Skip to main content

SEC Basketball: LSU, Tennessee rises in latest way-too-early power ranking for 2026-27

Mar 20, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) looks to pass during the first half against the Prairie View A&M Panthers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Mar 20, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) looks to pass during the first half against the Prairie View A&M Panthers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
4 of 16

13. Oklahoma Sooners

2025-26 record: 21-16 (7-11)

Likely departures

  • Nijel Pack (16.8 ppg and 3.2 apg)
  • Tae Davis (13 ppg and 5.6 rpg)
  • Mohamed Wague (6.9 ppg and 6.8 rpg)
  • Koul Atak (7.0 ppg and 1.3 rpg)
  • Jadon Jones (5.7 ppg and 3.4 rpg)
  • Kirill Elatontsev (4.1 ppg and 2.4 rpg)
  • Jeff Nwankwo (2.9 ppg and 2.3 rpg)

Likely returnees

  • Xzayvier Brown (15.4 ppg and 3.3 apg)
  • Derrion Reid (11.7 ppg and 4.4 rpg)
  • Dayton Forsythe (5.3 ppg and 1.8 apg)
  • Kai Rogers (1.6 ppg and 1.9 rpg)

Roster additions

  • Pop Isaacs (9.8 ppg and 2.6 apg at Texas A&M)
  • Tyler Hendricks (11.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg at Utah Valley)
  • Khani Rooths (5.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg at Louisville)
  • Yaak Yaak (6.6 ppg and 2.2 rpg at Oregon State)
  • Akoldah Gak (former G League forward)
  • Quincy Wadley (4-star guard prospect)

The Sooners return Brown for another year, set to be one of the top players in all of SEC Basketball. He’ll be paired with Isaacs, who has yet to recapture the success he had as a freshman, struggling at A&M a bit. Wadley has a good chance at getting a big role early on, while Rooths is a breakout candidate to watch.

Reid's return is big for the frontcourt, but the lack of a clear center is an issue. Yaak or Gak will be needed to provide frontcourt depth, with rebounding and overall size again being clear issues for the Sooners without the backcourt to cover them.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations