Jordan Goldwire wanted a different role on a new team where he could have the ball in hand more often and gain more shooting opportunities.

This prompted senior guard Duke of the Red Shirt who started 12 games for the Blue Devils in the 2020-21 season to enter the NCAA transfer portal on March 27. When new Oklahoma coach Porter Moser arrived in Norman in April, he raided the NCAA transfer portal. and picked up five new players. The player with the most experience, and perhaps a perfect fit for Moser’s first season, was Goldwire.

Thanks to non-conference competition and the Big 12 game, Goldwire has established himself as the Sooners’ playmaker and main ball manager, which is exactly what he wanted when looking for his new home during the season. ‘offseason. The Norcross, Ga. Native has started all 14 games this season and played career-high 29.2 minutes per game, the team’s third-highest. He’s also averaged career highs in points and assists at 9.9 and 4.2 respectively.

“We needed a veteran point guard,” Moser said on Friday. “We needed him to be more of a leader and it’s still a work in progress with his voice… we need him to play that role as an older guy, and that was the intention when we did. ‘have recruited. “

Before Goldwire got to Norman, OU had no leaders on its roster who weren’t incoming freshmen. Moser noticed a trend in the AAU circuit of more and more goalkeepers taking the ball onto the pitch and said it’s rare to find a “true point guard” like Goldwire. Moser also noted that Goldwire is still working to “balance the scoring” with its role as the lead facilitator.

He’s always been more of a first-pass keeper, averaging over four assists over the past two seasons, but Goldwire is effectively shooting 47.7 percent from the field, which Moser says is due to the fact that ‘he doesn’t force a lot of shots. Goldwire is averaging 2.4 turnovers per game, down from just 1.4 per game last season, but he hopes it will be a small hitch in his development as a goalscorer.

“I have more of the ball in my hands so I’m looking to create and take what the defense gives me,” Goldwire said. “The turnovers are a bit higher than usual so I’m just trying to take better care of the ball, get my teammates to shoot, be able to attack and take what the defense gives me. . “

In the Sooners’ game against Kansas State on Jan. 1, Goldwire attempted a career-high 14 shots. He only dropped four and said after the game he didn’t know what to think.

“(My teammates) told me, ‘keep being aggressive’… so it was good that my team trusted me,” said Goldwire. “In terms of balancing when to attack, I think it’s just more of a read, just take what the defense gives me and then you have to be honest.”

On his next outing against No.1 Baylor, Goldwire reduced his attempt tally to seven and managed a 42.9% improvement, scoring nine points in the loss.

Goldwire and the Sooners (11-3, 1-1 Big 12) have a chance to bounce back from their fall to Baylor when they face the No.11 Iowa State (13-1, 1-1) at 17 hours. January 8 in Norman on ESPNU.

“They get up after you, they try to deny the passing lanes, just trying to make it difficult for you to attack,” Goldwire said of the Cyclones defense which ranks 7th nationally in scorers. “But we just played a game at Baylor who tried to do the same, so I think that game helped us prepare for this one.”