Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball power rankings: Kansas, Baylor clear above others

By Tristan Freeman

MORGANTOWN, WV - FEBRUARY 10: Lindy Waters III #21 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts after hitting a three pointer against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on February 10, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - FEBRUARY 10: Lindy Waters III #21 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts after hitting a three pointer against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on February 10, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 22: Jamal Bieniemy #24 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts late in the second half against the Mississippi Rebels during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 22: Jamal Bieniemy #24 of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts late in the second half against the Mississippi Rebels during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

team. 464. . 7-1. . Sooners . 4

Without their leading scorer Christian James this season, Oklahoma Basketball was looking for someone else to emerge this time around. A trio of guys have managed to provide the majority of the Sooner’s offensive production, led by Wichita State transfer Austin Reaves with 17.6 ppg. He was a role player two years ago with the Shockers but in the early part of the season has become a legit key piece at his new home.

With both Kristian Doolittle (16.0 ppg and 8.4 rpg) and Brady Manek (14.0 ppg and 5.8 rpg) playing extremely well in the frontcourt, Oklahoma has the balance on both offense and defense to be a credible top-half Big 12 team. This doesn’t even include the underclassmen guards De’Vion Harmon and Jamal Bieniemy, who each have been okay but can certainly play better. When that happens, the Sooners will take it to the next level.

As usual, Oklahoma has faced a tough non-conference schedule and once again has gotten some good wins. They’ve beaten Oregon State and Minnesota and have just the loss to the 8-1 Stanford Cardinals. What usually happens is they’ll have a good non-conference and struggle mightily in Big 12 play, hoping their overall resume strength would take them over the hump. But while the conference is competitive again, it’s not as strong in the middle. As long as Reaves continues his hot start, there’s no reason why the Sooners can be in the top half.

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