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Cupcake city already over for OU basketball, taking on No. 21 Gonzaga

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo3 hours agoBPrzybylo
Tae Davis2
OU forward Tae Davis. (Nathan J. Fish - Imagn Images)

OU basketball coach Porter Moser has never had any issues being aggressive in non-conference games. But it’s normally not this early.

Just one game in the books, and the Sooners are headed for a quality showdown. Technically, not a road game, but yea, a road game against a ranked opponent.

Following a 102-66 victory against St. Francis on Monday, OU is heading west to take on Gonzaga late Saturday night.

OU (1-0) vs. No. 21 Gonzaga (1-0) (Spokane, Wash.)
When: 9:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN2

OU had its four transfer portal additions as starters Monday and that trend should continue Saturday.

That feels strange for those who remember the old days of college basketball. But Moser and OU have adapted and leaned into everything.

And if you’re worried about chemistry? Well, Moser isn’t. Between Nijel Pack, Xzayvier Brown, Derrion Reid and Tae Davis, there is a lot to like.

“It’s a question people ask nowadays, it’s a question you have to ask,” Moser said. “But it’s really been seamless for us. These guys have come in working, not entitled, wanting the right things. We talked about it in recruiting. You know, you say up front… you’re being naive if you talk to a recruit nowadays and say, ‘Oh, I know you want to get to the NBA.’ They all do, you’re naive avoiding the subject.

“What we talk about is let’s go on a simultaneous path. Let’s have this path of getting you better, helping you get to the next level. But the simultaneous path… let’s be special with the team and win. We talked about that before they even committed. Coming here, it’s going to be a simultaneous path. Guys want to play in the NBA. Let’s talk about it. Let’s say how are you going to get there? It’s going to be a simultaneous path. These guys have believed in that. ‘Hey, I’m going to get better here at Oklahoma and also we’re going to be a part of a team that tries to win big.’”

It’s going to be a balanced effort across the board. What might be interesting about Saturday is if it comes down to the final minutes, who becomes that guy?

Atak’s movement a key

It has been talked about a lot with Kuol Atak growing an inch and putting on 20 pounds to get stronger.

Usually? Automatic assumption is about the upper body strength. For Atak, though, he was quick to point out there is a lot to the lower body as well.

A lot to his movement.

“Definitely moving, being able to slide your feet, going down, being able to drive,” Atak told SoonerScoop. “I just feel like it helps every aspect of the game. Even then, I still don’t even feel that big.

“I feel like this definitely suits what I can do, especially more with Ty, our strength and conditioning coach. We really put emphasis on that, adding on weight every single day, making me drink smoothies after a workout and stuff like that. So, definitely every aspect of the game it helps.”

Atak scored all 18 of his points in the second half in Monday’s victory.

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