Tag: Oklahoma Sooners Basketball

Best Photos from Oklahoma Sooners incredible win over Michigan

The Oklahoma Sooners pulled off an incredible win over the Michigan Wolverines and here are some of the best photos from the matchup.

The Oklahoma Sooners continued their incredible run to 11-0 with an impressive 87-86 win over the No. 25 Michigan Wolverines (Coaches Poll).

Oklahoma faced a pair of 11-point deficits in the second half but showed resilience in the face of adversity to battle back both times. Over the final five minutes, Jeremiah Fears and Duke Miles accounted for all 11 of the Sooners’ points.

Fears came through in the clutch with a three pointer with 11 seconds left. He was fouled on the shot, and the true freshman was clutch at the free throw line to give the Sooners the lead and the win.

It’s the first 11-0 start to the season for the Oklahoma Sooners since the 2015-2016 season. That year, the Sooners were led by another dynamic guard, Buddy Hield. Hield was a first-team All-American for an OU team that ended up in the final four.

This is the best team the Sooners have had in the Porter Moser, led by Fears,  Miles, and Jalon Moore. All three scored in double figures on Wednesday night to propel the Sooners to their second top-25 win of the season.

Oklahoma has two more nonconference games against Central Arkansas on Sunday at the Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners have an opportunity to enter SEC play undefeated before they open their conference slate against Alabama, which could be a top-10 matchup in Tuscaloosa.

Relive the Oklahoma Sooners incredible come-from-behind win over the Michigan Wolverines with some of the best photos from the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte.

Oklahoma Sooners, Jeremiah Fears stun Michigan Wolverines in comeback effort

Led by Jeremiah Fears, the Oklahoma Sooners pulled off an incredible come from behind win over the Michigan Wolverines to improve to 11-0.

The Oklahoma Sooners improved to 11-0 on the 2024-2025 college basketball season with an incredible come-from-behind win over the Michigan Wolverines in the Jumpman Invitational.

Jeremiah Fears dazzled with a career-high 30 points, including the game-tying three with 11 seconds remaining, and after being fouled on the three, put the Sooners ahead for good at the foul line.

The Oklahoma Sooners are 11-0 for just the second time in the last 10 years and are now 2-0 against top-25 opponents this season.

Sooners Battled

Porter Moser’s squad showed incredible toughness in the win over the Wolverines. Michigan boasts two of the better big men in the nation in Vladisl Goldin and Danny Wolf. The two combined for 41 points, including 27 first half points.

But Moser made adjustments, and the Sooners defense battled back in the second half to limit the two to just 14 points. Despite being undersized on the inside, Jalon Moore, Sam Godwin, Luke Northweather, and Glenn Taylor Jr. took the fight to the Wolverines impressive big men.

The Sooners overcame 11-point deficits on two different occasions in the second half to take a four-point lead late in the half. And even after they allowed Michigan to take over and go up three with just over a minute to play, Moser drew up a great play to get Fears just enough space to hit the game-tying three with just 11 seconds to play.

It was a resilient win for the Sooners. Through 11 games, Oklahoma looks like a team ready to make a tournament run.

Phenomenal Freshman

Jeremiah Fears has been impressive throughout the season, but he took his game to another level in the win over Michigan. He was 8 of 12 from the field, 3 of 4 from three, and 11 of 13 from the free throw line to lead the Sooners.

His previous career high came in Oklahoma’s other top 25 win of the season against the Arizona Wildcats. Fears has put together his best performances for Oklahoma’s toughest tests.

In the final five minutes of the Sooners’ comeback win, Fears accounted for seven of Oklahoma’s final nine points to earn the win.

He’s been sensational this season and looks every bit the part of a future NBA Draft Lottery Pick.

Three’s the Difference

The Oklahoma Sooners were outrebounded by six on the offensive glass, but they overcame Michigan’s edge on the boards with a really good night shooting from a distance.

Oklahoma was 12 of 25 from three, while Michigan was just 4 of 28 from downtown. Moore, Fears, and Duke Miles each hit three triples and Taylor added a pair off the bench.

If the Sooners can continue to shoot with consistency from three, they’ll be really tough to beat this season. Especially as Fears and Moore continue to finish in the paint.

