OU Basketball: Oklahoma Coach Porter Moser Optimistic About Bedlam's Future
NORMAN — Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser expressed skepticism Friday that Saturday’s Bedlam match in Stillwater would be the last in the stories series.
“I personally don't think this is the last time we play,” The Sooners’ third-year head coach told media Friday. “I see a world where this great rivalry continues. I don't know when that is based on a lot of logistical factors, but I see a world of when this great rivalry continues.”
The Sooners (18-8, 6-7) tip off against the Cowboys (12-4, 4-9) on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena. As OU inches closer to its grand Big 12 exit, Bedlam No. 249 is the last scheduled meeting between the schools. OU holds the all-time advantage, 142-106.
Win No. 142 came just two weeks ago, when the Sooners beat their rival, 66-62 in Norman.
“I liked the final score,” Moser said. “Obviously it was almost like a rock fight, both defenses going at each other. They’re (OSU) playing a lot faster.”
Mike Boynton is expected to go with Javon Small, John-Michael Wright, Jamyron Keller, Quion Williams and Brandon Garrison.
“They’ve added Keller to the rotation. He kind of started playing a lot of minutes in our game, and in the last two he’s playing tremendous. But they all are,” Moser said. “I’ve said this all along, their guards of Wright and Small, Williams and Keller’s in that mix, I think Brandon Garrison’s playing really well."
The Cowboys were hot last week in wins against No. 18 BYU and Cincinnati.
"You look since our game, they beat BYU and on the road at Cincy. Playing very well, playing faster," Moser said. "They’re really athletic. They guard you. You have to be tougher offensively. We have to have some emotional control in this game. We didn’t have as much of that last game for a lot of reasons, whatever that encompasses.”
The Sooners will be down at least one key player, forward John Hugley IV, who tore his meniscus Feb. 10 against the Cowboys and consequently underwent a procedure to have it repaired.
““At first, we were waiting to see if [Hugley] could recover without [surgery],” Moser said. “The decision was made to move forward. It went great. We don’t know the exact timetable. We’re hopeful about that, but there’s clarity. ... Opportunity for some other guys to step up. We have some guys that we really want to step up in his absence.”
Interior players like Luke Northweather and Yaya Keita will be prepared for inflated minutes Saturday in Hugley's absence, Moser said.
Senior guard Rivaldo Soares is questionable for Saturday after he sprained his ankle Feb. 13 against Baylor in Waco.
“It was a bad sprain, like, we all saw it,” Moser said, “so we’re not going to do anything to jeopardize it. It’s hard, because you talk to ‘Valdo, he’s like ‘Uhm, I’m playing.’ He said that at the last game. ... We miss him. He was playing great on both ends, but we’ll see. He’s day-by-day. We still got today and tomorrow. We’ll see,” Moser said.
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