Oklahoma coach Porter Moser talks with Oklahoma Sooners guard Kobe Elvis (1) throughout a males’s school Bedlam basketball sport between the College of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State College Cowboys (OSU) at Paycom Middle in Oklahoma Metropolis, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. Oklahoma gained 80-65. Porter Moser needs No. 17 Oklahoma to make a staff effort to rebound higher when it hosts No. 10 Texas A&M on Wednesday in Norman, Okla.
In its SEC debut on Saturday, Oklahoma (13-1, 0-1 SEC) was routed by No. 5 Alabama 107-79 for its first defeat of the season. The Sooners have been outrebounded 51-26 and Moser went again to classes from his mentor, the late Rick Majerus, when requested what it could take to provide his squad a rebounding edge.
“I can see my first follow with Majerus and speaking about entering into the legs on a block out,” Moser recalled from his stint at Saint Louis. “You are not going to play leap ball within the paint. I can not sit there and beg for over-the-back calls. We’ve got to bodily verify off and go get it. It needs to be a gaggle effort. We will not have guys play 18 minutes and get one rebound. The guards must rebound down. It needs to be collective.
“We’ve got Texas A&M subsequent and they’re an elite offensive rebounding staff. We’ve got to bodily get into their legs and verify off if we do not have a size and athleticism benefit.”
Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0) has gained eight straight video games and blew out rival Texas 80-60 on Saturday. The Aggies had an 11-5 edge in offensive rebounds.
Fifth-year guard Hayden Hefner has began the final 5 video games for the Aggies. He had 9 factors and 4 rebounds towards the Longhorns, however his coach mentioned his influence went far past the field rating.
“(Hefner) might be the least gifted participant that performed within the Lone Star Showdown,” Aggies coach Buzz Williams mentioned. “However it’s exhausting to grade guts. He is acquired huge guts.
“I shook his hand earlier than the leap ball and mentioned, ‘You see all the true dudes on the market?’ That is since you’re an actual dude, go get after it. Can he leap? No. Is he the strongest? No. Is he the very best in any class? No. However, I like guys that attempt actual exhausting when nobody thinks they’ll do it.”
Along with hitting the glass, Oklahoma may even want its co-leading scorer Jeremiah Fears (17.9 factors per sport) to get extra concerned early after contributing just one level within the first half towards the Crimson Tide.
“He is actually good in so some ways and he has to play that manner,” Moser mentioned of the freshman guard. “He cannot anticipate the primary shot to fall to stand up and play protection and get different guys concerned. He’ll study that. He is an unbelievable child, attempting to study that. It is his first expertise doing this.”
Jalon Moore additionally averages 17.9 factors per sport for the Sooners.
Wade Taylor IV leads Texas A&M in scoring at 15.7 factors per sport and scored 13 factors towards Texas.
Williams mentioned it would take a staff effort towards Oklahoma.
“I feel the margins are razor skinny,” Williams mentioned. “That is how elite this league is.”
–Discipline Stage Media
