Tag: Oklahoma Basketball

Oklahoma Sooners add 4-star power forward to 2025 class

The Oklahoma Sooners add 2025 four-star power forward Andreas Holst for the 2025 recruiting class.

Porter Moser and the Oklahoma Sooners added another big-time prospect to the 2025 recruiting class, earning a commitment from Danish four-star power forward Andreas Holst.

Holst is a 7-footer that has the ability to stretch the floor, play off the dribble, and is really good in transition. He’s considered the No. 54 player in the 2025 recruiting class and joins fellow four-star forward prospect Alec Blair.

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Holst has a really nice spot up jumper and shows off good range. He runs the floor well and displays good touch around the basket. Holst shows good basketball awareness and is effective without the ball in his hands as a backside cutter.

He’ll need to continue to add to his frame to play at the collegiate level in the US, but he’s a skilled player that will make a huge impact on the Oklahoma Sooners offense.

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Oklahoma basketball earns commitment from 2025 four-star wing Alec Blair

Oklahoma lands elite dual-sport athlete in Alec Blair.

[autotag]Porter Moser[/autotag] has had an incredibly fun end of July. On Tuesday evening, Moser’s July grew a bit brighter as the Sooners landed a commitment from four-star wing Alec Blair.

The top-50 junior is one of the best dual-sport athletes in the country. Alec plays at De La Salle High in Concord, California. He is a bit of a rarity as he is a top-notch baseball player and a star on the basketball court.

He’s an intriguing prospect on the court who uses his length and advanced knowledge of the game to attack defenses and create opportunities for others. It would not be shocking to see him play point forward or point guard in college. He’s that much of a talented facilitator.

He chose Oklahoma over offers to play at California, Clemson, Notre Dame and USC.

The Sooners offered him back in September 2023, and his relationships with Clayton Custer and head coach Porter Moser, along with his chats with the OU baseball team, led him to Norman.

He is a rangy outfield prospect with power to all fields on the diamond. As he continues to get stronger and matures physically, his upside as a lefty power bat should skyrocket. The MLB is always looking for lefty power, so it’s easy to see why he’s becoming a coveted prospect.

In January, Blair Blair spoke with Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports (subscription required) about his future as a two-sport athlete. “I have not made a decision in terms of if I want to play both sports or if I just want to play baseball,” Blair said. “I love basketball. Playing both sports would be a cool opportunity because it is very unique when discussing the sports I am playing.”

By landing Blair, Oklahoma has the No. 19 recruiting class for 2025. Blair is the No. 10 prospect in the 247Sports composite and the 38th-ranked overall prospect according to 247Sports 2025 basketball rankings. He is the No. 4 prospect in the state of California prospect.

It seems things are going to work out either way for Oklahoma athletics. The Sooners landed one of the nation’s best athletes, who will play basketball, baseball, or both in Norman, Oklahoma.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on X @thatmanbryant.

‘Horns down the Sooners, 94-80

Texas reached 20 wins to cap the regular season with a win over Oklahoma.

For the third consecutive year, the Texas Longhorns swept the Oklahoma Sooners on the basketball court. It was the Longhorns’ seventh consecutive win over their hoops rival.

The win turns up the heat on Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser who has yet to beat Texas since taking over in Norman.

Texas head coach Rodney Terry took pressure off himself getting to the 20-win mark for the season. His team did so for the most part without reliance on three point baskets.

The Longhorns attempted 12 three-point shots making six of them. Consequently, Texas made 63.5% of its field goals and scored 94 points. The high scoring output was bolstered by a 22-for-23 performance from the free throw line.

The high field goal percentage and volume of free throw attempts are perhaps a result of more two-point shot attempts. Perhaps, for a program who isn’t afraid to shoot from long range, the team might have found a more efficient way to score given its personnel.

Texas isn’t loaded with three point scorers, but that doesn’t mean it lacks scorers altogether. The scoring output was well distributed on Saturday.

Veteran guard Tyrese Hunter led the scoring for the Longhorns with 30 points on 13 shot attempts. By comparison, fellow guard Max Abmas put up 11 points on 13 shot attempts.

Forward Dylan Disu added 16 points in post-injury action while Dillon Mitchell scored 14 points off the bench. Texas reserves Chendall Weaver and Kaden Shedrick put up nine and eight points respectively.

The Longhorns will look to follow one of their more complete offensive performances with a win in the Big 12 tournament.

Red River Hoops: Texas can’t exhale with No. 11 Oklahoma next

With the Oklahoma basketball game on Tuesday, Texas can’t get too high over its Baylor win.

It’s Red River week in basketball. The No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners (15-3) play host to the Texas Longhorns (13-5) on Tuesday night.

The Longhorns defeated what was then the No. 9 ranked Baylor squad on Saturday. It was just the beginning of a difficult stretch of basketball in the Big 12 conference.

Oklahoma begins a difficult stretch of five games in which the team faces four ranked opponents and three road games. No. 4 Houston and No. 23 Iowa State are the teams Texas faces at home.

The quickest way to ensure a successful stretch begins with defeating a tough Oklahoma team. That will be easier said than done. Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser who put Loyola-Chicago on the map in his time there has his Sooners operating at a high level.

Oklahoma’s leading scorer Javian McCollum averages 14.9 points per game behind a 45.2% field goal shooting percentage and a 93% average from the free throw line. Fellow guard Otega Oweh is next highest on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game and a scorching 59.3% three point percentage.

Just as you could have guessed, Moser’s team can shoot. The question for the Longhorns is whether or not the team can match the Sooners’ scoring output.

On the year, Oklahoma averages 79.3 points per game to Texas’ 77.2 scoring average. The Sooners allow 65.1 per contest to Texas’ 67.4 allowed per game.

ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Oklahoma a 71.3% chance to win the matchup. Texas will look to beat those odds on Tuesday night.

Social media reacts to UNC’s dominant win over previously-undefeated Oklahoma

UNC largely controlled Oklahoma from start to finish in Wednesday night’s game, winning 81-69 in its second-to-last non-conference game.

With a pair of tough, consecutive losses to college basketball powers UConn and Kentucky, the UNC men’s basketball team needed a bounce-back win.

That wasn’t going to be easy on Wednesday night, with the 7-ranked Oklahoma Sooners coming to North Carolina for a highly-anticipated, non-conference clash in the Jumpman Invitational. Oklahoma entered the game averaging 84.4 points per game, which ranks 28th in college basketball, with an 81-47 thumping of Green Bay in its last matchup.

Not only did the Tar Heels just beat the Sooners, they made the Big 12’s lone remaining, undefeated team look uncomfortable throughout in a 81-69 UNC victory.

Carolina forced 18 Oklahoma turnovers, a welcomed sight to see after struggling defensively against UConn and Kentucky. Armando Bacot played much better by being aggressive in the paint, whether draining turn-around hook shots, blocking Sooner shots or pulling down rebounds. Four UNC players scored in double-digits, anchored by 23 from R.J. Davis.

While it wasn’t a home game for the Tar Heels, it sure felt like one. The Spectrum Center, home to the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, was filled with a sea of Carolina Blue. Chapel Hill is just a 2.5-hour drive from Charlotte, while Norman, Okla. is 16.5 hours.

Let’s take a lot at how Tar Heel Nation reacted to the timely victory on social media:

Tar Heels had Sooners first loss of year with big defensive effort

The UNC men’s basketball team played one of its most complete games on Wednesday, dominating previously-undefeated Oklahoma in Charlotte.

There’s no question that entering Wednesday’s non-conference matchup with Oklahoma in the Charlotte, N.C.-based Jumpman Invitational, the UNC men’s basketball team had suffered a couple of tough losses.

The Tar Heels played close with UConn before the Huskies pulled away, while they came all the way back from 12 points down against Kentucky – only for the Wildcats to end things on a hot spurt.

UNC started hot Wednesday night, never eased up and looked like the better team throughout, knocking off previously-undefeated, 7-ranked Oklahoma squad by an 81-69 mark in front of a Tar Heel-heavy crowd.

When the Sooners (10-1) started inching back late in the second half, the Tar Heels (8-3) had an answer. Carolina would either force a couple misses with its strong post presence, including a fired up Harrison Ingram and a much-improved Armando Bacot, or hit clutch shots like a moving three from leading scorer R.J. Davis.

This was worlds different from the Kentucky game, when UNC would choke under pressure with turnovers or rushed shots.

Carolina made a real impact in its statement win over Oklahoma, in large part due to its defense. The Tar Heels stole the ball 10 times – led by four from Ingram, plus blocked four shots – with three coming from Bacot.

UNC struggled with turnovers in the Kentucky loss, giving the basketball away 17 times. UNC took care of the ball much better against Oklahoma, turning it over just nine times to Oklahoma’s 18.

I said Bacot needed to step up tonight – he did big-time, netting 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Bacot was one of four Tar Heels to reach double-figures – Davis led the way with 23, Cormac Ryan dropped 13 and Ingram added 11.

UNC’s bench also played respectable, with head coach Hubert Davis electing to play 10 different Tar Heels. Seth Trimble, Jalen Washington and birthday boy Jae’Lyn Withers, a Charlotte native, combined for 13 points. Zayden High and Brown transfer Paxson Wojcik also saw playing time.

This game was a must-win for Carolina. Not only did UNC win, they beat a good, strong Oklahoma team in dominant fashion.

The Tar Heels have a week off, giving players and coaches alike a chance to spend Christmas with their loved ones, before returning to the Dean Dome on Friday, Dec. 29 to host Charleston Southern.

For now, Carolina can enjoy this win.

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UNC Basketball vs. Oklahoma: Game info, preview, prediction and more

The UNC men’s basketball team will play Oklahoma, for just the second time in program history, on Wednesday night in Charlotte, N.C.

For the first time since Saturday, Dec. 2, the UNC men’s basketball team will play a game in North Carolina.

The Tar Heels will take on Oklahoma inside the Spectrum Center, at 9 p.m. ET, in Wednesday’s highly-anticipated Jumpman Invitational. The Sooners, who currently sit at seventh in the latest AP Poll, are 10-0 with signature wins over Providence, Arkansas, USC and Iowa.

