Mussatto: Porter Moser to DePaul rumors came at bad time for Oklahoma basketball
Addressing the rumors connecting him with the DePaul job, OU coach Porter Moser had a “very simple” message to his team.
“It’s all false,” Moser said. “It’s all fake. They know me. They know how absolutely I’m locked in here. It got to the point where it was so much on social media. I addressed it. This is the second time I’ve addressed it now. I’m not gonna address it any more. I told them that. We’re full steam ahead trying to compete and prepare for TCU.”
No matter where the Moser to DePaul rumors came from, if there was a shred of legitimacy to them or none at all, the timing couldn’t have been much worse for the Sooners.
The rumors reached a crescendo Monday, not 48 hours before OU’s second-round Big 12 Tournament tilt against TCU — a win that both squads need to feel good about their NCAA Tournament chances.
OU is likely in, but beating TCU would all but cement a bid for the Sooners. TCU is on the bubble, among the “last four byes,” according to ESPN’s bracketology.
More: John Hugley IV, Rivaldo Soares out vs. TCU at Big 12 Tournament
Simply put, the Sooners can’t afford to mess around in Kansas City thinking they’ve already banked a bid.
“The pressure is like any game,” Moser said. “We’re competing to win. We’re doing that against TCU. We feel great about where we’re at in terms of the resume, but we want to come in and compete and win a Big 12 Tournament. You gotta do that by winning the first.
“And that’s the guys’ mindset. They’ve been completely locked in. We had a great practice before we left. We had a great practice here in Kansas City. They’ve been giving everything they’ve got.”
Maybe that laser focus steered the Sooners from social media. Probably not.
Moser’s players no doubt read the rumors on X like the rest of us did. Then read Moser’s post, denying the rumors and reaffirming his commitment to OU.
Seems like it could distract the Sooners, but Moser pushed back.
“Not at all,” Moser said Tuesday. “This is the second time I’ve addressed it … I answered it then, I answered it last night in a statement. So I just want to put it to bed again and focus all my thoughts on our team and beating TCU and advancing in the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. I’ve addressed it twice now.”
More: Best of Bedlam men's basketball in Big 12 era: Top OU, OSU players, games
Sure enough, Moser has denied the DePaul rumors in back-to-back months.
One needn’t squint to see why the two would be connected. If you’re DePaul, the largest Catholic university in the U.S., why not go after the Catholic guy who used to coach at another Catholic school in Chicago?
I mean, what’s next, Moser to Notre Dame … oh, wait, that was last year.
“I’m not gonna answer it any more,” Moser said. “Let’s talk about TCU.”
OU vs. TCU
TIPOFF: 2 p.m. Wednesday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. (ESPN+)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Porter Moser to DePaul rumors came at bad time for Oklahoma basketball
