The Sooners are oh so close to debuting in the top 10.
The Oklahoma men's basketball team moved up in both major polls that were released Monday. The Sooners jumped up four spots to No. 11 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and moved up two slots to No. 12 in the AP Top 25.
The Sooners have began the season 12-0, tying the third-best start in program history, and are one of only four undefeated teams left in the country. Porter Moser and team tallied two of those victories this week, sparking the leap in both sets of rankings.
OU started its week with an 87-86 win over then-No. 24 Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational on Wednesday night. The Sooners pulled off the win thanks to a four-point play from freshman Jeremiah Fears with 11 seconds left.
THE WINNER!! FROM THE FRESHMAN!! pic.twitter.com/jGzXamaPRC
— Stormin In Norman (@StorminInNorman) December 19, 2024
Michigan, previously ranked 21st in the USA Today Coaches Poll, dropped out of both rankings after the loss.
The Sooners' two-win week ended Sunday with a 89-66 shellacking of Central Arkansas.
OU has one game left on its nonconference slate and before the year ends. The Sooners will host Prairie View (1-11) at 1 p.m. CT Sunday to conclude 2024.
A win over Prairie View would have the Sooners unbeaten heading into their first SEC schedule. OU's SEC era on the basketball court will tip off against No. 5 Alabama at 5 p.m. CT on Jan. 4.
Barring any upsets, a win against a lackluster Prairie View team probably won't be enough to get OU inside the top 10 before the start of the new year. However, a victory over a top-5 Alabama squad to begin SEC play would catapult the Sooners in the rankings and garner national respect.