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Oklahoma Sooners move up in latest USA TODAY Sports Basketball Coaches Poll

Oklahoma Basketball on the rise in latest USA TODAY Sports Basketball Coaches Poll.

The Oklahoma Sooners are coming off of a big win over Bedlam rival Oklahoma State on Saturday. That’s three wins in a row over the Cowboys and the first as nonconference foes.

In their 15-point win, the Sooners had five players score in double figures, led by Sam Godwin and Jeremiah Fears. With the win, the Sooners are one of three undefeated teams in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. The Sooners moved up two spots to No. 15 in the nation this week.

The poll is led by Tennessee, who earned 22 of the possible 31 first-place votes. The Volunteers are followed by Auburn, who earned nine first-place votes. A total of nine teams from the SEC were featured in this week’s poll.

Oklahoma, Tennessee, and No. 6 Florida are the only unbeaten teams in the top 25 this week. The Sooners will put their undefeated record on the line this Wednesday evening when they take on the No. 21 Michigan Wolverines in Charlotte, North Carolina as part of the Jumpman Invitational.

Full USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Rank Team Record Points
1 Tennessee 10-0 765 (22)
2 Auburn 9-1 744 (9)
3 Iowa State 9-1 708
4 Kentucky 10-1 664
5 Duke 8-2 638
6 Florida 10-0 610
7 Alabama 8-2 601
8 Kansas 8-2 518
9 Marquette 9-2 496
10 Oregon 10-1 454
11 Texas A&M 9-2 368
12 Houston 6-3 363
13 UConn 8-3 337
14 Gonzaga 7-3 328
15 Oklahoma 10-0 308
16 Ole Miss 9-1 282
17 Purdue 8-3 264
18 UCLA 9-1 263
19 Michigan State 8-2 178
20 Cincinnati 8-1 146
21 Michigan 8-2 113
22 Memphis 8-2 111
23 San Diego State 7-2 110
24 Dayton 9-2 92
25 Mississippi State 9-1 92

Schools Dropped Out

No. 16 Clemson; No. 22 Wisconsin; No. 25 Baylor;

Others Receiving Votes

Clemson 87; Baylor 79; Illinois 50; St. John’s 48; Drake 44; Utah State 40; Arkansas 31; Maryland 29; Georgia 23; Wisconsin 22; Pittsburgh 21; Missouri 18; North Carolina 9; West Virginia 5; Creighton 5; Texas Tech 3; Penn State 2;

No. 21 Oklahoma Sooners dominate second half to beat Georgia Tech 76-61

Jeremiah Fears and the Sooners rebounded from a sluggish start to run away from Georgia Tech in the second half of their 76-61 win over Georgia Tech.

Coming off of their successful week in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas, the Oklahoma Sooners got off to a sluggish start against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the SEC/ACC Challenge.

Georgia Tech took an 11-point lead with just over 12 minutes to play in the first half, but the Sooners began to chip away, scoring 24 points to close the half down just four. They carried that momentum into the second half, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 46-27 to earn a decisive 15-point win and move to 8-0.

Here are three takeaways from the win.

Shot Out of It

The Oklahoma Sooners didn’t shoot well for much of the first half, but they continued to fire away from deep to find some momentum. [autotag]Kobe Elvis[/autotag], who has been one of Oklahoma’s top three scorers, was 3 of 5 from three to lead the Sooners with nine first half points. All of his points came after the 12-minute mark of the first half.

Those three’s were huge to cut into Georgia Tech’s lead and put the Sooners in striking distance to start the second half.

No Fear(s)

One of the catalysts for Oklahoma’s turnaround was true freshman [autotag]Jeremiah Fears[/autotag], who continues to impress in his first season at the collegiate level. After being held to just two points, one assist, and one turnover in the first half, Fears turned in a stellar performance in the second half.

After the break, Fears scored 16 points on 4 of 7 shooting and was 8 of 9 from the free throw line. He also added five rebounds and two assists to help propel the Oklahoma Sooners to the win.

He finished the game with 18 points to lead the Sooners in scoring, but Oklahoma showed off its scoring depth in the win.

Spread the Wealth

The Oklahoma Sooners had five players score in double figures, led by Fears 18 points. [autotag]Jalon Moore[/autotag] had another strong performance, finishing with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Elvis had 12 points, going 4 of 8 from three-point range. Duke Miles had 11 points and Brycen Goodine had 11 points off the bench.

