Sooners’ NCAAM Season Review: Highs & Lows

By Werner Ramos

A 20–14 finish and 13th place in the SEC won’t send shockwaves across college basketball, but Oklahoma’s season wasn’t without spark. The Sooners showed flashes of serious potential, driven by a high-scoring backcourt and moments of competitive grit. Still, inconsistency and defensive lapses kept the team from breaking through in a loaded conference.

This review takes a closer look at the year that was—what worked, what didn’t, and what it says about where the Sooners go from here.

Jeremiah Fears Shined Bright, but Depth Was Hit or Miss

Every game felt like Jeremiah Fears’ show. The freshman guard led Oklahoma in scoring (17.1 PPG), assists (4.1 APG), and steals (1.6 SPG). His workload was heavy, and he embraced it with intensity. Fears shouldered the offensive load, often creating his own shot while setting the table for teammates. With over 1,000 minutes played and 581 total points, he didn’t just contribute—he led.

Behind him, Jalon Moore gave the team a strong rebounding presence at forward. Averaging 5.8 boards and nearly 16 points per game, Moore provided consistency in the frontcourt, even if the Sooners struggled to control the paint against elite SEC bigs.

Beyond Fears and Moore, though, the output thinned. Duke Miles was efficient—especially from beyond the arc at 43%—but he didn’t always assert himself offensively. Brycen Goodine and Kobe Elvis offered occasional bursts, but neither emerged as reliable third options. Sam Godwin posted the team’s best field goal percentage at nearly 60%, but his minutes and impact fluctuated depending on matchups.

This imbalance made it hard for Oklahoma to string consistent offensive performances, particularly against high-pressure SEC defenses. Too often, Fears had to do too much.

Strong Start Fizzled in Conference Play

Oklahoma entered SEC play with momentum, sitting at 13–0 by the end of December. The team moved the ball well, shot efficiently, and defended with energy.

However, the SEC schedule revealed a different reality. Oklahoma dropped 13 of its final 20 games, slipping down the standings into 13th place. Defensive breakdowns became more frequent. Rebounding dried up in key moments. Offensively, the team leaned heavily on Fears, and when defenses keyed in, scoring runs became rare.

The Sooners posted an average of just 78.3 points per game. Defensive lapses also hurt them late in close games, with several contests—against Alabama, Auburn, and South Carolina—coming down to final possessions that went the other way.

Their hot-and-cold nature made Oklahoma one of the most unpredictable teams in the conference. At their best, they knocked off strong opponents. But just as often, they stumbled in games they were expected to win. For those interested in betting on the Oklahoma Sooners, this inconsistency made every wager a calculated risk—one game they’d pull off a major upset, the next they’d struggle against a bottom-tier squad.

This tailspin exposed one of the team’s biggest issues: an inability to maintain leads or close tight games. The Sooners often started hot but couldn’t finish strong, a sign of youth and a lack of late-game poise.

Defense Couldn’t Keep Up with Elite Offenses

Oklahoma’s defensive metrics didn’t always tell the whole story, but the eye test revealed trouble containing explosive guards and bigs with range. The Sooners struggled to rotate on perimeter shooters and often failed to protect the rim effectively. They allowed too many clean looks from three and gave up second-chance points due to lapses in rebounding effort.

Sam Godwin led the team in blocks with just 0.6 per game, and no player averaged more than 5.8 rebounds. That’s a tough formula in a conference loaded with physical, high-efficiency post players. Mohamed Wague and Luke Northweather had moments, but Oklahoma never established a dominant interior defender or glass cleaner.

The latest college basketball news continues to highlight the growing importance of two-way players—especially bigs who can defend in space and guards who fight through screens. Oklahoma lagged behind in that regard. Guards like Fears and Miles played the passing lanes well, combining for 3.0 steals per game. But on-ball defense, especially against quicker SEC guards, often broke down.

The Sooners allowed 74.6 points per game in conference play, and that number swelled against top-tier opponents. This defensive inconsistency wasn’t just a matter of effort but often structural. Rotations were late, switches led to mismatches, and closeouts lacked urgency. Oklahoma could score, but they couldn’t grind out stops when they needed them most.

The Bench Never Fully Took Off

For a team that went 20–14, the Sooners got surprisingly little from their bench. Glenn Taylor Jr. and Dayton Forsythe had solid stretches—Taylor chipped in 4.5 points per game while Forsythe shot nearly 45% from three—but neither consistently shifted the momentum of games.

Taylor’s usage was spotty, and though Forsythe showed shooting promise, he didn’t get enough volume to make a major difference. Wague’s efficiency stood out—he shot over 72% from the field—but foul trouble and matchup issues kept his minutes in check. The Sooners needed more scoring punch from their second unit. Without a true sixth man who could come in and change the pace, the starters carried a heavy load. Over the course of a grueling SEC slate, that lack of bench production wore them down.

Injuries and player development played a role, but the depth question lingered all year. Opponents with deeper rotations often pulled away in the second half while Oklahoma’s legs faded.

There’s a Foundation, But It Needs Reinforcement

Despite finishing 13th in the SEC, the Sooners don’t feel far off. Jeremiah Fears looks like a future star. Jalon Moore has shown he can produce at a high level.

What they need is more help—both in the paint and off the bench. The Sooners have to improve their interior defense and rebounding to compete with the top of the SEC. A true rim protector, plus another reliable guard to complement Fears, could completely change the team’s ceiling.

Retention will be key. Oklahoma could bounce back quickly if Fears stays and the staff adds a few transfers or breakout returners. But if they lose key pieces without clear replacements, another middle-of-the-pack finish seems likely.

The good news: There’s talent, there’s youth, and there’s evidence that when things click, Oklahoma can compete with top teams. But after a season of highs and lows, the path forward demands more balance, grit, and complete performances.

If this season showed anything, it’s that the Sooners are close—but not there yet.

 

Werner Ramos is a freelance writer specializing in delivering insightful and engaging content on current events, culture, and trends. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Werner brings complex topics to life for readers worldwide. His work combines accuracy with a fresh perspective, making him a trusted voice in today’s fast-moving news landscape.