Big 12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

First-year head coach Mark Adams has an interesting task in front of him heading into 2021-22 with five returners and nine newcomers on the roster. Texas Tech basketball gets the early benefit of the doubt with their preseason rankings, but the storyline could change if things don’t go in Adams’ favor.

Three experienced players return led by Marcus Santos-Silva (29 starts), Kevin McCullar (19 starts), and Terrence Shannon Jr. (13 starts). Santos-Silva returns as their full-time center after posting 8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, and 1.1 bpg in the paint.

McCullar and Shannon should help add to the continued defensive culture Adams will look to establish given their versatility and toughness in the paint. Shannon was their top reserve a season ago, posting 12.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1,4 apg, and 1.1 spg while shooting 35.7 percent from 3-point land.

Davion Warren (Hampton), Kevin Obanor (Oral Roberts), Adonis Arms (Winthrop), and Bryson Williams (UTEP) are the leading new faces set to make an impact. Warren led Big South basketball in scoring this past season with 21.2 ppg on 45.5 percent shooting from the field and also poured in 6.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, and 2.1 spg.

Obanor was another stud in the Summit League in 2020-21 that produced nearly a double-double with 18.7 ppg and 9.6 rpg at Oral Roberts. He’s a 6-foot-8 versatile prospect that should boost this team’s profile, especially on the offensive end.

Arms was Winthrop’s top reserve in 2020-21, posting 10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and 1.7 apg in just 17.4 minutes of action. With a bigger role on the wing, he’ll look to produce a lot more.

Williams put up 15.1 ppg and 7.4 rpg at the forward spot for UTEP. He’ll look to add depth and length in the Texas Tech basketball frontcourt.

Coach Adams will have the pieces in place to do things his way this year. Now, he’ll just need to prove he can make them work and find success as the head man.