Oh, no, the Sooner men are playing really well
Uh oh.
Maybe you know where this is going?
Coach Porter Moser’s Oklahoma men’s basketball team may have a path to the NCAA tournament and it may not even require what ESPN’s John Schriffen and Rodney Terry floated Tuesday night while calling OU’s 80–64 home-court victory over Missouri:
Three SEC tournament victories.
Of course, OU must first beat Texas.
In both teams’ final regular season game, the Sooners visit the Longhorns at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Austin.
But if we’re telling the truth, I’m not sure it will take three SEC tourney wins. And, don’t tell anybody, but I kind of like OU’s chances of winning twice upon arrival at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena a week from today.
Do you know why?
I can’t believe I’m writing this, but the Sooners are playing good basketball.
OU (16-14, 6-11 SEC) has gone 5-2 since Feb. 7, beating No. 24 Vanderbilt (23-7, 10-7), projected by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi as a No. 5 seed … Georgia, projected as a No. 9 … Auburn … LSU … and Missouri, another projected No. 9.
Not only is OU winning, but winning big, topping Georgia by 16 points, Auburn by 12, LSU by 16 and Missouri by 16. As in that one-point triumph over Vandy, OU led by 16 inside of four minutes remaining
Missouri had its chance to take charge on Tuesday.
Tae Davis knocked down a 3-pointer on the game’s first possession, but the Sooners did not score again until their trip down the floor. Yet, the Tigers never led by more than a point and when Jadon Jones hit a 3 12:19 before the half their edge was gone for good.
OU’s box score looked like that of a very good team.
The Sooners only put up 45 shots, but hit 28 to shoot 62.2 percent. They were almost as accurate from distance, hitting 12 of 22 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Famously not good at the center position, Moe Wague was nonetheless effective, adding 11 points without missing from the field, grabbing seven rebounds and delivering three assists.
Jones led with 13 points. Davis, Xzavier Brown and Derrion Reid each added 12.
Nijel Pack finished with eight points and matched Brown’s five assists. Dayton Forsythe scored only five, but his presence felt much larger.
A confident team is a dangerous team and, again, upset of upsets, the Sooners have begun to play like a team expecting good things to happen.
Imagine.
Now, because we all know this program can’t afford another season under Moser, I know what you’re thinking.
HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING!
A year ago, you may recall, OU reached the NCAA tournament despite a 6-12 SEC record.
It has that many conference wins already, but it won’t work this time, because this time there’s no string of impressive non-conference wins backing up a no-good conference mark.
Nor will seven regular-season conference wins be enough. Though the SEC remains the nation’s best league, it’s not like last year when 14 of 16 teams received NCAA bids.
But what if the Sooners were to beat Texas and prevail next Wednesday in Nashville? That would get them to 18-14, with, sort of, an eighth conference win. Win another and they’re 19-14 with, sort of, a ninth.
That would make things serious.
OU’s NET ranking is 57.
Texas’ is 38.
Could a win put the Sooners into the 40s?
Beat Texas, and have Alabama beat Auburn, and OU should take the 11th seed into the SEC tourney, where it would play the 14th seed: Ole Miss, LSU or South Carolina.
The Sooners should win that game, delivering them to a date with the No. 6 seed. Right now Vandy, Missouri, Texas A&M and Kentucky, all good teams, are tied for fifth with 10-7 conference marks.
If OU were to beat one of them, would it be enough?
Possibly? Maybe?
Should Sooner fans even want their team to get in, knowing it could offer Moser a path to return?
Or, perhaps, they should get behind their team with no mixed feelings and no concerns at all because, given the smart and thoughtful man new athletic director Roger Denny just has to be, he’s sure to pull the plug on Moser even though.
Because even if OU beats Texas, Moser’s five-season conference record will still be 32-56.
Because even should the Sooners make a miracle tourney run, Moser would be starting over next season with another new roster just as he’s done every season before.
Because the fans have already voted with their feet, a fact apparent Tuesday night against the Tigers.
Finally, the Sooners are a fun team to watch.
Seems a shame not to wish for their best.
In Denny Sooner Nation shall trust?
Let’s hope so.