We’re now two weeks into the transfer portal window for basketball, but we’re not any closer at all toward assembling the final roster for Oklahoma and Porter Moser for the 2023-24 season.
The Sooners, who finished 15-17 overall, have had the last 14 days to make some moves, but so far? It’s all been about those who are exiting the program.
Week 1 saw freshman Benny Schroder and sophomore C.J. Noland enter the portal. Then last week it was sophomore Bijan Cortes and two-time transfer Joe Bamisile announcing they’ll be playing elsewhere.
Outside looking in, it feels like the panic alarms should be sounding. But if you follow the team, there isn’t that red flag entry just yet. And Moser isn’t deterred at all in what he’s trying to do.
“I think building a program, it’s about development,” said Moser earlier this month. “It’s about instilling your culture. Then it’s about retaining them, so when the new guys come in, we’re like, this is how it’s done. You look at some of the top teams. They’ve been here for a while and their stuff. They’ve retained that, some of their culture.”
“Then you’ve got to combine that with upgrading your talent. You gotta get your roster right. You gotta have your culture, but gotta upgrade your talent every year. Bring in guys that can upgrade that roster. I think that’s part of it as well.”
Transfers
Benny Schroder
Why it’s concerning? It’s the first recruit in a Moser class where he sought them and brought them to Norman and now they’re out the door.
Why it’s meh? Such an unknown coming to Norman, nobody has any clue whatsoever if Schroder could have done something in Norman. Between injuries and COVID-19, it wasn’t a smooth ride for Schroder, and it just didn’t work out.
C.J. Noland
Why it’s concerning? It’s not. Both sides needed a clean break.
Why it’s meh? Writing was on the wall as early as January.
Bijan Cortes
Why it’s concerning? Moser was very public in his admiration for Cortes and wanting him to stick around in the program. If the reason Cortes is leaving is something other than increased playing time, this is very ruh roh. If it’s playing time, hey, it probably wasn’t going to happen for Cortes at OU.
Why it’s meh? Cortes’ role felt OK this season, and you could argue an expanded role might not be the ‘upgrade’ to the roster Moser is talking about.
Joe Bamisile
Why it’s concerning? Again, it’s not. From Virginia Tech to George Washington to OU, things just aren’t clicking for Bamisile. He has tremendous athletic ability, which is something the Sooners need badly through the portal.
Why it’s meh? Personality clash. You could just tell Moser and Bamisile are on two different wavelengths and no compromise came about toward making it better. See where his fourth destination ends up.
***
Anybody else?
Think it’s a very fair question. If you could easily pick these four as guys who would be out the door, are there any more?
You probably have to start with Grant Sherfield. Maybe not so much the portal, but the professional opportunities for Sherfield – might be time to explore them.
Then there’s Jalen Hill. No idea if Hill expects to make some grand announcement one way or another, but again, he would be a sign for Moser. Either way. It could be a great sign Hill sticks around and says he wants another year with Moser. Or it’s a blow to what Moser is trying to build and to what the staff would have to do to field a competitive team next season.
A lot of OU fans would simply say as long as Otega Oweh and Milos Uzan stay, then they’ll just roll with it. Kansas State, NC State are among the teams that showed how quickly you can hit it big when you make the right portal moves.
There’s been nothing to suggest Luke Northweather, Yaya Keita and Jacob Groves are looking around, but things can change so, so quickly.
***
Godwin gets the scholarship
We know one player is returning to OU next season, and we know we can toss away the walk-on label with Sam Godwin.
Godwin, an Oklahoma native, was awarded a scholarship last week and was mobbed by his teammates during the announcement.
You couldn’t ask for much more from Godwin, a transfer from Wofford, who maxed out repeatedly with his performances this season.
If you’re looking for a good sign, Jalen Hill being a part of the social media video at least lets you know that he’s still with the program for the moment.
A well-deserved moment for Godwin that now also checks off a scholarship box for the upcoming season.
***
Moser is home
OU fans were burned before about a coach denying interest in another job when Lincoln Riley left OU for USC. So when Moser said he had zero interest in Notre Dame last month, there was some strong skepticism.
Well, Notre Dame has made its hire, and it’s not Moser. Former Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry will be taking over for Mike Brey with the Irish.
