Collin Chandler's 3-point shooting impressed Oklahoma coach Porter Moser. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Oklahoma coach Porter Moser did the unthinkable at Loyola University Chicago when he led the Ramblers to the Final Four in 2018 with some help from the late legendary Sister Jean.
He’s not had the same success since coming to Oklahoma and lost to coach Mark Pope and Kentucky for the third straight time Wednesday 94-78 when Otega Oweh had 24 points on 7-for-11 shooting for UK and teammate Brandon Garrison had his first double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Moser lavished praise on both UK players who started their collegiate careers in Oklahoma.
“Otega is just an elite player. He can knock down the shot, and he puts you in a real decision-making mode off ball screens because he can turn the corner on you, and now he’s making really good decisions passing out of it. He’s becoming a complete player, he’s so strong on defense,” the Oklahoma coach said.
“I think that’s where Brandon really is because they were switching, and he’s able to move his speed and switch. His physical presence on the boards was a big factor.”
Garrison helped UK outbound the smaller Sooners 41-25. Hopefully that’s a good sign for UK’s board work for the next two games against Tennessee and Florida.
“It’s a bunch of everything about physicality, size and we just kept going,” Moser said about UK’s rebounding advantage. “We battled back. I think we cut it to eight at one point, and then they got two or three offensive rebounds when you are trying to cut into the lead. Those are the daggers.
“I think (Collin) Chandler got his confidence early. He had a really good baseline stagger play. When you are battling back like we were, cut it to eight and you get a stop, you have to finish it off with the rebound. We just couldn’t. They really got us on the glass.”
Moser also watched UK hit nine of 16 3-point shots in the first half and 50 percent overall from the field in the game.
“I think (Denzel) Aberdeen started it off. He got one and they hit another deep one, but I mean they hit some deep shots. I know they got him twice off their baseline stagger play and those aren’t easy shots,” Moser said.
“Chandler, he comes flying off, when you’re on a dead spread on a baseline stagger from one corner to the other wing, stop, dime, shoot. Those are tough shots and it shows how good of a shooter he is to be able to catch and shoot off the move like that. Some guys can’t shoot off the move like that. I thought he did get it going.
“Otega knocked down a step-back 3. We had guarded him and we were playing that drive and he kind of shook us and he took a step back 3 and he’s really almost, I don’t want to say impossible but he’s damn close when he’s in the rocker step 3’s because you’re playing that, cause if he gets an angle on you, he’s keeping the angle cause he’s so strong.”
3 Responses
He hit the nail on the head. He said what I said would make Otega Oweh a household name. He is averaging about 3 assist per game. That is what changed his game. He went from averaging one assist per game last year to 3 assist per game this year. If he could find a way to get the 3 assist to 4 assist he would be even more unstoppable. Players wouldn't know when he drives if he is going to pass the ball or shoot it. When he drives they double and triple team him that's why it's usually hard for him to get a shot off cleanly when he drives to the basket. As soon as the help man comes over if he could pass it out to the open man it would take not only Oweh to another level but it would make Kentucky unstoppable.
He's a little bull charging to the basket.
He certainly can be at time Wildwest