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Has OU basketball found the pieces to replace Jeremiah Fears?

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo3 hours agoBPrzybylo
Nijel Pack
OU guard Nijel Pack. (Vasha Hunt - Imagn Images)

There were a lot of key pieces to OU basketball making its run to the NCAA Tournament last season. But from an outsider’s point of view? It was all about Jeremiah Fears.

A true freshman who lived up to his name and had no fear whatsoever going up against the best of the best.

It became readily apparent it was going to be a one-season deal with Fears. And it was, selected No. 7 overall in the NBA Draft back in June.

Life goes on, obviously, at OU and the quest to fill that role. Truthfully, though? Head coach Porter Moser is in a pretty good spot there.

When you land guys like Nijel Pack and Xzayvier Brown in the portal, you’re not sweating nearly as much as what you might have first thought.

“Jeremiah, man, he got better and better and better,” Moser said. “Such a dynamic speed for the SEC. That’s what I look at. He brought us such speed. But I think we went out in the portal and got two older guards that have been on the stage a lot. Nijel Pack, he’s been All-Big 12. He’s played on the stage of a Final Four.

“I know this, having coached guys that have been to the Final Four. When they come back, it’s not like they’re satisfied. They want that again. That veteran hunger that Nijel brings. And then we went and got Xzayvier Brown, another veteran in the backcourt. Played at St. Joe’s. Great league in the A-10. Was First Team All-League there.”

Two vital cogs there. Then don’t forget about Dayton Forsythe. Also, a true freshman last season, he had the traditional freshman story.

Good at times, off at times but growing every step of the way. Put in some clutch-time situations and growing up quickly.

Now as a sophomore? The man they call Sparky will be expected to be more than just a spark for five minutes or so. Forsythe is going to play a role.

“I know the combination of them — and Dayton Forsythe played a lot last year for us,” Moser said. “He’s another combo point guard that we have. I’ll say this about Dayton. Not that I’m trying to help his NIL because there’s Sparky, Sparkplugs, that’s what his nickname is. Not a lot of freshmen that came off the bench last year and had three double-figure games. I think he’s a guy that got valuable experience last year.

“It’s going to be by committee. I think we got some veteran guys, then another guy that was here last year that played, that are all ready to come in and fill that role.”

Still a couple of weeks away from the OU season opener. However, the OU exhibition against Wisconsin in Milwaukee will be televised on Big Ten Network+ on Friday night.

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