Skip to main content
Oklahoma
Join Now

OU basketball looking to stay sharp, finish non-conference strong

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo12/22/25BPrzybylo

It’s an interesting couple of weeks for OU basketball. Because, no, the competition really shouldn’t be too difficult.

Coming off a blowout victory last Tuesday against Kansas City, the focus was about playing with such a massive advantage. That could indeed be the case again Monday.

Stetson (4-8) at OU (8-3)
When: 8 p.m.
TV: SEC Network

What the next two games could really be are guys trying to show head coach Porter Moser they belong in the rotation when SEC play comes around.

Everybody knows rotations tend to shrink the deeper and deeper we get into a season. So you’re looking to see who continues to make the necessary impression to hang around.

A couple of players to watch are forward Kuol Atak and, of course, backup center Kai Rogers. You really cannot go a game without asking about Rogers because he is going to be so pivotal to what the ceiling might look like.

But then there’s Atak, who can score points in bunches, but has to do other things on the court to earn the right to be out there.

Jeff Nwankwo has seen his minutes diminish a bit, especially with the rise of Jadon Jones. Nwankwo is still playing incredibly hard but needs to be productive.

OU beat Stetson by 21 points last season and much of the same is expected Monday. However, there are things to watch.

Reid is the guy?

Not sure the non-conference games can answer this. However, eventually, we’re going to have to find out whether there is a No. 1 guy.

When OU has been at its best? It actually feels like Derrion Reid is the best Plan A option. So it’s going to be about instilling that confidence in Reid. Letting him know it’s OK to want to be that guy.

A truly fascinating subplot to the first two months of this season. You trust everybody to do their thing at one point or another. But if it’s the final possession, who do you want to take that shot?

Might have to wait until January to truly get that answer.

You may also like