Big 12 Basketball: Preseason mailbag entering 2021-22 campaign

Does Oklahoma and West Virginia take a step forward or backward?

Oklahoma

The Sooners have a ton of moving pieces, as usual from this past off-season with the rest of the college landscape. A head coach was brought in in Porter Moser and the intensity he’s bringing to the program is noticeable.

Incoming freshman guard CJ Noland brings intensity and a shooting presence that will be valuable off the bench and Umoja Gibson is proven to be a spark plug offensively.

Duke transfer Jordan Goldwire will have a full role for the first time in his college career. It will be interesting how he will impact the game with more than 13 minutes a game and if he can be a natural at point guard.

Eastern Washington transfer forward Tanner Groves is coming off an outbreak season, with 17.1 points and eight rebounds per game. Although I don’t expect those numbers to replicate, Groves can produce numbers and log in quality minutes for the Sooners.

I believe Oklahoma will finish in a similar place in the Big 12 standings and considering the changes on the roster and head coach should give excitement for the Sooners’ future.

West Virginia

I’d say the Mountaineers take a step back, but a slight one. Miles McBride declared for the NBA, and the Mountaineers lost a few depth pieces to the portal.

However, returning guards Taz Sherman and Sean McNeil are huge for this team and their veteran leadership should help West Virginia win a handful of games. I do question the depth of this team and how well Malik Curry can be an impact player at point guard.

Forward Jalen Bridges will push into a bigger role, after averaging 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last year, and forward Gabe Osabuoien is going to have to create more offense for this frontcourt to be Big 12-caliber.

The frontcourt and depth of this team make me question whether they can contend for a top-four spot in the conference and whether they will be on the right side of the bubble in March.

The Mountaineers lost some quality players and replaced them with players I’m unsure are Big 12 level talent, outside of Curry.

Trusting Bob Huggins should be an investment everyone should take and I believe the frontcourt will take shape once conference play begins.