The Oklahoma Sooners basketball program finds itself facing a familiar foe this offseason – the transfer portal. After a disappointing finish that left them out of the NCAA Tournament yet again, key player have once again opted to explore greener pastures. This marks the third consecutive year Oklahoma has seen players depart via the portal, after having played crucial roles for the team during the season, raising serious questions about the program’s direction under Coach Porter Moser. It’s one thing for a guy down the bench to hit the portal, but multiple guys who were in the starting five are leaving the program…yet again.
Is There a Disconnect Between Coach and Players?
The sheer number of departures can’t be ignored. It’s natural for some player movement to occur, but three straight years of key exits suggest a potential disconnect between Coach Moser and his players. Are his coaching philosophies not resonating with the talent he’s recruiting? Is the system not producing the desired results, leading players to seek opportunities elsewhere? These are questions Coach Moser will need to address to stabilize the roster.
The Transfer Portal: A Double-Edged Sword
While the departure of experienced players is undoubtedly a blow, Oklahoma has also been active in the transfer portal itself. Coach Moser has used the portal to bring in talent like Le’Tre Darthard and Javian McCollum, who played a key role in the team’s improved performance this season. However, integrating transfers effectively takes time, and relying heavily on the portal can lead to inconsistency. Building a program requires a strong core of players who develop within the system – something Oklahoma hasn’t achieved in recent years.
A Crucial Year for Moser
Entering his fourth season, this is a pivotal year for Coach Moser. The pressure is on to not only retain existing talent but also build a cohesive team that can consistently compete for NCAA Tournament berths. Oklahoma’s upcoming move to the SEC adds another layer of difficulty, as the conference boasts several powerhouses.
Looking Ahead
The Sooners faithful deserve a winning basketball program. Coach Moser has to find a way to stem the tide of player departures and establish a culture that attracts and retains top talent. Utilizing the transfer portal strategically while also prioritizing player development will be crucial for Oklahoma to climb back into the upper echelon of college basketball. In year four, roster turnover can no longer be an excuse for Coach Moser. He’ll need to find a way to turn the tide and bring sustained success back to the program.
Oklahoma Players In The Portal
G – Otega Oweh
F – John Hugley
G – Milos Uzan
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I don’t know man, I’m hesitant to start talking about a disconnect between coach Moser and his players. Is our coach one of the best in the conference? No. But neither was Lon. OU was a top 16 team in the nation (ranked higher than that) and playing an exciting style of ball, and winning when they weren’t supposed to. The coach needs credit for that.
The big 12 has been a shark tank the last several years and it takes luck to come out of it unscathed. Then factor in the political situation with not only the teams that hate OU for leaving and taking all the millions of $ they made for the other teams to take a share of, but also the conference trying to shaft them with schedules and seedings. It been a difficult road for both Mens and Womens hoops.
I could tell Uzan was not happy. His demeanor and body language made it noticeable. Oweh under performed as well, one great play followed by a bad play. They both should stay, except their roll and gut it out, but not in today’s environment. Everyone wants to be “The” player on the team, but at the end of the year it was a couple of transfers that were “The” players, the leaders of the team. Both got injured and no one stepped up.
What’s broken? I Don’t know, but they should have make the tournament with an undefeated quad 2,3 & 4 record.
They didn’t close the year strong because of injuries to key players. Just like Houston.
It happens.
I’m still very much a Moser fan, but I do feel like it’s fair to start asking these questions. Everyone in the Big 12 has adversity. It’s the strongest basketball conference in the country! However, not everyone has the mass exodus of key players at season’s end like Moser does. I’m just simply asking why?
Oklahoma is not known for its basketball. Consequently, players want to be picked up by the best and well-known schools. Oklahoma basketball will have its moments, but year in and year out, they simply can’t compete for the big-time players and we cannot be surprised when players see Oklahoma as a stepping stone to show improvement and then move on. I thought Oweh had the biggest upside last year, but he digressed, so he is not a big loss. The other two are nice players, but not dominant players, and OU can fill the void.