NCAA Basketball: Top 25 preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

After All-American, Big 12 Player of the Year, and eventual No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cade Cunningham left, it was figured that Oklahoma State would take a step back towards the bottom half of the conference and struggle to get back to the NCAA Tournament. However, the supporting cast that played alongside Cunningham are all back and showed they themselves have potential as well.

That starts with guard Avery Anderson, the team’s second-leading scorer (12.2 ppg), and was very impressive in the final six games of the season. He averaged 19.3 ppg during that stretch, including a career-high 31 points at West Virginia when Cunningham was out due to covid protocols.

While Cunningham was the de facto point guard and lead ball-handler, it was Isaac Likekele that still managed to lead the Cowboys in assists, something he’s done in the previous two years as well. The 6’5 playmaker is one of the better all-around players in the country and will go back to being the lead guard in his senior campaign.

There’s also a trio of returning “role players” that I believe will have big years, including guard Rondel Walker and forwards, Kalib Boone, and Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe. Another year of experience will only make them better, along with a pair of incoming transfers, Moussa Cisse and Bryce Thompson. Both of them are former five-star prospects with plenty of promise and if either shows it as sophomores, the Cowboys may be just as good as they were last year.

OK State might not have an All-American on its roster this time around but the collective talent and depth are very promising. If Anderson takes that next step and becomes a 17+ ppg offensive player, there will be plenty to like with this team.