Big 12 Basketball: Preseason conference power rankings for 2023-24 season

12. Oklahoma Sooners

Last season: 15-17, 5-13 in the Big 12

The Sooners are another team in the conference that’ll have a rebuild on their hand under head coach Porter Moser. They’ll return Milos Uzan, Sam Godwin and Otega Oweh while adding six players out of the transfer portal.  Maks Klanjscek (Houston Christian), John Hugley IV (Pittsburgh), Le’Tre Darthard (Utah Valley) and Javian McCollum (Siena) are some new names to know with this group. McCollum was an All-MAAC third-team selection in 2022-23, with 15.9 ppg, 3.9 apg, 2.1 rpg and 1.1 spg on 35.6 percent shooting from deep. He’ll look to bolster their backcourt attack along the return of Uzan.

Hugley IV is another name to keep an eye on as well. He’ll return from injury after averaging 8.0 ppg and 3.6 rpg on 47.8 percent from the field. He’s a 6-foot-9 big man with the potential to boost the Sooners’ frontcourt as a key transfer addition. After finishing in a tie for ninth place, they’ll start out at the 12th spot in the preseason power rankings.

11. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Last season: 20-16, 8-10 in the Big 12

The Cowboys finished seventh in the conference standings this past season, winning eight games in league play. Bryce Thompson (11.8 ppg) and John-Michael Wright (9.8 ppg) are back but there have a lot of holes to fill with just three returners from last year’s squad. Freshmen Eric Dailey Jr. and Justin McBride are two name who should contribute right away as should a trio of transfer portal additions.

Javon Small (East Carolina) and Jarius Hicklen (North Florida) will look to boost the backcourt while Mike Marsh (Jacksonville) will look to play a role in the frontcourt. Small looks to bounce back from a leg injury he suffered in mid-January after putting up stellar numbers. He finished 2022-23 with 15.8 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.8 rpg and 1.2 spg on 33.3 percent shooting from deep before his injury. Hicklen will look to carve out a role for himself in the backcourt in his final season as well after finishing with 12.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.2 apg and 1.0 spg on 36.1 percent shooting from behind the arc in 2022-23.