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Oklahoma Declines NIT Bid
Sooners' 2025-26 campaign ends after missing NCAA Tournament
Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:40am
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The Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team declined an invitation to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) after failing to make the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons. Despite a strong finish to the season, including wins over South Carolina and Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament, the Sooners finished 19-15 and were left out of both the NCAA and NIT fields.
Why it matters
Oklahoma's exclusion from postseason play is a disappointment for the program and its fans, as the Sooners had hoped to build momentum after a late-season surge. Head coach Porter Moser has now missed the NCAA Tournament in four of his five seasons, raising questions about the direction of the program.
The details
Oklahoma won eight of its final 11 games, including victories over South Carolina and Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament, before losing to eventual champion Arkansas by three points. However, the Sooners were unable to overcome a nine-game losing streak earlier in the season that put them in a deep hole. Oklahoma finished the year 19-15 and was not selected for the 32-team NIT field.
- Oklahoma's season ended on March 16, 2026 after declining an NIT bid.
- The Sooners lost to Arkansas in the SEC Tournament on March 12, 2026.
- Oklahoma won eight of its final 11 games, including the SEC Tournament wins, after a nine-game losing streak from January 7 to February 3.
The players
Porter Moser
The head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team, who is now 93-74 in his five seasons with the program.
Roger Denny
The new athletic director at the University of Oklahoma, who announced that Moser would return for his sixth season as the Sooners' head coach.
What they’re saying
“We haven't held up our end of that bargain. From NIL to staffing and beyond, we're going to fix that.”
— Roger Denny, Oklahoma Athletic Director (X)
What’s next
Oklahoma will look to regroup in the offseason and make a stronger push for the NCAA Tournament in the 2026-27 season. The Sooners are set to lose several key seniors, so Moser will need to work on retaining current players and bringing in new talent through the transfer portal.
The takeaway
Oklahoma's failure to reach the postseason, despite a strong finish to the regular season, is a disappointment for the program and its fans. Head coach Porter Moser has now missed the NCAA Tournament in four of his five seasons, raising questions about the long-term direction of the Sooners' basketball team.
