OU basketball's mission? No letdown vs. Providence

Look, OU basketball fans will remember last Thursday for a long time. Everything worked out the way the Sooners, coaches, players, administration hoped.

Going to McCasland Field House for one game made for a memorable evening. But it’s time to move on. And Oklahoma has a tough one coming to Lloyd Noble Center on Tuesday with Providence.

How to watch

Providence (7-1) at No. 19 OU (7-0)
When: 6 p.m.
TV: ESPNU
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It was such an emotional event and had 3,124 students in attendance. However, you have to turn the page. Head coach Porter Moser doesn’t believe that will be a problem.

“We’ve had great practices. The guys, we all kind of said the same thing,” said Moser when asked by SoonerScoop. “It was great. It was awesome. Let’s go get Providence, you know? Everybody really thought it was a great night. Enjoyed it. Thought the students were awesome, and we’re all kind of hoping that they come back. That they create an atmosphere at the LNC.

“And everybody come in here create a home court advantage because we need it. They really enjoyed it and then we moved on. We took a day off and then we’ve had two great practices.”

The Sooners are one of 14 undefeated teams remaining.

Stay the course

The minutes aren’t quite there for freshman Kaden Cooper and redshirt freshman Luke Northweather. Just keep fighting is the message.

It’s not a negative toward them. It’s more a positive about the bench players, who have brought in a wealth of experience and production in the first month of the season.

“Super confident with Luke, and I think the thing is for him to feel that same way and that he needs to stay ready,” Moser said. “It’s like, some of these guys that don’t play right now, it’s not a reflection on them. You know, on Kaden that he’s not getting tons of minutes.

“It’s more of a reflection on, we’re old off the bench, you know, and just the way it is in college basketball right now. We’re old off the bench. But it has nothing to do with my confidence level in a couple of those guys that aren’t getting the minutes. It’s about development, getting them better, learning the offense, defense, getting them confidence, and that’s definitely the case with him.”

OU will get Sam Godwin back in the lineup Tuesday. He missed Thursday’s game because of illness.

Movin’ on up

Good Monday for OU basketball. The Sooners are ranked No. 19 in the AP poll, moving up six spots. But maybe more importantly, OU is No. 19 in the first NET rankings.

When you start talking Quadrant 1 and Quadrant 2 victories and chances, it’s all about NET rankings. Moser doesn’t think much of it now, understandably, but it’s a strong initial statement for OU.

“That’s more analytical,” Moser said. “It’s like it’s a number. Like I said, those things are going to fluctuate like the stock market. I don’t know, they’re just going to be up and down. All this bracketology this early, it’s all about your team. Are you getting them better? Are you growing? The game in front of you. The game in front of you.”

Scouting the Friars

Providence is No. 61 in the NET. The Friars’ only loss this season was in overtime against Kansas State. This should be a really good test.

If you’re overlooking them to get to Arkansas in Tulsa on Saturday, don’t. A quality Big East-Big 12 Battle matchup in Norman on Tuesday.

“It’s a great Big East team,” Moser said. “Lot of tradition with Providence so they’re really, really good. They’ve got one loss and it was in overtime and Pierre was out after the first couple of minutes. I think it’s a top 15 team.

“Just watching so much on them on tape, how physical they are, they’re good on both ends. They’re old. They’ve got star power. They’re physical. I think they’re unquestionably an NCAA Tournament team. A top 15 team.”