The Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball team is facing a significant offseason with substantial roster changes under head coach Porter Moser. Despite some growth last year, the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season, which is concerning for a program of Oklahoma’s caliber.
Key players Le’Tre Darthard and Rivaldo Soares have exhausted their eligibility, and Milos Uzan, John Hugley, and Otega Oweh have entered the transfer portal, creating major gaps in the roster. To counterbalance these departures, the Sooners have added two new recruits but still need to fill four spots via the transfer portal. Potential targets include Brandon Garrison, Sean Pedulla, and Kevin Overton, all of whom have strong ties to Oklahoma high school basketball.
The state of the program is currently not promising, raising questions about whether players are aligning with Moser’s vision for the team. In today’s college basketball landscape, successful programs can be built through the transfer portal, as evidenced by North Carolina State and Alabama.
To improve, Oklahoma must become more competitive in attracting top-tier transfers. This requires increased support from the university and its supporters, particularly in terms of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) opportunities, which are crucial for drawing and retaining talent. Enhanced backing could lead to better performance on the court and, subsequently, greater fan engagement and attendance.
