NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top-25 power rankings for 2021-22 season

Cade Cunningham was absolutely fantastic this past season in leading the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament. He was the unquestioned leader and best player on the team but it was a little overblown on how little talent the future No. 1 NBA Draft pick was surrounded bit. Cunningham’s supporting cast was young but you don’t beat the Baylor Bears and seven other ranked teams throughout the season with just one good player.

There are five returning players for Oklahoma State that averaged at least 7.8 per, led by rising junior guard Avery Anderson. The 6’3 guard took a major leap this past season, second on the team with 12.0 ppg and 48% shooting from the field. Anderson averaged 19.3 ppg in the final six games of the season, including a career-high 31-point effort against West Virginia.

Freshmen Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe and Rondel Walker both had impressive first seasons, while forward Kalib Boone did well to replace Yor Anei as the top frontcourt option.

The Cowboys also will bring back Isaac Likekele, who took a big step back to allow Cunningham to operate as the lead guard. But the rising senior always has had to ability to put up big stats and with a good supporting cast around him, can go back to being the leader of the team and the point guard again.

If the Cowboys can land another big man to provide more frontcourt depth, they can be nearly as good as they were this past season. Don’t overlook the remaining talent on the Cowboys cause that would be a mistake.