Can the Sooners rattle off enough wins in Nashville to make the Big Dance and save Porter Moser's job?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Oklahoma Sooners enter the 2026 SEC Tournament teetering on the NCAA Tournament bubble, desperately needing a strong showing to secure their spot in March Madness.
As the No. 11 seed with a 17-14 overall record and 7-11 mark in SEC play, the Sooners must string together at least a couple of wins, starting with tonight's first-round matchup against No. 14 seed South Carolina (13-18, 4-14 SEC), to bolster their résumé and avoid missing the Big Dance entirely.
The stakes are particularly high for head coach Porter Moser in his fifth season at the helm. After guiding the program to an NCAA Tournament appearance last year, this season's inconsistencies, including a nine-game losing streak earlier in conference play, have placed his job security under scrutiny. If the Sooners fail to make the NCAA Tournament, Moser is unlikely to return next season, making this tournament a pivotal moment for his tenure in Norman.
Tonight's opening contest tips off at 8:30 p.m. CT (9:30 p.m. ET) inside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, the host site for the fourth straight year and 13th time overall. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network, with Tom Hart handling play-by-play and Dane Bradshaw providing analysis. Fans can also tune in via the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM in Oklahoma City, KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa, SiriusXM 106 or 190, or the Varsity Radio App), where Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry will call the action.
Oklahoma arrives riding a remarkable late-season surge, having won six of its last eight games—including victories over No. 15 Vanderbilt, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Missouri, and a thrilling overtime win at Texas.
The Sooners have claimed each of their last four contests outright. In those six victories, Oklahoma dominated time of possession, leading for 205:14 of 245 total minutes and holding double-digit advantages for a combined 93:23. Seven players averaged double figures in scoring during that stretch, while the team shot an impressive 53% from the field and a scorching 49% (65-for-133) from beyond the arc.
The Sooners have been one of the SEC's premier 3-point shooting teams all season, leading the league in conference play at 39% and ranking third with 9.6 made treys per game. Over their last seven outings, they've elevated to 46% (75-for-163) from deep, hitting at least 10 threes in four of the past five games and at least eight in 11 of their last 12. On the year, OU averages 9.9 made 3-pointers per contest, closing in on the school record of 10.3 set in 2015-16.
Leading the charge is sixth-year guard Nijel Pack, a transfer in his first season with the Sooners but a proven veteran with 415 career 3-pointers—ranking first among active Division I players and 21st all-time. Pack recently surpassed Stephen Curry's 414 career treys and now stands at 2,244 career points (third among active players).
He paces the SEC with a .453 3-point percentage (fifth nationally) and 3.3 makes per game. In the last seven contests, Pack has been unstoppable from deep at 57% (26-for-46), including three treys in the win over Texas.
The starting lineup has remained remarkably consistent, with Oklahoma being the only Power Five team (and one of just four nationally) to start the same five players every game: guards Xzayvier Brown and Nijel Pack, forwards Tae Davis and Derrion Reid, and center Mohamed Wague. This continuity has fueled their recent momentum.
Wague has been a revelation during his most productive five-game stretch, averaging 11.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.6 steals while shooting 81% from the free-throw line. His performances against top opponents, including 18 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, and four steals versus Auburn, highlight his impact inside.
Guard Dayton Forsythe has also bounced back strongly after ankle injuries limited him earlier, averaging 9.5 points over the last eight games. Transfer Jadon Jones has provided defensive tenacity and improved scoring (7.3 ppg over the last eight, 52% from 3).
The Sooners have dominated defensively in wins, forcing 13.0 turnovers per game during the four-game streak (up from 9.1 earlier in SEC play) and holding opponents below 50% shooting in the last five outings.
Series history favors Oklahoma 5-2 overall, including wins in four of the last five meetings, though South Carolina took the regular-season matchup 85-76 on Jan. 20 in Columbia. The Sooners shot poorly from deep (19%) in that loss but got strong outings from Brown (22 points) and Davis (20 points).
A win tonight advances Oklahoma to face No. 6 seed Texas A&M (21-10, 11-7 SEC) on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CT. ESPN Analytics gives the Sooners a 73.9% chance to advance past South Carolina, reflecting their hot streak against the Gamecocks' struggles (2-10 since beating OU).
For a team that has led for over 76% of minutes in recent wins and boasts one of the lowest turnover rates in recent program history, this tournament represents a golden opportunity.
The Sooners' blend of veteran transfers, sharp shooting, and defensive intensity could propel them deep into Nashville, and potentially into the NCAA field. But it all starts tonight against South Carolina, where every possession carries the weight of the season and Moser's future.