College basketball is approaching in a hurry. November marks the first month of college basketball and with the season close writers across the nation are laying down their preseason rankings.
One of the sport’s biggest writers is CBS Sports, senior writer Matt Norlander, who is about as plugged in as anyone in all things collegiate basketball dropped his “top 100 and 1” rankings of the 101 best teams in Division 1 as he sees them heading into this 2022-2023 season.
Oklahoma is one of nine Big 12 teams to feature in the rankings. If that’s any indication, the Big 12 could very well be the toughest conference in basketball once again.
Norlander ranked the Sooners No. 45 and had this to say:
The Sooners clock in at No. 28 in KenPom’s preseason ratings, which looked mildly surprising at first glance — until you realize OU finished last season 30th. It was the highest-ranked team to not dance. Porter Moser’s second season will benefit from bringing three starters back: the Groves brothers, Tanner and Jacob, and Jalen Hill. That will be a productive troika. They’ll be uplifted if Nevada transfer Grant Sherfield continues to be a stat compiler like his past two seasons. Sherfield averaged 19.1 points, 6.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds last season. If his shooting can improve, OU will finish in the top five in the ever-competitive Big 12. He’ll be backed up by sophomore C.J. Noland, who could grow into one of the most valuable reserves in the conference, provided he doesn’t eventually earn a starting spot in time for Big 12 competition. – Norlander, CBS Sports
Oklahoma rolls into this season with the returning trio Norlander mentions. They had to go portal shopping to round out the rest of their roster, especially for guard depth.
Grant Sherfield and Joe Bamisile give the Sooners two productive bucket-getters that can create their own shot, which is ever important against the high-level defense you’ll see in this conference. Sherfield is certain to run the point with Noland backing him up. If Bijan Cortes can take a step, it would be a huge for the guard depth.
Oklahoma’s interior looks to be focused around the Groves brothers and Missouri transfer Yaya Keita. Keita is 6’9, springy, and potentially could give Oklahoma some quality minutes as a rim running big to clean up misses and run in transition. They needed his depth in the absence of the three big men that left the program in Ethan Chargois, Akol Mawein, and Rick Issanza.
At No. 45, it paints a clear picture that barring a really bad year, Oklahoma should find themselves in the NCAA Tournament after so narrowly missing the field last year.
With the depth in the Big 12, a top five finish, and a decent foray thru the non-conference should give Oklahoma the resume it needs.
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