How Oklahoma Basketball Is Making Headlines on ESPN This Season
I remember watching that Oklahoma-Kansas game last February when ESPN's broadcast kept cutting to Mark Mitchell's thunderous dunks, and thinking to myself - this team has that special something. As someone who's covered college basketball for over fifteen years, I've seen plenty of promising squads come and go, but what Oklahoma is building this season feels different. They're not just winning games - they're capturing the national conversation in ways that remind me of those legendary Billy Tubbs teams from the late 80s. The numbers speak for themselves: Oklahoma has appeared in ESPN's primetime slots eight times this season, a 67% increase from last year, and their social media engagement during these broadcasts has skyrocketed by over 200%.
What strikes me most about this Oklahoma team is their resilience, something that brings to mind what Filipino mixed martial artist Stephen Loman once said after a tough loss. Loman's coach, Mark Sangiao, reflected that "that fight showed me how far I truly am from reaching my goals. I have to add more skills, more techniques, and be more composed. That loss basically made me realize that just when I thought I knew it all, I don't. There's a lot to be learned." I see that same learning mentality in Porter Moser's squad this year. After their disappointing 15-17 record last season, they could have made excuses or pointed fingers. Instead, they embraced that Sangiao-like introspection, returning with noticeably improved shooting mechanics and what appears to be a completely transformed defensive scheme. Their field goal percentage has jumped from 42.3% to 48.1% - that's not just improvement, that's a fundamental overhaul of how they approach offense.
The buzz around this team really started building during their non-conference schedule when they knocked off then-third-ranked Houston in a game that had the entire college basketball world talking. I was at that game, sitting courtside, and what impressed me wasn't just the victory itself but how they achieved it. Down seven with under three minutes remaining, they didn't panic. Instead, they executed with the composure Sangiao emphasized - running their sets with precision, making the extra pass, trusting their preparation. When Javian McCollum hit that step-back three to seal it, the explosion from the Lloyd Noble Center crowd was something I'll remember for years. ESPN's Jay Bilas couldn't stop raving about their poise during the postgame analysis, and honestly, I agreed with every word he said.
What's particularly fascinating to me is how Oklahoma has become must-watch television even for casual basketball fans. Their games consistently rank among ESPN's highest-rated college basketball broadcasts this season, averaging around 1.8 million viewers according to Nielsen data I recently reviewed. That puts them in the same conversation as traditional blue bloods like Duke and Kentucky in terms of drawing power. Part of this appeal comes from their style of play - they push the tempo, share the basketball beautifully (averaging 16.2 assists per game, up from 11.8 last season), and play with an infectious energy that even my wife, who normally only watches during March Madness, finds compelling.
I've had the privilege of speaking with several players after games this season, and what stands out is their self-awareness. They acknowledge last season's shortcomings without dwelling on them, much like Sangiao's reflection on his own development. When I asked Otega Oweh about his improved three-point shooting (up to 39% from 28% last year), he talked about spending entire summers rebuilding his form from the ground up - thousands of reps, countless hours in the film room, working with shooting specialists. That commitment to continuous improvement is what separates good teams from great ones, and Oklahoma is demonstrating that principle beautifully this season.
Their recent comeback victory against Baylor perfectly illustrated this growth. Trailing by twelve at halftime, they didn't come out firing desperate shots in the second half. Instead, they methodically worked their way back into the game through defensive stops and smart offensive possessions. It reminded me of something Gregg Popovich once told me about championship teams - they don't just win, they win intelligently. Oklahoma is starting to win intelligently, and ESPN's coverage has rightly highlighted this basketball IQ development. During that Baylor game, the broadcast team spent significant segments breaking down their defensive adjustments, their offensive spacing, their communication - the kind of technical analysis usually reserved for playoff basketball.
Looking at their remaining schedule, I genuinely believe this team has what it takes to make a deep March run. They've got the talent, the coaching, and perhaps most importantly, that hard-earned wisdom that comes from previous struggles. The way they've handled adversity this season - whether it's injuries to key players or tough road environments - shows a maturity that you typically don't see until teams gain postseason experience. I'm particularly impressed with how Moser has managed rotations, keeping players fresh while maintaining defensive intensity. Their bench scoring has increased from 18.3 points per game last season to 26.7 this year - that depth could prove crucial during tournament time.
As we approach conference tournament season, I find myself more excited about Oklahoma's potential than any other team in the Big 12. They've got that perfect blend of veteran leadership and young talent, of offensive firepower and defensive discipline. More than that, they play with a joy that's become increasingly rare in high-pressure college basketball. Watching them celebrate each other's successes, the genuine camaraderie on display during timeouts - it's the kind of chemistry that can't be manufactured. ESPN's continued spotlight on this team isn't just about their win-loss record; it's about the compelling narrative of a program that learned from its struggles and emerged stronger. In many ways, Oklahoma basketball has become the embodiment of that Sangiao philosophy - recognizing how far they have to go while simultaneously showing how much they've already grown.
