Roger Denny didn’t waste any time making his presence felt in Norman.
Just hours after being introduced as Oklahoma’s new athletic director, Denny was front and center at Lloyd Noble Center, rallying the crowd ahead of the Sooners’ 85-58 win over Texas A&M. And it wasn’t just a cameo. Denny made it clear: he’s here to build something big - something lasting.
“Coach Baranczyk has started a fire in this building; we need to pour gas on it,” Denny told the crowd. “Keep showing up.
Tell everyone you know, get them here. Be loud, be proud.
Let’s carry this thing through March and see how far we can push it.”
That energy? It’s contagious.
And judging by the way the No. 10 Sooners (17-4, 5-3 SEC) are playing, the timing couldn’t be better.
Oklahoma’s win over the Aggies (8-9, 1-7 SEC) marked their third straight victory - a streak that kicked off with a statement upset over then-No. 3 South Carolina on Jan.
- The Sooners are heating up at just the right time, and the momentum from last season’s Sweet 16 run - their first since 2013 - is starting to feel less like a flash and more like a foundation.
That’s exactly what Denny wants to build on. He isn’t shy about it either.
“I haven't shied away at all from conversations about dynasties,” he said. “I think that's what Oklahoma deserves.
I think that's what we're going to go get. More than anything, it's the unwillingness to offer any conditions to success.”
That’s not just talk - Denny’s resume backs it up. During his time at Illinois, the men’s basketball team claimed the Big Ten regular-season title in 2022, won the conference tournament in 2024, and made it to the Elite Eight that same year.
Illinois punched tickets to March Madness in all four seasons under his leadership. On the women’s side, the Illini earned NCAA Tournament berths in 2023 and 2025, and took home the 2024 Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament title - a strong showing for a program on the rise.
Now, Denny steps into a program already trending upward under head coach Jennie Baranczyk. Since taking over in 2021, Baranczyk has turned OU into a perennial tournament team after the Sooners missed the postseason three straight years before her arrival. Every season she’s been at the helm, Oklahoma has danced in March.
Baranczyk, for her part, is excited about the partnership with Denny.
“I think one of the most amazing things is how amazing Joe C is, and to see the foundation that he is leaving and has left here is absolutely incredible,” she said, referring to outgoing athletic director Joe Castiglione. “I think Roger is a really good hire. … He’s a good person, which makes all of us at Oklahoma really proud.”
And there’s plenty to be proud of on the court right now.
Freshman phenom Aaliyah Chavez continues to live up to the hype. The five-star guard - who leads the team in scoring at 19 points per game - chipped in 14 points and five assists against Texas A&M. She’s the kind of talent that can anchor a deep postseason run, and she’s not doing it alone.
Senior guard Payton Verhulst added 16 points and four rebounds, while senior center Raegan Beers contributed 12 points and five assists. That trio is the engine behind the nation’s No. 3 offense - a unit that’s humming as the Sooners head into the heart of SEC play.
Next up? A major test.
Oklahoma travels to Austin for a showdown with No. 4 Texas (19-2, 4-2 SEC) on Sunday.
Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Moody Center, with the game airing on ABC. It’s a chance for the Sooners to keep the streak alive and make another national statement.
With Baranczyk on the bench, Chavez leading the charge, and Denny setting the tone from the top, Oklahoma isn’t just dreaming big - they’re starting to look like a program built to make those dreams real.