A refresher to what Moser said when I asked last month:
“I’m a Catholic kid from Chicago. We had a lot of success in the Chicago area with that. I have a lot of respect for that university. With that said, I have no interest. I’ve not pursued it, nor do I have any interest. Oklahoma is my home. The Sooners are my home.
“I’m in the beginning process of turning a program around in an era of the transfer portal, of NIL and the Big 12 being in unprecedented territory. Those three and then the COVID extra years. All those colliding and having to rebuild a roster. I’m so committed. I’m home. This place means a lot to me, the people here, the fan base. I’ve spent so much time with the student body, the fan base. So, no, I don’t.
“Of course, everywhere you go, you’re going to have people talking. I know that. There is nothing that can be said to me that is not stopping me from my vision and my passion of where I want to go and how I want to look at building this program and winning here. There is nobody who wants to win more than my staff and I. This place – I believe the people here are so special.
“I can’t control what reports. I can’t control what is said about rumors about jobs. But I can say, unequivocally, that’s a false report saying I pursued it. Unequivocally. And nor do I want to. I’m home. I’m home. I left home to be at home. Does anybody want to win and wish the results were faster? Of course, I do. But they’re going to come. They’re going to come.”
No excuses, time to get the job done.
***
Portal targets?
What we’re all waiting for, right? Portal window closes May 11, so there’s plenty of time. Plenty. But it’s very understandable to wonder why things aren’t materializing quicker for the Sooners.
As of this point, no visits have been set up. We’ve seen numerous players mention OU as showing interest, and it’s giving you an idea that OU is casting its net far and wide.
There have been shooting guards, combo guards, plenty of bigs (which we all know is a necessity), low-to-mid-majors and everything in between. It’s not like OU isn’t keeping its eyes open, just nothing has to come together just yet.
It’s also too early in the portal process to believe the Sooners have missed out on some major targets. That just isn’t the case. As we’re now down to the Final Four, this should be a big week of portal entries with so many teams’ seasons coming to an end.
S/O, as always, to @Fritzie2 and the phenomenal list. Hopefully, sooner than later, some of these names actually end up mattering.
The Sooners, who finished 15-17 overall, have had the last 14 days to make some moves, but so far? It’s all been about those who are exiting the program.
Week 1 saw freshman Benny Schroder and sophomore C.J. Noland enter the portal. Then last week it was sophomore Bijan Cortes and two-time transfer Joe Bamisile announcing they’ll be playing elsewhere.
Outside looking in, it feels like the panic alarms should be sounding. But if you follow the team, there isn’t that red flag entry just yet. And Moser isn’t deterred at all in what he’s trying to do.
“I think building a program, it’s about development,” said Moser earlier this month. “It’s about instilling your culture. Then it’s about retaining them, so when the new guys come in, we’re like, this is how it’s done. You look at some of the top teams. They’ve been here for a while and their stuff. They’ve retained that, some of their culture.”
“Then you’ve got to combine that with upgrading your talent. You gotta get your roster right. You gotta have your culture, but gotta upgrade your talent every year. Bring in guys that can upgrade that roster. I think that’s part of it as well.”
Transfers
Benny Schroder
Why it’s concerning? It’s the first recruit in a Moser class where he sought them and brought them to Norman and now they’re out the door.
Why it’s meh? Such an unknown coming to Norman, nobody has any clue whatsoever if Schroder could have done something in Norman. Between injuries and COVID-19, it wasn’t a smooth ride for Schroder, and it just didn’t work out.
C.J. Noland
Why it’s concerning? It’s not. Both sides needed a clean break.
Why it’s meh? Writing was on the wall as early as January.
Bijan Cortes
Why it’s concerning? Moser was very public in his admiration for Cortes and wanting him to stick around in the program. If the reason Cortes is leaving is something other than increased playing time, this is very ruh roh. If it’s playing time, hey, it probably wasn’t going to happen for Cortes at OU.
Why it’s meh? Cortes’ role felt OK this season, and you could argue an expanded role might not be the ‘upgrade’ to the roster Moser is talking about.
