5. Oklahoma Sooners
Trae Young might be gone but Oklahoma has still gotten to a really strong start this year. Seemingly against all expectations, the Sooners are 9-1 while playing one of the more rigorous schedules in the nation so far. Additionally, their only loss so far came against the nationally-ranked Wisconsin Badgers. During this past week, the Sooners picked up arguably their two best wins of the young season over Notre Dame and Wichita State.
And while the Irish and the Shockers might not be as talented as they have been in the past, these two will both go down as strong wins for Oklahoma. Through the opening month of the season, the Sooners have played the 27th most difficult schedule in the nation and their 9-1 record definitely is deserving of some national respect.
Oklahoma might not have entered this season with incredibly high expectations but they seem to be on the verge of cracking the top-25 considering their hot start. And senior guard Christian James, who is averaging 19.2 points per game, has been a major reason for the Sooners’ play. He is the only Sooner averaging in double-figures so far this season. His consistent offensive play coupled with Oklahoma’s team defense makes them a dangerous team.