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Oklahoma

Decision soon for OU to make with Jadon Jones, Jeff Nwankwo

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo01/23/25BPrzybylo

Every few weeks, you have to check in with OU head coach Porter Moser about a couple of the injured players.

Because as we get deeper and deeper into the calendar, you begin to wonder. Will Jadon Jones and/or Jeff Nwankwo see any playing time this season?

There is a lot to weigh with this decision. The year of eligibility, for one, both for the player and for the program. Because college basketball doesn’t have a four-game redshirt rule, boom, once they’re in, they’re in. That year is gone. You could miss 20-25 games, but you suit up? Say buh bye to the year.

Neither has been listed on the SEC-mandated availability reports this season, which is actually a sign they won’t be playing.

Moser explained Thursday that if they’re going to suit up? Then, obviously, they’re going to be included in those reports.

Tick tock, though, as a decision must come soon. OU is 18 games into the season at 14-4 overall and 1—4 in the SEC.

“There definitely will be that point, and it’s probably sooner than later, that point, because you just don’t want to waste their year (when) you’re at January 23rd,” Moser said. “So it’s just, can we use ’em? Heck yeah, we could use ’em. They’re practicing every day. They’re doing really well. But do you waste a whole year January 23rd? It’s tough. It’s a tough decision.

“The good news is, man, they’re healthy, looking good. They’re doing things. It’ll be sooner than later when we have to make the decision. The good thing is, I don’t have to announce it or do anything. You’ll know. But I will say this, because I’m following the SEC (rules): If they do — if I plan to play ’em, I will put ’em in the (injury report) as probable in the injury report. So I definitely won’t just all of a sudden play ’em. I’m gonna follow the mandates and all that. If you see them in that injury report probable, that means they’ll play.”

Neither has played a game this season. Nwankwo tore his Achilles in the summer. Jones suffered a back injury the week before the season began.

OU is at Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Razorbacks earned their first SEC victory Wednesday, coming back to beat Georgia in Fayetteville.

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