known Lutz for years and years. They’ve both sort of seen their stock go up in the coaching world at the same time.
“I’ve known Steve for a long time, kinda came up in the profession. He’s very good. Always been a grinder, a worker. He’s been with some great guys, my alma mater for seven years. Was with Painter for seven years. Done a great job running two different programs. Not surprised at how tough his team is, pace he’s playing with. The things they do. Not surprised at all with how good they look right now.”
