Sam Godwin injury update: OU basketball forward ‘should be’ available vs Lindenwood

NORMAN — OU basketball coach Porter Moser said Friday, if everything goes to plan forward Sam Godwin, who has been in concussion protocol, should be available for the Sooners’ season opener against Lindenwood on Monday night.

Godwin, one of two returning starters from last season, is projected to be one of the Sooners‘ leaders this season alongside senior forward Jalon Moore. Godwin averaged 6.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 31 starts in 2023-2024.

“Sam has had a couple of good days in a row,” Moser said, “as the concussion protocol goes with return to play. If all goes well, he should be back Sunday and available Monday.”

Godwin missed OU’s intrasquad scrimmage on Wednesday night.

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Duke Miles brings ‘consistency’ ahead of season opener

High Point transfer Duke Miles was one of the biggest surprises of OU’s scrimmage on Wednesday.

Miles scored 16 points and was the Sooners’ second-leading scorer behind Moore’s 17. One thing that wasn’t a surprise to Moser or his teammates was Miles’ intensity on the defensive end.

“He’s our best defender, most active defender and is consistent on offense as well,” Moser said. “And the good thing about it is, everyone will say that he’s been the most consistent, and he hasn’t shot well for his standards, what we think he can do. So that’s only going to improve, him shooting the ball and he can get you downhill. He can take a bump. He’s a very physical defender.”

Miles started 27 games last season and averaged 17.5 points. He earned the Big South Newcomer of the Year award and was named to the Big South All-Conference First Team.

Moser said Miles is the most physical defender he’s coached at OU since Jordan Goldwire in his first season. Moser said he expects to play a heavy dosage of veteran guards Miles and Dayton transfer Kobe Elvis early this season.

Miles’ consistency is felt throughout the rest of the team as well.

“Duke is the same guy every day,” Moore said. “Duke is going to bring you energy. He’s going to be a good teammate. Duke can score, Duke can pass. He can defend, as y’all saw Wednesday. Duke brings a lot to the table and he’s very consistent.”

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What Porter Moser wants to see from OU basketball in season opener

Moser doesn’t expect his team to play its best basketball in the season opener.

There will inevitably be first-game jitters and early-season sloppiness. But Moser is hoping his group plays disciplined.

“You just want to see that there’s an intentional carryover of what we’ve been working on,” Moser said. “I told all the guys the other night, I’m not looking for guys to all of a sudden do things that we haven’t been working on them. … I’m really looking to defend and rebound. I’m going to encourage good shots, whether we make them or not.”

Moser is no stranger to season-opening disappointments. Two seasons ago, Sam Houston traveled to Norman and upset the Sooners on opening night.

OU’s failure to advance to the NCAA tournament in each of Moser’s first three seasons has been well-documented. While there is an intense focus to not feel what they did at the end of last season, Moore says there is no pressure to perform well early.

A fresh slate to attack their ultimate goal begins when the Sooners host Lindenwood at 8 p.m. Monday at the Lloyd Noble Center.

“We’re going out there to play basketball, man, at the end of the day, we’re going out to play basketball,” Moore said. “There’s no urgency. There’s no pressure. We’re going out there to play basketball, have fun and win.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sam Godwin injury update: OU forward ‘should be’ ready vs Lindenwood