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Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Kansas still top team entering conference play?

By Jason Kinander

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - DECEMBER 18: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates a basket against the South Dakota Coyotes in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on December 18, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - DECEMBER 18: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates a basket against the South Dakota Coyotes in the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on December 18, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 15: Head coach Lon Kruger of the Oklahoma Sooners watches his team in the second half of the game against the Rhode Island Rams during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 15: Head coach Lon Kruger of the Oklahoma Sooners watches his team in the second half of the game against the Rhode Island Rams during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

3. Oklahoma Sooners (11-1)

Previous Ranking: No. 4

There hasn’t been a more surprising development in the Big 12 in 2018 than the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Sooners were expected to fall off in a big way following the departure of Trae Young, but they surprisingly haven’t missed a beat so far.

In non-conference play, the Sooners went 11-1. picking up solid wins against Northwestern, Notre Dame, Florida, Wofford and USC. Oklahoma has earned a spot in the top-25, and have caught fire heading into conference play.

They’ll need all the momentum they can get going into conference play, as they’ll tip-off against #5 Kansas on January 2nd. If Oklahoma can somehow pull off a shocking win over the Jayhawks, they might just find themselves in a position to make a run in the Big 12.

Senior guard Christian James has pretty much assumed Young’s previous role, as he’s averaging 18 points per game, as well as seven rebounds per game.

Oklahoma’s emergence has been a good sign for the Big 12, but the Sooners will only get as far as James’ shooting will take them. He’s been brilliant so far, but his inexperience as the top scoring option could develop throughout the season.

Oklahoma has been a surprising success story in 2018, but conference play is a totally different animal. The Sooners have proven to be a much better team than expected with their non-conference performance, but they’ll need to live up to the hype in conference play.

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