Winning Formula: Coach Porter Moser went into the transfer portal and picked up Nigel Pack from Miami and Alabama transfer Derrion Reid. Moser saw Pack play for the Hurricanes in the 2023 Final Four, and Reid started 24 of the Tide’s 37 games last season as he was out with injury for the other 13.
Pack was the Most Outstanding player in the Midwest Regional, which saw the Hurricanes make their first Final Four appearance. Reid shot 45 percent in the Crimson Tide’s rotation, which allowed them to get into the Elite Eight last year.
“Having coached guys that have been to the Final Four, like Cameron Krutwig, Lucas Williamson, Clayton Custer, when they come back, it’s not like they’re satisfied,” said Moser. They want that again. I have that veteran hunger that Nijel brings.”
Joining OU for Dubs: Xzayvier Brown and Tae Davis are two scorers who will dress in the crimson and cream as well. Brown averaged 17.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 4.3 apg last season at St. Joe’s. He comes to Norman as a scorer who received eight different accolades with the Hawks in his two seasons in Philly.
“I’ve leaned into these four guys,” explained Moser. “They all played at a high level. That was important to me. Winning mattered to all four of ’em. That was important to me.”
Davis scored 15.1 points per game with 5.2 rebounds per night at Notre Dame, where he was both the second-leading scorer and rebounder. He started 33 games and shot 47.6 percent from the floor.
“Xzayvier Brown is another veteran in the back court,” commented Moser. “Played at St. Joe’s. Great league in the A-10. Was First Team All-League there.”
We’re Baaack!: Five Sooners return as 6-10 Mohamed Wague, who played Oklahoma’s most minutes at center. Moser also retained Dayton Forsythe, who played in 31 of the Sooners’ contests as he averaged 6.9 ppg over the last 14 outings. He made 32-of-33 free throws and was a consistent defender in his 12.1 mpg.
“Not a lot of freshmen that came off the bench last year and had three double-figure games,” said Moser of Forsythe. “I don’t think there are 10 of them. I think he’s a guy that got valuable experience last year.”
Wague’s experience will be a key component for Oklahoma since he shot 72.3 percent from the floor and was 34-of-52 from the line.
“Mo Wague is a guy that I’m hoping picks up where he left off,” defined Moser. “When Sam Godwin got hurt last year, Mo played those last five games. Twenty minutes a game, he averaged nine and six. Those were all high-level games: Missouri, Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, UConn.
Oklahoma red-shirted Jeff Nwanko and Jordan Jones while Kuol Atak was out for the season.