OU basketball set to tackle Big 12 conference grind

We’ve said it a couple of times regarding OU basketball, but now we really mean it. It’s time to find out what the Sooners are all about.

Ranked No. 11 but without a Quadrant 1 victory. A strong 12-1 record, but a little shaky the last couple of weeks. Here comes the Big 12 gauntlet. Five teams ranked in the top 16 of the NET rankings, no days off. The grind, year No. 3 under Porter Moser.

“The things I’ve learned from this team is, the things we set out to be — longer, more athletic — to impact the game is moving in that right direction,” Moser said. “I think defensively we’re better. I think we cover more ground. We can do some different things. I think offensively we’re playing at a much-higher pace.

“I’ll be honest, no matter who our opponent is, we’ve come out ready to play every game. Didn’t always play great, but you never said, ‘Oh they took them lightly or they didn’t come ready to play.’ We’ve been ready to play and played hard for 13 games. That’s what I love about this group.”

How to watch

Iowa State (11-2) at No. 11 OU (12-1)
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
TV: ESPN+

We’re back in a rhythm, too. No more long breaks like over the holidays. OU started to find itself again in the second half against Monmouth on Sunday. Moser said practices this week are back to looking crisp. Everybody is ready for what’s to come.

Bring on the Cyclones

And what’s to come, first, is Iowa State. The Cyclones aren’t ranked in the top 25, but they are No. 8 in the NET rankings.

They’re going to bring the pace offensively. And they’re going to force turnovers defensively, among the best in the country.

“Pace. They run … they cut and they run their offense at an unprecedented pace. They’re phenomenal,” Moser said. “You talk about how hard they play. They force turnovers. How good defensively. How well-coached, connected they are defensively. So those are all things you say about Iowa State.

“And it’s true as ever with this year’s team. No. 2 in all those categories. But the thing when you watch Iowa State is they run their offense with a phenomenal pace. They cut, move. They share, drive. Pass at a high height. You have to be ready for the pace in which they run their offense.”

Moore a difference maker

OU fans are going to be watching a lot during the next couple of months. One thing will be if Jalon Moore can continue to be the athletic freak he has been.

OU simply has not seen someone who can impact the game above the rim on offense and defense like Moore in a long time.

The good thing is? He’s only getting better. He’s coachable and willing to put in the work.

“How you think is how you feel,” Moser said. “How you feel is how you act and how you act is what defines you. And it starts at how you think. And Jalon’s got this positive energy. Whether you’re on him and trying to correct him, he’s like okay I’m trying to address that. I’m trying to get better at that. That’s how he thinks. And that’s how he feels. When you sit there and think that coach is on me, coach is criticizing me and doesn’t think I can do this. That’s how I feel. And when I’m feeling that way, I’m walking around feeling that way, that’s how I act. That’s how your teammates and coaches perceive you.

“And Jalon is the definition of that, my favorite quote. He’s the definition of, I’m taking coaching and addressing like, ‘man alright. It doesn’t mean coach doesn’t think doesn’t think I can put the ball on the deck. Be smarter. If they start coming and digging and raking I’ve got to pick it up. It doesn’t mean coach thinks don’t dribble.’ And that’s what I think when I think of Jalon Moore going this way (up).” 

Final quote

“I just think it better equips us to go into the number one basketball league in the country, 19 games in a row counting the conference tournament. Minimum. It is 19 games in a row of the highest level. It wears on you if you’re out-athletic’d and out-lengthed every single night, and I think we’re, we’ve shrunk that gap.” – said Moser about the makeup of this year’s team