Porter Moser started his look at SEC Basketball Media Days by talking about what he envisions being one of many pillars of his program.
Retention.
Nothing is assured on this period of the switch portal however no participant was maybe as necessary to retain for Moser this previous offseason than Oklahoma level guard Xzayvier Brown. The stepson of Sooners assistant coach Justin Scott, Brown began all 37 of the Sooners’ video games final season and led OU in minutes, whereas averaging 15.4 factors per recreation.
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Brown is likely one of the solely start line guards Moser has returned for a second season throughout his Sooners tenure.
“We had been capable of shrink the hole of what we may do for him, but additionally, he acknowledged that we had been a tradition of him getting higher,” Moser mentioned. “He received higher all year long. The connection piece, the piece of trusting him as a degree guard with him and I, our relationship as a result of I inherently really feel that the enterprise facet, everybody talks proper now about recruiting is transactional, and it’s.
“It’s, however it does not imply that your teaching needs to be transactional.”
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Oklahoma guard Xzayvier Brown (1) seems to move within the first half throughout an NCAA Males’s basketball recreation between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Saint Francis Crimson Flash at Lloyd Noble Heart in Norman, Okla., on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.
OU was additionally capable of retain ahead Derrion Reid, who began all 37 video games, averaged 11.7 factors and located his stride in the course of the Sooners’ late event push, in addition to veteran depth piece Dayton Forsythe, who battled fixed accidents a yr in the past.
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Moser credit new athletic director Roger Denny for not solely believing in him sufficient to retain him after lacking the event for the fourth time in 5 seasons, however for upping this system’s sources. OU added a ton of expertise by way of the switch portal, buying Pop Isaacs from Texas A&M, B.J. Edwards from SMU and Duke Brennan from Villanova, all of whom have performed over 100 profession video games.
One among Denny’s first steps was hiring Moser a common supervisor to construct the roster so Moser may give attention to his ardour — teaching.
“I really like that our administration — now we’ve a GM,” Moser mentioned. “I have never had a GM. I’ve needed to put on many hats. I am a ball coach. I really like to educate ball. I really like the relationship-building of that. You need to lean into that. However the enterprise facet of every little thing, expectations is not to fall quick. I admire that. I admire my AD Roger Denny popping out and saying that. The expectations they’ve and the sources they’ve given. These are some folks that you just actually admire.”
Regardless of the dearth of success, Moser’s confidence in himself and what he believes he can proceed to construct with the Sooners hasn’t wavered.
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Brown sees the imaginative and prescient as properly.
“I belief Coach Moser,” Brown mentioned. “I really feel like we will win right here and I by no means actually had a considered leaving. I simply really feel like we will construct on what we had final yr. And why not – why not Oklahoma?”
OU was picked twelfth this week within the SEC preseason predicted order of end as voted upon by a choose panel of each convention and nationwide media members. However there is a sturdy perception from Moser — particularly if Brennan and Edwards are eligible — that the Sooners have an opportunity to shock.
It additionally helps having the vote of confidence and a dedication to supporting this system from Denny and the assistance of McKay.
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Moser believes within the trajectory of OU basketball. The Sooners start their quest to get again to the NCAA Match in opposition to East Texas A&M on Nov. 2 at Lloyd Noble Heart.
If OU has a profitable season, Moser believes it’s going to begin with its returners. Notably Brown.
“I do know the place I am going,” Moser mentioned. “I am assured in my religion within the Lord of the place we’re going with this. I am assured with the group we’ve.”
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a narrative concept for Colton? He will be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Help Colton’s work and that of different Oklahoman journalists by buying adigital subscription in the present day at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This text initially appeared on Oklahoman: Retaining OU basketball PG Xzayvier essential to Sooners’ plan beneath Porter Moser