SPOKANE, Wash. — If this were a tribe on Survivor, Jeff Probst would have snuffed Oklahoma’s torch before the first commercial break. The Sooners were outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted from the opening tip, dropping their first true road test of the season 83-68 to No. 21 Gonzaga on Saturday night at Numerica Veterans Arena.

Nothing went right. Oklahoma shot a frigid 39.7% from the field, clanked 23.1% from beyond the arc, coughed up 16 turnovers, and were bullied on the glass 46-39. Those are the kind of numbers that get you sent home packing — and in this case, on a long flight back to Norman wondering what just happened.

But here’s the thing: it’s okay. Really. This wasn’t a conference game. It wasn’t even December yet. What unfolded in Spokane was less a red flag and more a snapshot of a team still learning how to walk in new shoes. Oklahoma isn’t broken — it’s just not assembled yet.

At the heart of the Sooners’ potential is a trio that could, in time, become their own version of a Big Three: Nijel Pack, Tae Davis, and Derrion Reid. Pack, the crafty transfer guard, brings scoring punch and playmaking. Davis offers athleticism and versatility on the wing. Reid, the highly touted freshman, has the tools to be a two-way force. 

On paper, it’s intriguing. On Saturday, it was disjointed. The three combined for 39 points but on 12-of-31 shooting, with little synergy. They weren’t on the same page — they weren’t even reading the same book.

Across the floor stood a Gonzaga squad that looked like it had been forged in the fires of March. Mark Few, a future Hall of Fame coach, rolled out a roster stacked with grown men who’ve seen every defense imaginable. 

The Bulldogs had eight upperclassmen in their scholarship rotation. Oklahoma, by contrast, dressed just eight healthy scholarship players total. That’s not an excuse — it’s context.

The experience gap was glaring. Gonzaga’s leading scorer, Graham Ike, dropped 19 points in his sixth year of college eligibility. He’s been hooping since before COVID shut down the world. 

Tyon Grant-Foster, in his seventh year, chipped in 14 efficient points in just his second game as a Bulldog. These aren’t kids figuring out rotations — they’re veterans executing a system that’s been refined for decades under Few.

The most telling stat? Rebounding. Gonzaga feasted on the defensive glass, limiting Oklahoma to just eight second-chance points while grabbing 18 offensive boards of their own. The Sooners were physically overmatched in the paint, and it showed in every loose ball, every box-out, every putback. 

If Oklahoma wants to compete in the SEC — a league that punishes weakness on the glass — cleaning up the defensive boards has to be priority No. 1.

The pieces are there. The chemistry? Still in the lab. 

Head coach Porter Moser now has a clear diagnosis. His team needs reps — together. The non-conference slate offers exactly that: a gauntlet of Nebraska, Marquette, Wake Forest, Arizona State, and in-state rival Oklahoma State. 

These aren’t cupcakes. They’re stress tests. Each one is a chance to tighten rotations, build trust, and figure out who closes games.

Moser’s challenge is clear: get this group to play as a unit, not five individuals with highlight reels. The talent is undeniable. The margin for error in the SEC, however, is razor-thin. Games like Saturday’s expose cracks — but they also offer blueprints for repair.

For now, the Sooners lick their wounds and turn the page. They’ll return to Norman for a quick turnaround against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Tuesday at McCasland Field House. Tip-off is 7:00 p.m. CT on SEC Network+, part of the annual McCasland Student Game. 

It’s a chance to reset, regroup, and remind themselves that November losses don’t define February runs.

Oklahoma isn’t ready for primetime — not yet. But with time, toughness, and togetherness, they just might be by the time the lights get brightest.

UP NEXT: Oklahoma vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 7:00 p.m. CT, McCasland Field House, SEC Network+.