Porter Moser wants No. 17 Oklahoma to make a team effort to rebound better 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 were outrebounded 51-26 and Moser went back to lessons from his mentor, the late Rick Majerus, when asked what it would take to give his squad a rebounding edge.
“I can see my first practice with Majerus and talking about getting into the legs on a block out,” Moser recalled from his stint at Saint Louis. “You’re not going to play jump ball in the paint. I can’t sit there and beg for over-the-back calls. We have to physically check off and go get it. It has to be a group effort. We can’t have guys play 18 minutes and get one rebound. The guards have to rebound down. It has to be collective.
“We have Texas A&M next and they are an elite offensive rebounding team. We have to physically get into their legs and check off if we don’t have a length and athleticism advantage.”
Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0) has won eight straight 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 started the last five games for the Aggies. He had nine points and four rebounds against the Longhorns, but his coach said his impact went far beyond the box score.
“(Hefner) is probably the least talented player that played in the Lone Star Showdown,” Aggies coach Buzz Williams said. “But it’s hard to grade guts. He’s got big guts.
“I shook his hand before the jump ball and said, ‘You see all the real dudes out there?’ That’s because you’re a real dude, go get after it. Can he jump? No. Is he the strongest? No. Is he the best in any category? No. But, I like guys that try real hard when no one thinks they can do it.”
In addition to hitting the glass, Oklahoma will also need its co-leading scorer Jeremiah Fears (17.9 points per game) to get more involved early after contributing only one point in the first half against the Crimson Tide.
“He’s really good in so many ways and he has to play that way,” Moser said of the freshman guard. “He can’t wait for the first shot to fall to get up and play defense and get other guys involved. He will learn that. He’s an unbelievable kid, trying to learn that. It’s his first experience doing this.”
Jalon Moore also averages 17.9 points per game for the Sooners.
Wade Taylor IV leads Texas A&M in scoring at 15.7 points per game and scored 13 points against Texas.
Williams said it will take a team effort against Oklahoma.
“I think the margins are razor thin,” Williams said. “That’s how elite this league is.”
–Field Level Media
