Oklahoma native Sam Godwin brings ‘lunch pail’ mentality for surging University of Oklahoma basketball squad

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA - The term "lunch pail player" is one that is not heard too often anymore. 

It normally describes an athlete who does all the unglamorous and unheralded work for a basketball team to succeed.

Even though the phrase has seemingly gone out of style in recent years, there really is no other way to describe what Sam Godwin brings to a basketball team. The University of Oklahoma senior - who played his high school ball at Southmoore - has made a career out of doing the dirty work.

“I'm a hustler,” said Godwin, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound forward. “I like to get offensive rebounds, get loose balls, just give my team extra possessions and that's what I pride myself on.”

But now, as Godwin enters his fourth season in college, and second with the Sooners, he has seen his game evolve. While he will still dive out of bounds to save a possession, he can also put points in the scoring column when called upon.

“You just want to be more well-rounded,’ Godwin said. “You want to be sharp in every aspect of the game and I feel like just being in college, going against the best every day, like you do here, it’s something that's just going to happen over time.

"As this is my second year in the program, I feel like it's happened for me as well.”

After going 15-17 during his junior campaign, Godwin wants to help put the Sooners back on a winning path this season. So far, so good.

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Oklahoma has been one of the biggest surprises in the early going of the college basketball season. The Sooners are 9-0, and have won against Power Five teams including USC, Iowa and Arkansas, and have surged up in the rankings, including No. 11 in the latest Associated Press poll.

It is Oklahoma's best start since the 2015-16 season, the last time the Sooners reached the Final Four. The Sooners are also one of seven teams currently undefeated on the season.

Godwin remarked he isn't surprised by the Sooners' hot start.

“We're going to play fast. We're a lot more athletic than we were last year, so I think you can expect a faster pace at basketball, but we're expecting to win some games, so that's our mentality," Godwin said. “There’s not a team in the country we don't think we can beat. And obviously, it’s the last year in the Big 12, so we're going to try to go out with a bang.”

Godwin has started eight games so far this season, and is averaging 8.1 points and six rebounds. He also ranks 12th nationally and first in the Big 12 in offensive rebounds per game, averaging 3.9 in that category.

Part of Godwin's development comes from finally being back home in Oklahoma. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound forward had to go on a journey to realize just how much he liked playing in his home state.

“It's been a roller coaster for sure,” Godwin said.

Godwin graduated from Southmoore High in 2020 after finishing his career as the school's all-time leader in blocks and rebounds. But despite being the fourth-ranked player in the state, he wasn’t getting any looks from the local schools, so he looked outside the state at Wofford in South Carolina.

“I didn't really get recruited by OU much out of high school,” Godwin said. “Came to some of their camps and stuff, but never got an offer from (OU) out of high school. So, I went to Wofford.”

During his two years at Wofford, Godwin played in 42 games and started 17 of them. He averaged just over six points and three rebounds for the Terriers.

While Godwin liked Wofford, it wasn’t where his heart was.

“I thought that was a great fit at the time, and then I wanted to come back home,” Godwin said. “Starting off in Wofford away from home, it was kind of tough for me. Just didn't have a close support system that I felt I needed.

"When (OU coach Porter Moser) offered me a spot last year as a walk-on, I thought that was probably the best thing for me just to get the support from home.”

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While Godwin had improved during his two years at Wofford, there was also a change in the Sooners' coaching staff. So, while he may not have fit the style of the old regime, Moser had a place for him as he averaged 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 32 games.

“I think they just saw how hard I played and the value I can bring to a team,” Godwin said. “I have some intangibles. I'm just extremely coachable. I'm open-minded, and always uplifting my teammates.

"I think that's something they saw last year, and I think that's ultimately what got me on scholarship this year.”

While the victories were a struggle to come by last season, Godwin said the experience of being back home and playing in front of his family and friends was what he had hoped for.

“So coming back home, it's been amazing," Godwin said. “Everything I could have dreamed of growing up in Oklahoma was playing at the University of Oklahoma. We get four tickets a game every game. I have to try to dictate who I give them to because I got parents, family, cousins, grandparents, Southmoore friends, OU friends.

"So, it's just been great having all the support from everybody. It's been a dream for me here and I just look forward to getting some wins this year.”

OU is back in action this Saturday with a home game against Green Bay. Then on Wednesday, the Sooners have a test against national power North Carolina, a game that will be held in Charlotte, N.C.

Photos courtesy of OU Athletics

-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK