Top Daug Returns to Oklahoma Basketball

NORMAN – Every good dog finds its way home.

After 12 years since its last appearance in Lloyd Noble Center, beloved Oklahoma basketball mascot Top Daug will make its return at OU's home game against No. 3 Kansas on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Top Daug will debut with the women's team just a few days later when the Sooners host TCU on Jan. 19.

"This is going to be a lot of fun," said OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. "The enduring love that our fans have for Top Daug proves that this is a fixture in our basketball tradition. We're excited to welcome back an OU icon and it will be here to stay. There has been an electricity that has followed Top Daug and we look forward to a similar impact in the Lloyd Noble Center this year and beyond."

"We're excited to welcome back an OU icon and it will be here to stay."
- Joe Castiglione

Fans are encouraged to be in their seats 15 minutes before both games for a special pregame introduction.

Introduced as the mascot for Oklahoma basketball in the mid-1980s, Top Daug was a symbol of OU's rise to the top of the Big 8 under legendary head coach Billy Tubbs. Known for leading raucous crowds and performing zany antics, Top Daug experienced two runs to the Final Four (1988 and 2002), four regular season conference titles and six conference tournament crowns.

While cheering on the OU women's basketball squad, the Sooners won a pair of Big 12 titles and reached the 2002 Final Four.

Top Daug retired from the LNC baseline in 2005, but returned for a men's game in 2008 as part of the 20 year 1988 Final Four reunion.

Single-game tickets for the Kansas game start at $30. Fans looking to save on multiple marquee home games are encouraged to purchase OU's three game mini plan. The package includes games against Kansas, Oklahoma State (Saturday, Feb. 1) and a Saturday game of your choice – TCU (Jan. 18), Mississippi State (Jan. 25 in OKC) or West Virginia (Feb. 8).

All students who purchased football season tickets have free access to men's basketball games by scanning their OU student ID. Students who did not purchase football tickets can claim single-game student tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis at the student entrance for $5.

In celebration of Top Daug's Jan. 14 return, fans will be treated to the halftime act Christian and Scooby. The first 500 students in attendance will receive a free BoomSquad hat.

Tickets for Top Daug's women's basketball return against TCU start at just $10. OU students are granted free admission to all women's basketball home games. The first 500 fans will receive a Top Daug t-shirt jersey while all fans will have an opportunity to take their picture with Top Daug in the Kids Zone from 1:30 to 2:30.

Oklahoma is offering a flexible six-game women's basketball mini plan starting at just $35. The package allows fans to pick the matchups they want to see the most and select any six games at one low price.

Mini plans and single-game tickets can be purchased through the OU Athletics Ticket Office (800-456-4668) and SoonerSports.com/Tickets.