Mar 2, 2024; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Porter Moser gestures to his staff on a play in opposition to the Houston Cougars in the course of the second half at Lloyd Noble Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Photos After falling wanting the NCAA Event final spring, Oklahoma jumps into the 2024-25 basketball season Monday night time when it hosts Lindenwood in Norman, Okla.
Sooners coach Porter Moser has but to take his staff to the NCAA Event in his three years on the helm, however final yr was the hardest blow. Oklahoma began the season 10-0, was ranked as excessive as seventh within the nation in mid-December, however struggled within the Large 12, ending ninth within the convention and was declared the final staff out of the 68-team subject.
The Sooners had been 20-12 (8-10). Oklahoma declined an NIT bid, with Moser saying he was considering of the well being and well-being of his gamers.
Oklahoma will look totally different when it takes the ground Monday, and never simply due to the brand new SEC logos on the ground; that is the Sooners’ first season within the SEC. Javian McCollum, who averaged 13.3 factors final season, transferred to Georgia Tech. Glenn Taylor Jr. transferred in from St. John’s to Oklahoma after beginning 21 video games for the Purple Storm.
All-Large 12 honorable point out choice Jalon Moore is the Sooners returning main scorer with 11.2. He made 31 begins final season.
Brycen Goodine is a sixth-year senior who has performed at Syracuse, Windfall and most lately Fairfield. He shot 46.7 % from three-point vary final yr for the Stags.
Moser additionally praised redshirt freshman Jacolb Cole, a wing participant. Cole was the seventh-rated participant in Missouri in 2023.
“He embraced it [being a redshirt]. We had a talent growth play for him; bear in mind, he tore his ACL in highschool, he is a 6-8 wing participant, a lefty,” Moser mentioned. “He offers us a giant physique wing. I actually like his toughness.”
Lindenwood is beginning its third season as a Division I basketball program. A member of the Ohio Valley Convention, the Lions completed 9-22 (3-15) final yr.
Coach Kyle Gerdeman is in his sixth season with the Lions, and he’s optimistic about this system he’s constructing.
“I feel in all probability, like quite a lot of quite a lot of groups within the convention, just about a brand new staff,” he mentioned. “We have got some returners again however bringing in, , quite a lot of new guys, some Division I transfers, just a few highschool youngsters, three freshmen, couple of junior faculty youngsters as nicely.
“I feel quite a lot of quite a lot of unknown however I feel quite a lot of pleasure as a result of I do really feel … we have form of been capable of construct a base for our program.”
–Area Stage Media