When the Sooners can get depth scoring like they did against the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday night, they’ll be difficult to beat.

Next, the No. 21 Oklahoma Sooners welcome Alcorn State to the Lloyd Noble Center on Dec. 7 before meeting up with Oklahoma State at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City for the first nonconference Bedlam clash between the two programs.

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Best photos from Oklahoma Sooners week at Battle 4 Atlantis

A look at the best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners week at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament.

The Oklahoma Sooners had a successful week in the Bahamas, taking part in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament. The Sooners went 3-0 with wins over Providence, No. 24 Arizona, and Louisville to secure the tournament title.

Senior forward Jalon Moore earned Most Outstanding Player after averaging 18 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Moore had 24 points in wins over Arizona and Louisville, two strong basketball programs.

It was the fourth season in a row in which the Sooners have captured a regular season tournament title under Porter Moser. Though OU is just seven games into the season, they’re 7-0 and look like a tougher and deeper team than what Moser’s had in Norman in years past.

Oklahoma’s received contributions from a number of sources in their 7-0 start, with Moore, Jeremiah Fears, and Kobe Elvis scoring in double figures on the season. Each of OU’s dynamic trio had at least one 20-point game during the tournament, with Elvis leading the way in the win over Providence, Fears scoring a game-high 26 points against Arizona, and Moore leading all scorers in the tournament final win over Louisville.

The Sooners will be back in action Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Lloyd Noble Center when they take on the ACC’s Georgia Tech.

But before OU returns home, let’s take a look at some of the best photos from the Sooners time in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

Pair of former Oklahoma Sooners included in ESPN’s Top 100 NBA Players

Oklahoma saw two former players make the Top 100 players rankings in the NBA, according to ESPN.

With the 2024-2025 NBA season beginning later this month, ESPN took on the annual challenge of ranking the league’s top 100 players coming into the year.

While the Oklahoma Sooners don’t have very many players currently in the league (a total of four on active rosters at this time), OU did see two players make ESPN’s list.

In a bit of a surprise, Los Angeles Lakers guard [autotag]Austin Reaves[/autotag] made the rankings, checking in at No. 71 on the list. The former undrafted free agent enters he fourth season with the Lakers. He was actually ranked all the way up at No. 66 on this list last year.

Coming off an arduous summer playing for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, Reaves took some time to find his groove last season after bursting onto the scene in the 2023 playoffs. His slight slip in NBA Rank mirrors his shooting efficiency from Year 2 (52.9% from the field and 39.8% from 3) to Year 3 (48.6%/36.7%) and L.A.’s abbreviated postseason run after being ousted in the first round, but it fails to recognize Reaves’ improvement as a playmaker and credit him for playing all 82 games. He should be back on the climb after this season. – Dave McMenamin, ESPN

Atlanta Hawks guard [autotag]Trae Young[/autotag] dropped ten spots from his No. 27 ranking last season, landing at No. 37 on this list. He’s been a Hawk for his entire professional career, and has become the team’s franchise player. He enters Year 7 of his NBA career.

Young appearing in only 54 games last season was concerning enough, but Atlanta winning only 22 of those games was even more troubling. His averages of 25.7 points and 10.8 assists sparkle on the stat sheet — marking the second straight season he averaged 25 and 10 — but his relatively pedestrian shooting numbers (43% overall and 37.3% from 3) dulls that shine just a bit. With Dejounte Murray now in New Orleans, Young should get the ball in his hands more. How well Young vibes with No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher will impact his future ranking. – McMenamin, ESPN

Both Reaves and Young played for the great [autotag]Lon Kruger[/autotag] during his excellent tenure in Norman. Young was one of the best players in college basketball during his one season at that level, while Reaves helped the Sooners to their most recent NCAA Tournament appearance and victory, all the way back in 2021.

Sooners absent from preseason AP Top 25, nine SEC teams featured

Oklahoma Sooners absent from preseason men’s basketball AP Top 25 poll.

Much of the dialogue surrounding Oklahoma and Texas’ move to the SEC centered on each school’s football program and the benefits it would receive. Oklahoma boasts a deep and well-rounded athletic program that would fit in with any conference landscape. OU men’s basketball will also get a bump as it enters the SEC.