Joe Bamisile
Why it’s concerning? Again, it’s not. From Virginia Tech to George Washington to OU, things just aren’t clicking for Bamisile. He has tremendous athletic ability, which is something the Sooners need badly through the portal.
Why it’s meh? Personality clash. You could just tell Moser and Bamisile are on two different wavelengths and no compromise came about toward making it better. See where his fourth destination ends up.
***
Anybody else?
Think it’s a very fair question. If you could easily pick these four as guys who would be out the door, are there any more?
You probably have to start with Grant Sherfield. Maybe not so much the portal, but the professional opportunities for Sherfield – might be time to explore them.
Then there’s Jalen Hill. No idea if Hill expects to make some grand announcement one way or another, but again, he would be a sign for Moser. Either way. It could be a great sign Hill sticks around and says he wants another year with Moser. Or it’s a blow to what Moser is trying to build and to what the staff would have to do to field a competitive team next season.
A lot of OU fans would simply say as long as Otega Oweh and Milos Uzan stay, then they’ll just roll with it. Kansas State, NC State are among the teams that showed how quickly you can hit it big when you make the right portal moves.
There’s been nothing to suggest Luke Northweather, Yaya Keita and Jacob Groves are looking around, but things can change so, so quickly.
***
Godwin gets the scholarship
We know one player is returning to OU next season, and we know we can toss away the walk-on label with Sam Godwin.
Godwin, an Oklahoma native, was awarded a scholarship last week and was mobbed by his teammates during the announcement.
You couldn’t ask for much more from Godwin, a transfer from Wofford, who maxed out repeatedly with his performances this season.
If you’re looking for a good sign, Jalen Hill being a part of the social media video at least lets you know that he’s still with the program for the moment.
A well-deserved moment for Godwin that now also checks off a scholarship box for the upcoming season.
***
Moser is home
OU fans were burned before about a coach denying interest in another job when Lincoln Riley left OU for USC. So when Moser said he had zero interest in Notre Dame last month, there was some strong skepticism.
Well, Notre Dame has made its hire, and it’s not Moser. Former Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry will be taking over for Mike Brey with the Irish.
A refresher to what Moser said when I asked last month:
“I’m a Catholic kid from Chicago. We had a lot of success in the Chicago area with that. I have a lot of respect for that university. With that said, I have no interest. I’ve not pursued it, nor do I have any interest. Oklahoma is my home. The Sooners are my home.
“I’m in the beginning process of turning a program around in an era of the transfer portal, of NIL and the Big 12 being in unprecedented territory. Those three and then the COVID extra years. All those colliding and having to rebuild a roster. I’m so committed. I’m home. This place means a lot to me, the people here, the fan base. I’ve spent so much time with the student body, the fan base. So, no, I don’t.
“Of course, everywhere you go, you’re going to have people talking. I know that. There is nothing that can be said to me that is not stopping me from my vision and my passion of where I want to go and how I want to look at building this program and winning here. There is nobody who wants to win more than my staff and I. This place – I believe the people here are so special.
“I can’t control what reports. I can’t control what is said about rumors about jobs. But I can say, unequivocally, that’s a false report saying I pursued it. Unequivocally. And nor do I want to. I’m home. I’m home. I left home to be at home. Does anybody want to win and wish the results were faster? Of course, I do. But they’re going to come. They’re going to come.”
No excuses, time to get the job done.
***
Portal targets?
What we’re all waiting for, right? Portal window closes May 11, so there’s plenty of time. Plenty. But it’s very understandable to wonder why things aren’t materializing quicker for the Sooners.
As of this point, no visits have been set up. We’ve seen numerous players mention OU as showing interest, and it’s giving you an idea that OU is casting its net far and wide.
There have been shooting guards, combo guards, plenty of bigs (which we all know is a necessity), low-to-mid-majors and everything in between. It’s not like OU isn’t keeping its eyes open, just nothing has to come together just yet.
It’s also too early in the portal process to believe the Sooners have missed out on some major targets. That just isn’t the case. As we’re now down to the Final Four, this should be a big week of portal entries with so many teams’ seasons coming to an end.
S/O, as always, to @Fritzie2 and the phenomenal list. Hopefully, sooner than later, some of these names actually end up mattering.
