Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2021-22 season

Jan 9, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Courtney Ramey (3) shoots in the lane over West Virginia Mountaineers forward Derek Culver (1) during the second half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Courtney Ramey (3) shoots in the lane over West Virginia Mountaineers forward Derek Culver (1) during the second half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big 12 Basketball Elijah Harkless Oklahoma Sooners (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Big 12 Basketball Elijah Harkless Oklahoma Sooners (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

9. Oklahoma Sooners

Starting Lineup:

PG:  Jordan Goldwire

SG: CJ Noland

SF: Elijah Harkless

PF: Jalen Hill

C: Tanner Groves

This starting five is a complete rebuild from a year ago, with four of the five starters not being in the program a year ago. A blue blood guard, a freshman guard, and All-Big Sky forward make up first-year head coach Porter Moser’s new project in Norman.

Austin Reaves and Brady Manek have been the faces of the program over the past three seasons but are now gone.

The highest-ranked recruit from the 2021 class is Duncanville guard CJ Noland. Rotations will be interesting as Noland is more of a pure point guard, while Goldwire played at Duke for four seasons, including two seasons with double-digit starts. To get the most talent on the floor, however, I expect both to start.

Harkless became the glue guy for Oklahoma last year and may take the reigns conference-wise, with  Baylor’s Mark Vital graduating. Tanner Groves was among the most intriguing pieces of the first two days of the NCAA Tournament last year.

The Sooners have a very solid bench, led by fifth-year senior guard Umoja Gibson. Gibson has had impactful performances, including 29 points in an upset win over No. 9 West Virginia on January 4.

It’s a new era in Norman with four impact players leaving, alongside a new head coach in Porter Moser.

I expect some growing pains, with inexperience, alongside roles attempting to be made. It might be a rough start in Norman, but the future is bright for the Sooners.

Final Record: 14-17 (5-13)