Oklahoma’s move to the nation’s premiere basketball conference is set to begin in less than a month. The excitement for the season will soon reach a fever pitch.

On Monday, the preseason AP Top 25 debuted, and unsurprisingly, Porter Moser’s squad was left off.

The Sooners bring back a few players from last year’s team that just missed the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners retooled via the portal in a big way but still have a lot to prove on the hardwood.

Their new conference mates make up 36 percent of the top 25 as nine SEC teams made the poll.

The Sooners will take on eight of those nine schools at some point in their first year in the SEC. The only one they won’t play is the Tennessee Volunteers.

The Oklahoma Sooners will have an incredible challenge ahead of them as they attempt to brave the grind of the SEC schedule. Porter Moser is looking for his first trip to the NCAA tournament since arriving in 2021.

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Oklahoma Sooners pick up commitment from 2025 four-star

Porter Moser and Oklahoma Basketball earned a huge commitment from 2025 center Kai Rogers.

Porter Moser and the Oklahoma coaching staff earned a big-time commitment on Friday as Kai Rogers pledged to play for the Sooners. Rogers is considered a four-star prospect and a top-100 player in the 2025 recruiting class.

He joins a recruiting class that features another top 100 player in California small forward [autotag]Alec Blair[/autotag] as well as one of the top international prospects, [autotag]Andrea Hoist[/autotag].

Despite missing the NCAA tournament each of Moser’s three seasons in Norman, the Sooners have had a strong offseason on the recruiting front. Rogers is the latest win for Porter Moser.

Rogers held notable offers from Florida State, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Indiana, Iowa, Texas, Illinois, and DePaul.

Rogers is a bit of a throwback player in today’s modern basketball world: He wins and dominates from the post. He’s not a stretch four or a stretch five but a true center who scores frequently with his back to the basket, using soft hands and hooks to score over defenders. He’s also unafraid of turning and facing defenses to attack them off the dribble. He can afford to continue to get stronger and play with more intensity more consistently. He has a high ceiling that can be reached with more experience and finding a collegiate team with which he can grow. – Bryant Crews, Sooners Wire

If there’s an area the Sooners have struggled with under Moser, it’s around the rim. Rogers could be an impact player day one with his ability to run the floor, defend the basket, and play with his back to the hoop. They’ve added a legitimate inside presence who will provide a scoring threat to help take pressure off of Oklahoma’s perimeter scoring.

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Oklahoma favored to land consensus four-star center Kai Rogers

Oklahoma Sooners favored to land four-star center Kai Rogers.

Porter Moser and the Oklahoma Sooners had one heck of a summer. The Sooners landed not one but two recruits.

Ultra-talented wing playmaker Alec Blair was the first to come aboard; the top 50 prospect pledged to the Sooners in July. Hailing from Denmark with a skill set that closely resembles many modern big men, Andreas Holst committed in mid-September.

As the calendar turns to October, recruiting for the class of 2025 is heating up. Senior seasons are approaching and the early signing period is right around the corner.

Oklahoma is not done for 2025. That was made abundantly clear on Sunday when national recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw of On3 dropped a prediction favoring the Sooners to land 6-foot-10 big man Kai Rogers.

Rogers is a bit of a throwback player in today’s modern basketball world: He wins and dominates from the post. He’s not a stretch four or a stretch five but a true center who scores frequently with his back to the basket, using soft hands and hooks to score over defenders. He’s also unafraid of turning and facing defenses to attack them off the dribble. He can afford to continue to get stronger and play with more intensity more consistently. He has a high ceiling that can be reached with more experience and finding a collegiate team with which he can grow.

Oklahoma hosted Rogers and his family on an official visit over the summer, and the Sooners have made him a priority since. The only competition Oklahoma has to worry about is former Big 12 foe Iowa State. The Cyclones have a history of landing basketball talent from Wisconsin.

Oklahoma nor Iowa State will not have to wait much longer as the consensus four-star recruit plans to announce his decision on Nov. 6. As it stands, the Sooners are gaining momentum. Landing Rogers would vault the Sooners from the No. 44 recruiting class in the country into the top 20 at No. 16.

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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.

https://twitter.com/tiptonedits/status/1835680057357971490?s=46

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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