NORMAN - Oklahoma men’s basketball opened its local media day Tuesday with a roster still taking shape, a few key players still limited, and Porter Moser making it clear he likes what he sees on paper.
The Sooners are six days from tipping off the regular season against East Texas A&M at Lloyd Noble Center, and the biggest storyline was Tae Davis, who has rejoined the program after OU announced Monday he was back on the roster. Davis broke his foot during a pre-draft workout and has not been medically cleared to practice yet, even though he is legally able to.
He also is not yet eligible and will need to file a lawsuit to pursue a fifth year. Moser never backed away from the possibility of bringing him back.
“I always saved a roster spot for him,” he said.
Moser was equally bullish on the overall group, saying Tuesday he believes this is the best roster he has had on paper. Still, he added a caveat: “I haven't seen it yet,” Moser said, however.
OU has not had its full team available in preseason scrimmages. Guards Dayton Forsythe and Tyler Hendricks are in concussion protocol, Derrion Reid sat out the first scrimmage, and Kai Rogers was not a full participant in Tuesday’s practice.
One player who has drawn strong reviews is SMU transfer guard B.J. Edwards.
Moser described him as “A physical guard. He can put his chest on somebody and really level somebody off.
An SEC athlete,” Moser said. Edwards remains ineligible, and Moser said he believes players from the class of 2022 should get another year.
“The right thing to do now is create less mental problems for these kids,” he said.
Forsythe is expected to be available when the season opens. Moser said he fully expects him to play opening night after the Dale native underwent successful ankle surgery in March.
Forsythe said he dealt with injuries throughout last season and was unable to practice even while appearing in games, logging three to four hours of treatment each day. “It definitely takes a toll not being able to be out there and feel like myself and play like myself,” Forsythe said.
“That was my first major injury that I had throughout my whole life. It was challenging for sure.”
Duke Brennan, a Villanova transfer, also brought a personal connection to the day’s conversations. He played at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, with Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams and reacted to being in the same state as him again, along with Williams’ injury.
“J-Dub, he's a great guy. Very close.
It was super said. We aren't too close nowadays but he'll always be a brother.
Prayers out to him that he can get healthy.”
Moser said freshmen Gage Mayfield and Fatz Wadley could end up being his most athletic players. Mayfield arrived as a consensus four-star recruit and a top-100 prospect out of Hale County High School in Alabama.
The coach also raised the standard for the season ahead, saying of the group, “There's no finish line with this team,” he said. He added that the path to the NCAA Tournament will be difficult even with the field expanding to 76 teams, pointing to the strength of the SEC. “This is going to be a ride like no other in college basketball with the SEC this year,” Moser said.
Former OU forward Sam Godwin was spotted at practice and is now serving as the Sooners’ assistant director of basketball operations.
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