Oklahoma's journey to the NCAA Tournament is hanging by a thread, but head coach Porter Moser is leaving no stone unturned in making the case for the Sooners' inclusion.
After a hard-fought 82-79 loss to Arkansas in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, Oklahoma (19-15, 7-11 SEC) finds itself precariously positioned on the bubble as Selection Sunday looms. ESPN's Joe Lunardi suggests the Sooners need a bit of luck to make the cut.
Auburn's early exit from the SEC Tournament could play in Oklahoma's favor, aligning with Lunardi's prediction. Despite the setback, Moser passionately defended his team's credentials in his postgame comments, emphasizing their strong finish to the season.
“What I want the country to know is they’re playing some of the best basketball in the country right now,” Moser asserted. “Analytically, one of the top 15 teams the way we’re playing. Number one conference in the country.”
The Sooners made it to the quarterfinals with victories over South Carolina and Texas A&M, part of a late-season surge that saw them rack up six consecutive wins before falling to Arkansas. Razorbacks star Darius Acuff was a force to be reckoned with, dropping 37 points, the most in the conference tournament in over two decades.
Oklahoma's resume is a mixed bag. They hold a 4-10 record in Quad 1 games but have shown resilience lately, going 3-2 in their last five matchups in that category.
Their 6-5 record against Quad 2 opponents adds another layer to their case. Moser is banking on the team's momentum to catch the selection committee's eye.
“I don’t think anybody wants to play Oklahoma in this tournament,” Moser said confidently. “You don’t want teams limping in. Oklahoma’s not limping in.”
The Sooners will find out if their efforts have paid off when the NCAA Tournament bracket is announced Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.