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OU basketball to learn about itself in Battle 4 Atlantis

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•11/26/24•

BPrzybylo

Jeremiah Fears7
OU freshman guard Jeremiah Fears. (photo by OU Athletics).

A solid way for OU basketball to begin its season, but what did we really learn? Think that’s the question being asked by a lot of different teams as we are in the midst of Feast Week.

Feast Week this season for OU means a trip to the Bahamas and the Battle 4 Atlantis. It gets underway against Providence 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Sooners defeated the Friars in Norman last December.

OU, simply put, did what it was supposed to do in its 4-0 start. It hasn’t always looked great, but it has been enough to get the job done.

Doing that without two of its better shooters. OU has had to play a different type of game without Jadon Jones and Brycen Goodine.

If you have to do it, do it in November. The Sooners could be better off for it.

“We have multiple guys who can shoot the ball,” head coach Porter Moser told SoonerScoop. “We’ve had a handful of games of multiple guys making two, three, four threes. Those two guys are elite shooters. When you’re down those shooters, it’s really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot. It’s been a huge takeaway.

“A guy like Glenn. Glenn stepped up last game and made four. Duke has had a game with four. Kobe has had a game with four. Jalon has been super consistent. Other guys have been knocking down shots. We miss Brycen and Jadon, but we’re confident in all of the guys.”

OU will play either Arizona or Davidson on Thanksgiving and close out the event Friday. A quality eight-team field.

“Obviously, we’re looking forward to playing in this tournament. It’s one of the best in the country, field is awesome,” Moser said. “Think all eight teams are excited to get going with this kind of field. Can’t wait to get started.”

Goodine a game-time deal

OU continues to be without Jadon Jones and his back injury. Jones has not played this season. However, the hope was to get Brycen Goodine back last week.

That didn’t happen. And now? Very iffy if he’ll be able to contribute this week in the Bahamas.

“We joked that it’s like groundhog day,” Moser said. “Wake up every day and how do you feel? ‘I feel great.’ Then we get going… he’s really a tough kid and trying to push through it. It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn’t gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices. We’ll wait and see.”

Step up for Fears

Team is stepping up, and now we’ll see about freshman point guard Jeremiah Fears. Coming off his first start, a chance to gauge where he is at as well.

Fears has been as good as advertised in the initial four games.

“I don’t want to not get his speed and transition aggressiveness into the game,” Moser said. “I want to get it in the game, but also being super solid. Be great at simple. You don’t have to all the sudden get on this stage and get to this competition and re-invent the wheel. His simple of that speed is sometimes other people’s greatness.

“He can really go fast with his speed and he’s long and he gets that stride in the game, so just want him to be super solid, confident, really want him to be confident going on this stage with this competition and understanding he’s got some really good players like J Moore and Sam and Kobe and Duke, he’s got great players around him.”

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