OU men's basketball head coach Porter Moser and redshirt senior guard Nijel Pack spoke to the media this week as the Sooners (13-13, 3-10 SEC) prepare to host Texas A&M (18-8, 8-5 SEC) at Lloyd Noble Center on a special night honoring former Sooner star Buddy Hield.
Here are key takeaways:
Buddy Hield’s No. 24 set to rise to the rafters
Saturday night will be an emotional one in Norman as Hield’s No. 24 jersey is retired and permanently displayed at Lloyd Noble Center. Hield led the 2015-16 Sooners to a Final Four appearance in his senior season and earned National Player of the Year honors that same year.
Moser reflected on watching Hield before he ever coached at OU.
“I just remember the Kansas game,” Moser said. “The whole country was tuned into that Kansas game, and just the competitive nature and everything.”
Now, after getting to know Hield personally over the past several years, Moser said what stands out most is the balance between character and competitiveness.
“He’s got that great ability to be off the floor, just a gem of a human being, and then on the floor he’s a killer the way he competes,” Moser said. “I just think he’s one of the all-time greatest to ever wear the uniform.”
Hield’s return has remained consistent even years after his departure. Moser recalled Hield texting him after a road win in Atlanta and noted that wherever the Sooners travel, even internationally, fans still shout Hield’s name.
Hield’s four-year career also represents a different era of college basketball, something Moser acknowledged. In a pre-transfer portal and NIL landscape, players stayed and developed, allowing fans to build long-term connections.
“He was in an era where the fan base could resonate with guys,” Moser said. “That’s what you’re striving for.”
Nijel Pack nearing historic 3-point milestone
While the program celebrates one of its greatest shooters, another Sooner is closing in on history.
Pack is three 3-pointers away from becoming just the 31st player in NCAA Division I history to make 400 in a career. He leads OU with 16.1 points per game and ranks second in the SEC with 3.2 made 3-pointers per contest. His 44.2% shooting from beyond the arc is third in the conference.
Over the last seven games, Pack has elevated his play even further, averaging 18.7 points and shooting 52% from three (27 for 52).
“I mean, you know, you see the ball through the net, that’s obviously good for confidence,” Pack said after finding his rhythm in Knoxville. “And whatever it takes to get the victory, whether that’s 10 assists, whether that’s scoring, whether that’s defense, whatever it takes, I’m going to do for this team.”
Rebounding, turnovers key against Aggies
OU enters Saturday looking to bounce back after a road loss at Tennessee, where rebounding and turnovers proved costly.
The Volunteers’ pace and full-court pressure created a possession gap that Moser emphasized in film sessions.
“Offensive rebounding when you have a 9 (point) difference, that's nine possessions, and then you have turnovers, you know, plus eight, that's 17 possessions. They got 17 more shot attempts. It's really hard,” Moser said, referencing the combined impact of offensive rebounds and turnovers. “That’s the lesson.”
Texas A&M presents a similar challenge. The Aggies are known for forcing turnovers and creating chaos defensively, ranking second in the SEC for opponent turnovers per game.
“We know Texas A&M is going to press the entire game,” Pack said. “They’re going to try to cause havoc, force turnovers, so we’ve got to make sure we take care of the ball.”
Limiting extra possessions and controlling the glass will be critical as the Sooners aim to protect home court.
Tournament picture still in play
OU men's basketball guard Nijel Pack on NCAA tournament hopes
With the regular season winding down, OU remains focused on positioning itself for postseason play.
“We still have opportunities left,” Pack said. “Luckily, we’re in a conference so good where pretty much every game is going to be a quad 1 or quad 2 game for us, and that’s good for our resume.”
The SEC Tournament also offers a direct path.
“We’re lucky enough to have the SEC tournament where you do really well now, or you win it, you’re an automatic bid,” he added. “We want to finish the regular season strong and take that momentum into the SEC Tournament.”
For Moser, the message is about steady improvement, mentally, physically and tactically, especially against teams that pressure and play with pace.
Next, the Sooners return home Saturday to face Texas A&M at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.
This story was edited by Laurie Jones.
