Why Porter Moser believes a new arena isn’t just great for OU but also for Norman
OU head basketball head coach Porter Moser could finally hit Wrigley Field last week to watch the Chicago Cubs. Couldn’t do that until the job was finished. The job? Filling out the roster.
The transfer portal is what it is, and Moser and staff needed the last two months to earn six transfers and get the ball rolling for the SEC.
Mission accomplished. Moser talked about the move, the roster and, of course, what a new arena would mean for OU at the SEC meetings earlier this week.
What a new arena would mean?
I think it’s worth talking about again. You’re hopeful for what it could to do, not only for the basketball programs, but for the city. I think it would be unbelievable for the community, for the different sports. The businesses it’s going to bring. The attraction with the SEC launch for the teams to see this. There’s first and foremost, there’s a huge benefit to everybody. Then for us? You’re going to have to create a homecourt advantage that is a hostile environment. That gives us the best chance for a hostile environment.
Decompress?
You should ask my wife that question how I decompress? Because it’s every day for two months after the season. That’s more stressful than almost the season. You’re almost in your comfort zone preparing the team and practice and games. There is no comfort zone with the portal. You’re nauseous putting your head on your pillow every night. Who is going after your players? It’s a feeding frenzy. I’ve been on the speaking tour of leadership. I always say you have to be intentional with the balance in your life. Husband, father. As a Christian, as a coach, you have to be intentional in trying to create balance. The portal has challenged that. You can’t have balance because your whole livelihood is at stake, trying to sign seven guys. I’m still faithful in trying to balance that as a father, friend, Christian.
Big 12 vs. SEC?
I think they’re unbelievable leagues. Now that I’m not in the Big 12, I’m not going to say anything negative. It was a great league. I look at what the SEC is doing in recruiting and what they’re doing and who they’re signing and the year they had last year. Now I’m going to be pumping that trumpet. It’s going to be the best basketball league. Look what they did last year and signing in the portal. Look around the room and see all the teams, the coaching, I think they said there are six Final Four coaches in the room. Another three that went to the Elite Eight. That’s pretty impressive stats when you start talking like that.
Early thoughts on transfer portal class?
One thing that I think we’ve done is shooting, athleticism. We tried last year to recruit more athletic and play way more up-tempo. I think the SEC fits that style. I thought we did really good in guys that are efficient and can shoot. The guys that we signed that are our top six or seven projected guys that what they shot from three last year to what they shot the year before. We’ve made 150 more threes. I think we’re going to be able to shoot the ball, athletically. The two point guards we signed are super efficient and winners. We targeted guys who could win.
Roster turnover simply the new normal?
Five, 10 years ago, if a kid left and he was in your top five, you’d scratch your head. But he had to sit out. Now you can transfer every year and with the NIL. It’s unfortunately a part of what’s going on. Teams are losing guys left and right. That’s just part of what we’re going through. I do think the fans suffer. They can’t get their arms around the player and follow them and get to know them for three years to where they become part of their family. They have to renew the roster. That’s just the way it is. We’re going to keep trying to develop them. Retention is always going to be at the forefront. But there are a lot of factors nowadays. It’s not the same. You could scratch your head if you had a couple leave from your top five like five years ago. Now with the portal and NIL, you’re seeing it across the county in all sports.
The post Why Porter Moser believes a new arena isn’t just great for OU but also for Norman appeared first on On3.
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