Men's Hoops Opens 2023-24 Slate Against Central Michigan

Monday, November 6

Norman

7 PM

University of Oklahoma

Central Michigan

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Photo by: Ty Russell

Men's Hoops Opens 2023-24 Slate Against Central Michigan

November 05, 2023 | Men's Basketball

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NORMAN – Oklahoma men's basketball opens the 2023-24 season on Monday, Nov. 6 at 7:01 p.m. inside Lloyd Noble Center. The non-conference contest will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing and be broadcast by ESPN+ with Chad McKee (PxP) and Doug Gottlieb (analyst) on the call.

Oklahoma vs. Central Michigan
Date: Monday, Nov. 6
Tip Time: 7:01 p.m.
Location: Norman
Arena: Lloyd Noble Center
(Lloyd Noble Center doors open one hour prior to tip)

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FROM LAST SEASON

Oklahoma had the third highest NET strength of schedule in 2022-23 and was only behind conference foes Kansas and Iowa State. The Sooners played 20 quadrant one games and finished 13-2 in games against quadrant 2-4 competition, including a 6-1 mark in quadrant two. Oklahoma finished last season ranked in the top 100 in four NCAA Division I categories. OU was 47th in 3-point percentage defense (31.2%), 94th in field goal percentage (45.8%), 94th in effective field goal percentage (52.4%) and 95th in scoring defense (67.5 PPG).

The Sooners earned four AP Top-25 victories in 2022-23, including wins over No. 2 Alabama, No. 12 Kansas State, No. 22 TCU and No. 23 Iowa State. Oklahoma's 93-69 victory against the Crimson Tide was the Sooners' first win over an AP top-two team since the Sooners knocked off No. 1 Kansas in the 2002 Big 12 Tournament. The 24-point victory margin was the largest in program history against an AP top-five team and it was the third-largest victory margin by an unranked team against an AP top-two team.

2023-24 ROSTER

Sophomore Milos Uzan, sophomore Otega Oweh, senior Sam Godwin, redshirt-sophomore Yaya Keita, redshirt-freshman Luke Northweather and junior Jake Moser compile the group of returners from the 2022-23 season. Uzan appeared in all 32 games and made 24 starts. Oweh started nine games last season and appeared in 28 contests. Godwin, who joined the Sooners as a preferred walk-on, appeared in all 32 games and earned a scholarship following the conclusion of last season. Keita appeared in two games before a season-ending injury and Northweather redshirted.

Uzan was named to the 2022-23 Big 12 All-Freshmen Team, marking the second OU selection in as many seasons. In conference action, the Las Vegas product averaged 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest. Uzan shot 44.6% (66-148) from the field, 38.6% (22-57) from deep and 73.9% (17-23) from the free throw line. Oweh appeared in 15 Big 12 contests and started eight games, averaging 6.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals per outing. Godwin made appearances in all conference contests, adding 5.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game.

In addition to Oklahoma's returning core, the Sooners added six transfers and two freshmen to complete the 2023-24 roster. Le'Tre Darhard (Utah Valley), John Hugley IV (Pittsburgh), Javian McCollum (Siena), Rivaldo Soares (Oregon), Maks Klanjscek (Houston Christian) and Jalon Moore (Georgia Tech) joined OU from the transfer portal. Kaden Cooper and Jacolb Cole signed with the Sooners and are slated to make their collegiate debuts this season. Cooper and Cole were ranked No. 71 and No. 86 in the 2023 ESPN100, respectively.

2023-24 COACHING STAFF

Armon Gates (assistant coach), Clayton Custer (assistant coach), Brock Morris (director of player personnel and assistant coach) and Paul Jesperson (director of player development and assistant coach) are new additions to the 2023-24 coaching staff. The four new staffers joined assistant coach Ryan Humphrey, who is in his second season on the sidelines in Norman after six seasons at Notre Dame.

Custer returns to the Sooners after a brief stint as an assistant coach at his alma mater Loyola Chicago. The Overland Park, Kan., native spent two seasons as the director of video operations and player development at OU from 2021-23 and one season on Moser's staff at Loyola as director of player development in 2020-21.

Before joining the Sooners, Gates was an assistant at Oregon under Dana Altman for the 2022-23 season. The Ducks finished 21-15 and were one of the final eight teams in the NIT. The Chicago native also made stops at Nebraska (2019-22), Northwestern (2013-18), Loyola-Chicago (2011-13), TCU (2010-11) and at his alma mater, Kent State (2008-10).

Morris and Jesperson joined the Sooners after the NCAA increased the number of men's and women's basketball assistant coaches by two. Prior to joining the Sooners, Morris spent one season as an Ole Miss assistant coach. He also made stops at Louisiana (2019-22 & 2010-13), Daytona State College (2018-19), South Alabama (2015-18) and College of Southern Idaho (2013-15). Jesperson joined the Sooners after three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, serving as player development coach for two seasons from 2021-23 and assistant video coordinator during the 2020-21 campaign.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Oklahoma holds a 65-25 record at Lloyd Noble Center since 2017. The Sooners have won 82.7% (598-125) of their games at LNC since the building opened in 1975. OU's winning percentage at Lloyd Noble Center is second in the Big 12 only to Kansas' 87.8% at Allen Fieldhouse (845-117).