Big 12 Basketball: Way-too-early preseason power rankings for 2019-20

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after his teams 85-77 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers during the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 14: Lamont West #15 of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrates with teammates after the Mountaineers defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders to win their quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on March 14, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

7. West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia might have finished in the cellar of the Big 12, but this Mountaineers squad is looking up heading into the offseason.

The Mountaineers suffered numerous injuries and suspensions, but somehow found a way to upset both Oklahoma and Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament, falling just two wins short of an improbable NCAA Tournament appearance as a ten seed in the Conference tournament.

That run has propelled West Virginia into a positive offseason, as the Mountaineers will return some trendy sophomores as well as a prized recruit.

Rising sophomores Jordan McCabe and Derek Culver will return after showing flashes of brilliance for the Mountaineers down the stretch. Shot-makers Chase Harler and Jermaine Haley will return as well. The fate of the Mountaineers offseason rests in the hands of junior Sagaba Konate, who will test the NBA Draft waters after missing most of last season with injuries.

Finally, five-star center Oscar Tshiebwe has officially signed with West Virginia, netting Bob Huggins one of his biggest recruits ever. Tshiebwe is a future star down low and is a huge get for West Virginia.

If everybody returns, I have West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. The talent is there, and as long as Bob Huggins can keep it all together, West Virginia will prove that last season’s flop was a fluke.

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