Why Oklahoma's win over Alabama is big culture builder for Porter Moser, Sooners

NORMAN — Lloyd Noble Center hadn't witnessed a scene like this in years.

OU earned a dominant 93-69 win over second-ranked Alabama on Saturday in front of just under 11,000 spectators. The Sooners played their best basketball of the season, and a sea of fans stormed the court as the final buzzer sounded.

Seniors Tanner and Jacob Groves were celebrating at halfcourt. OU football players such as Reggie Grimes and Key Lawrence were dancing among the crowd. Chants of "OU" rang throughout the arena.

And yet there was Porter Moser, still seated in his spot on the Sooners' bench.

The 54-year-old coach admits his younger self would've joined in on the festivities. But this time, he just wanted to soak it all in.

"I just sat there and said, 'This was the vision,'" Moser said. "This kind of excitement with the student body, I thought they were awesome. Best crowd I’ve had since I’ve been here, and I was just really happy for the guys."

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The Sooners' win came at the perfect time.

OU was on a three-game skid and no longer in the NCAA Tournament picture, but ESPN's Joe Lunardi now projects it to be among the last four teams to make the cut. The Sooners also jumped from 65 to 55 in the latest NET rankings.

But OU's takedown of Alabama isn't just a big win for this season. It's a big win for Moser, who's still looking to build the culture in his second season as the team's head coach.

A part of that culture is a passionate fan base, although growing that following has been a challenge despite Moser's best efforts.

He has held events with OU's fraternities. He has gone on the Sooners Caravan tour. He has given out countless high-fives to those in the student section both before and after games.

Those efforts only made Saturday's moment more enjoyable, as Moser watched the seeds he sowed reach full bloom.

“I’ve been really making an effort to connect with the students," Moser said. "Because that’s the long-term vision I have is to create an every-night atmosphere here. ... That’s the vision. I think college basketball has to be fun for the students. I just think it’s so intimate, a basketball thing. That was a great scene. I was just taking it in.”

Ranked wins go a long way toward making that vision a reality, which is why OU's losses in the first half of Big 12 play might sting more than usual.

OU has lost three conference home games — to 10th-ranked Texas, 12th-ranked Iowa State and 17th-ranked Baylor. They've come by a combined total of just six points.

The most recent loss to Baylor was fresh on Moser's mind when he saw Saturday's turnout, which recorded a season-high total for attendance.

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"The first couple of losses, the students weren’t here," Moser said. "But the Baylor game, they came out and gave everything they had. And to see them come out and then have to leave the building on that 2-point loss against Baylor."

But OU's fans went home happy Saturday, and so did Jalen Hill.

A fourth-year Sooner, Hill is the only scholarship player on the roster who played under former head coach Lon Kruger.

Hill saw the 2021 regime change in Norman. And while the 6-foot-6 forward only has one remaining year of eligibility after this season, he takes pride in helping Moser set the foundation for OU's future.

“It means everything to me, honestly," Hill said. "I want (Moser) to be here as long as he can, 10-plus years, (and) him to be a great hall of fame coach. ... That’s just a goal of ours, to help him out.”

In his four years as a Sooner, Hill said he can't recall an atmosphere that compares to the one he witnessed Saturday.

But he hopes to see another great turnout when OU hosts Oklahoma State at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the latest edition of the Bedlam rivalry.

“That’s the best I’ve seen the fans ever since I’ve been here," Hill said. "It would be great if we can have that again on Wednesday.”

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OU vs. OSU

TIPOFF: 8 p.m. Wednesday at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman (ESPN2)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU basketball win over Alabama is culture builder for Porter Moser