UNC’s played a significantly tougher schedule than Oklahoma, facing the likes of Villanova, UConn and Kentucky, but sits at 7-3 and 11th in the AP Poll. A Tar Heel victory against a strong Sooners team would be the perfect bounce-back, but the Heels need to get more balanced production, excel in areas they’re typically strong in, plus not commit late-game mistakes.

Carolina and Oklahoma haven’t played since the 2009 NCAA Tournament, but both have become accustomed to deep runs over the past several years. The Sooners came close to their first National Title in 2016, making the Final Four, while UNC is two years removed from a title game appearance against Kansas.

Will this matchup start a new rivalry? Who knows, but it’ll pit two high-scoring squads against each each.

Let’s dive into a couple things you should be looking out for in Wednesday’s clash.

How to watch Wednesday’s UNC-Oklahoma Jumpman Invitational clash

The UNC men’s basketball team faces an undefeated Oklahoma team on Wednesday, Dec. 20 in the Jumpman Invitational. How can you watch it?

On Wednesday night, all eyes in the college basketball world will be on the UNC men’s basketball team.

The Tar Heels, coming off yet another exciting matchup against Kentucky on Saturday, face an undefeated Oklahoma squad on Wednesday night in the Charlotte, N.C.-based Jumpman Invitational. This highly-anticipated contest will tip-off at 9 p.m. ET.

Carolina’s led in each of its games this year, but the issue appears to be closing them out. UNC nearly let Tennessee come back from 20+ down, it allowed UConn to pull away and, on Saturday against Kentucky, let the Wildcats explode offensively after Armando Bacot’s second-half, clutch free throw that brought a brief lead to the boys in baby blue.

Oklahoma’s average margin of victory is 23.1 points, with its closest being a 73-71 win against USC on Thanksgiving Friday. For a Carolina team that struggles on the defensive end at times, this could prove to be problematic.

Want to watch Wednesday’s game, but can’t make it in person? Check out how you can watch.

UNC-KENTUCKY, RADIO, AND STREAMING INFORMATION

WHAT: North Carolina (7-3) vs. Oklahoma (10-0)

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C.

TV: ESPN (Watch and stream the game live on ESPN)

SATELLITE RADIO: SiriusXM (84 or 199)

WEBSITE: WatchESPN

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USC basketball to play Seton Hall on Thanksgiving Day in new San Diego event

Boogie Ellis goes to his home town — San Diego — for a 2-day event. @HawkeyesWire and @SoonersWire will also be there!

USC basketball played in the Battle 4 Atlantis last season, the Thanksgiving hoops feast in The Bahamas. This season, the Trojans will play a lot closer to home at a neutral-site event on Thanksgiving weekend.

The Trojans will play the Seton Hall Pirates on Thanksgiving Day at the inaugural Rady Children’s Invitational, held in San Diego.

Our friends at Hawkeyes Wire picked up on the initial report from Jon Rothstein of College Hoops Today and CBS Sports:

“See you in San Diego! The Iowa Hawkeyes will reportedly face the Oklahoma Sooners in the inaugural Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego per Jon Rothstein of College Hoops Today.

“Rothstein reports that there is no timetable for an official announcement, but sources indicate that the event will be held during Thanksgiving weekend. The other two teams set to take part in the event are the USC Trojans and the Seton Hall Pirates.”

USC therefore gets to play two power-conference games in two days. It will play Iowa or Oklahoma on Friday, November 24. The Trojans are loading up on their nonconference schedule. They have already agreed to play Kansas State on November 6 and Gonzaga on December 2. Talented teams should challenge themselves out of conference, and the Trojans are doing just that.

This trip to San Diego means Boogie Ellis gets to go back to his home town for the holidays. He will enjoy playing in front of family and friends. The Trojans obviously hope the home cooking enables him to feast on USC’s opponents with Bronny James not yet able to play.

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Oklahoma Sooners target 2025 small forward Kash Polk

Oklahoma Basketball offers 2025 small forward Kash Polk. He’s a young wing player that offers a ton of versatility out of Argyle, Texas.

Oklahoma and Porter Moser have offered a scholarship to 2025 prospect Kash Polk. Polk is a 6-foot-8, 195-pound small forward out of Argyle, Texas.

It’s early in Polk’s recruitment, and Oklahoma was in on the recruitment at a ground level. Polk also holds offers from Texas A&M and Rice. He should get more offers as he plays more on the Nike EYBL circuit with Houston Hoops. These offers came recently at the Phoenix EYBL event.

He’s a versatile player for his size and would be a massive get for Porter Moser if Oklahoma can close the deal.

Polk’s recruitment is going to continue to heat up, thanks to the EYBL circuit.

Porter Moser’s proven to be a solid coach, but the Sooners haven’t really seen the success yet. There’s been a lot of roster turnover the last two seasons, so Moser needs to find some recruiting success to build the depth of the roster. This is a good indication that Moser’s at least getting the Sooners in the door of with some elite basketball prospects.

Though he’s not yet ranked, look for Polk to see the offers start to roll in this summer and over the course of his junior year at Argyle.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jake on Twitter @jake_faigus