Welcome back to our 82 in 72 countdown at The Center Hub! If you have been keeping up with our countdown, thank you!

To see the previous teams ranked in the 82 in 72 series, please see below:

75. West Virginia Mountaineers

76. Georgia Bulldogs

77. UAB Blazers

78: Wisconsin Badgers

79. San Diego State Aztecs

80. Missouri Tigers

81. Northwestern Wildcats

82. Loyola Chicago Ramblers

Coming in this installment is a team that I am anxious to watch for a variety of reasons! This program has a handful of new faces, is entering a new conference this season and has a coach who is entering his fourth season(at the school) while still looking for his first tournament berth. This is a team I am much higher on compared to my colleagues…we are talking about the Oklahoma Sooners and Porter Moser, who come in at #74!

Steven	Maxwell	Kam	Cody
80	45	Unranked	86

Many around Norman would argue that Porter Moser’s seat is fairly warm entering the 2024-2025 season, and I would have to agree. Oklahoma has rarely missed the tournament over the last fifteen years, and most of those absent years(previous three) have been under Moser(The Sooners only missed the tournament twice under Lon Kruger). Coach Moser and the Sooners struggled in the Big 12 over the last few seasons, but I think playing in the SEC with their new roster could propel this team to greater success than most think…

Experience is the main selling point for the Sooners this year, with the six transfers they’ve added, just on the perimeter, they bring over 20+ years of college experience into the program. These six transfers also bring a collective three point average from 2023-2024 of 39.4%. Porter Moser prioritized shooting and experience in the offseason and that is exactly what Kobe Elvis brings with 80 starts while at Dayton and a career littered with positive shooting splits. Elvis likely slides into one of the starting roles for the Sooners and will be a good fit in the SEC given his play speed, IQ and shooting prowess. While Elvis is likely starting at one of the guard spots, Fairfield transfer Brycen Goodine should slide into another starting spot in the backcourt. Goodine had multiple 20+ point performances last season at Fairfield and came onto my radar after a 40 point game against Sienna. At 6’4″ with a projected plus wingspan, entering his sixth season of college basketball(and coming off a career year), Goodine should be ready for SEC competition. The final starter in the backcourt this season should be redshirt senior Duke Miles, who of these three guards, brings the most scoring ability. Miles averaged 14+ points per game two years ago at Troy and 17+ per game last season at High Point. Miles is a patient and plus passer who can play the lead guard role or be effective off the ball as a shooter, making him a likely starter for the Sooners this season.

Jadon Jones will be the likely first guard off the bench this year for Porter Moser. Jones, a grad transfer from Long Beach State, averaged 12 points and nearly 2 steals a game last season. St. John’s transfer senior Glenn Taylor jr. will be in the backcourt rotation and should have a more clear identity on this roster than he did for the Johnnies. The future-swing for Porter Moser in the Sooners experienced backcourt of newcomers, is Jeff Nwanko. Nwanko was an NJCAA All-American last season and was one of the top JuCo players in the country. Watching Nwanko’s film, he brings good size and strength on the perimeter and can score in a variety of ways. He has good instincts on both ends but unfortunately, Nwanko tore his achilles in summer workouts for the Sooners and will be out for the season. 

In the frontcourt for the Sooners, returning starter and fifth year senior Sam Godwin should slot alongside fellow returning starter(and senior) Jalon Moore. Combining Moore and Godwin’s previous stops with the aforementioned backcourt players, the Sooners have just under 30 seasons of college basketball experience in the rotation I am currently projecting. But experience isn’t everything in college basketball, and most successful teams have some hint of freshman contribution…The Sooners have two tantalizing true freshmen, starting with the big man, Kuol Atak.

The Sooners will need some depth support in their frontcourt this season behind Godwin, Moore (along with possible bench bigs Yaya Keita and Mohamed Wague). I think Kuol Atak could be the third big this season for Oklahoma’s rotation. Atak can stretch the floor and has plus touch and finishing, the major worry for Atak is his current size at only 180 lbs (according to the school). 

Oklahoma’s most exciting incoming freshman is Jeremiah Fears. Fears was a top prospect in the 2025 class before reclassifying to 2024 to join Porter Moser’s squad. Fears averaged over 20 points per game at the 2024 Nike Peach Jam and was also a member of the 2024 USA Men’s U18 National Team which won the gold medal at the FIBA U18 Americup. A two-way guard, Fears’ future likely lies in the NBA. 

In 2024-2025, Oklahoma enters into a new season(and conference)with a coach whose plate is full, and whose seat is heating up. Per Barttorvik, Oklahoma brings in the 12th most experienced roster in the country this season…Porter Moser has loaded the war chest with shooting and experience, along with a couple young swings who should begin to pay-off as the year goes along. Based on my personal rankings, I’m expecting the Sooners to be dancing in March of 2025…