This is our first edition of Behind Enemy Lines for basketball season, even though we could’ve done one with Tar Heels Wire over Thanksgiving but football season was still going on.
Arkansas comes into Saturday’s Crimson and Cardinal Classic at the BOK Center in Tulsa with a 6-3 record, while the Oklahoma Sooners are ranked 19th and undefeated at 8-0.
The teams have split the meetings the previous two seasons, with Oklahoma winning in 2021 and the Razorbacks getting the upper hand a year ago.
On Monday, Arkansas defeated Furman by 13 while the Sooners defeated Providence by 21 on Tuesday at home.
Bryant Crews of Sooners Wire was kind enough to answer our questions and help us get to know the OU basketball program better before it joins the SEC next season.
Nov 24, 2023; La Jolla, California, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guards Milos Uzan (12) and Javian McCollum (2) react during the second half against the USC Trojans at LionTree Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
When you look at Oklahoma and all they have done so far this year, the first thing that sticks out is how much more dynamic of a team they are. There’s always athleticism on the floor; multiple guys can create their shots and shots for others. Siena transfer Javian McCollum is catching the attention of many people and is on the rise of draft boards. While Milos Uzan is the engine on this team, McCollum represents everything Oklahoma didn’t have much of last year. A creator, shot-maker mixed with a bit of juice. Jalon Moore and Otega Oweh are also in that category. It’s a testament to Porter Moser’s recruiting and selling his program in the transfer portal.
Dec 5, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Porter Moser high fives fans after defeating Providence Friars at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
To be frank, this year is a must-have year for Moser. He made the jump from Loyola Chicago because of what he accomplished there. Three years and nothing to show for it would be a tough pill to swallow for an athletic department that is very well-rounded and competes fairly strongly in most sports. Men’s basketball has never been dominant, but they’ve always been an NCAA Tournament-caliber team with exceptional teams capable of making a run in certain years. Lon Kruger had them in the NCAA Tournament every year except two, not including the COVID year, where they were all…
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