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School basketball returns on Nov. 9, 2021 and the countdown to the tip of a Massive 12 Period begins.
Sure, Oklahoma and Texas are leaving the Big 12 for the SEC.
And sure, which means the 2 faculties commerce Kansas for Kentucky, Baylor for Florida and so forth. It signifies that key rivalries through the comparatively brief historical past of Massive 12 basketball, like Kansas and Texas, come to a detailed.
It signifies that lengthy storied rivalries, like Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, will now turn into rather less significant within the large image.
However, as Bob Seger would say, it’s still the same… this year.
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And possibly subsequent 12 months.
However the exit signal for Texas and Oklahoma are displaying up on the mileage markers on the school athletics freeway.
Within the meantime, school basketball will get pleasure from what’s the finish of one of many biggest sustained runs of elite basketball a convention has ever had. It started when the league went to a real spherical robin schedule.
Baylor gained the Nationwide Championship in March. Kansas would have been the No.1 total seed within the 2020 event. Texas Tech was within the Nationwide Championship sport in 2019.
(Hey, all these applications will nonetheless be within the convention after Texas and Oklahoma go away.)
There’s a sting, although, with Texas and Oklahoma leaving proper now. Each of these applications are in thrilling transitional durations after they made the absolute best hires they may this offseason.
Texas added probably the greatest coaches in school basketball in Chris Beard. Oklahoma employed an equally nearly as good, if not higher, coach in Porter Moser.
The change within the convention means we don’t get the Beard-Texas Tech blood feud for very lengthy. However we nonetheless get it when the wound is recent in Lubbock. We must always get pleasure from it as basketball followers.
And as soon as these applications go away, the league will get beefed up.
Cincinnati has been a way more constant basketball program than Texas has been for the final 20 years (and traditionally, simply higher). Houston has been higher than Texas and Oklahoma within the final 4 seasons. BYU and Central Florida have not been nearly as good, however each have been removed from terrible and have made the event just lately.
And that’s the primary large factor this week in 12 Massive issues about Massive 12 basketball, the preview version.
11. Chris Beard and Porter Moser: The well-known faces at new locations
There are 4 new head coaches within the league, however two have greater profiles than the others (Mark Adams at Texas Tech and T.J. Otzelberger at Iowa State).
Nobody wants the breakdown on Chris Beard to Texas again. When you do, Hookem.com was all over it.
Nobody who is aware of Massive 12 basketball wants the 4-1-1 on Beard. He had an epically nice offseason since coming to Texas, loading up with transfers and the Longhorns begin the season No.5 within the AP Ballot.
The largest subject they’ve might be chemistry, which is the difficulty most loaded, highly-ranked groups have in November.
It was an ideal rent, although I believe Texas followers will see a variety of similarities to Shaka Good’s defense-first method and Beard’s defense-first method (offense was all the time the issue for Beard’s Tech groups).
But I love the Moser hire just as much.
Moser took Loyola-Chicago to the Remaining 4 in 2018 after which, simply to show it wasn’t a fluke, took the program to the Sweet 16 in 2021. What stands out watching Moser’s groups play, in contrast to watching Beard’s groups, is how fluid and spectacular the offenses have all the time carried out (Beard makes it up for a way wonderful his crew’s protection often performs).
The large distinction between the 2 hires is one program has large expectations this season and one program doesn’t. So the strain in Season One for Moser is just not the identical as Beard. The rosters are fully totally different and in contrast to Beard, Moser must show he can recruit at a Energy 5 degree to compete within the league like Lon Kruger did for thus a few years in Norman.
It is time to preview the groups.
‘It is gonna be a protracted season’ zone
10. Kansas State Wildcats basketball
Why are they right here: The Wildcats lack a variety of confirmed Energy 5 stars and gamers.
Kansas State does return their prime two scorers in fifth-year senior Mike McGuirl and sophomore Nijel Pack. Davion Bradford was the fourth main scorer and he’s again. Each Gordons, DaJuan and Antonio (not associated) are gone.
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This can be a theme for the Massive 12, but there are a lot of transfers.
The depth could possibly be a difficulty. On one hand they’ve sufficient gamers again to be sneaky. However alternatively, I don’t assume they’ve sufficient impression gamers to outlive within the league.
The large-picture story: Bruce Weber might be on the prime on the record of Energy 5 hotseat coaches. Heck, he could also be there by himself. He’s been on this place earlier than and reeled off among the greatest groups in latest Okay-State historical past. One factor about Weber is he oddly sufficient often over-delivers when there are low expectations, however this looks as if a bridge-too-far of a roster for even Weber.
‘Nobody believed in us getting into the season’ zone
9. Iowa State Cyclones basketball
Why are they right here: Due to all of the unknown. Although Massive 12 coaches picked Iowa State last in the poll.
This can be a signal that the league could possibly be fairly deep. Iowa State was unhealthy the final two years and this system moved on from Steve Prohm this offseason. T.J. Otzelberger was as soon as probably the greatest assistants within the Massive 12 beneath former Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg. He’s again in Ames and I count on he’ll discover success.
However this crew is a thriller.
George Conditt is a fun big man to have and Caleb Grill and Tristan Enaruna are all transfers.
The ninth and eighth spots on this record are comparable in that they will each be good groups nevertheless it’s laborious to essentially predict at this level with the roster turnover and plenty of of those gamers weren’t really impression gamers at their final program.
Take Enaruna, for instance. He was a prime 100 recruit who performed minutes for Kansas as a freshman however was broadly unused final season, a 12 months the place you’d have thought he’d play extra with KU’s depth points. So possibly he blossoms in Ames or possibly he has the identical points. That’s what you get, generally, with transfers who’re transferring due to enjoying time.
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Iowa State basketball roster evaluation:Breaking down the Cyclones’ rotation
Iowa State additionally has gone by way of roster turnover this season. Xavier Foster was booted from the crew amid a sexual assault investigation. Blake Hinson and Javan Johnson transferred.
The Massive-picture story:I’m excited for the Otzelberger era. The 43-year-old coach was 88-55 at South Dakota State and UNLV. He went to 2 NCAA Tournaments and I disregard his two seasons in Vegas as a result of he by no means actually had a good probability to rebuild there du COVID-19 period. I count on Otzelberger to harness among the Hoiberg-style offense and crew constructing. Otzelberger was the purpose man for many of Hoiberg’s greatest recruiting wins.
8. TCU Horned Frogs basketball
Why are they right here: Kevin Samuel is enjoying for Florida Gulf Coast this season. Hell, most Horned Frogs from final season are gone. 9 gamers from TCU’s dropping crew final season transferred.
After coach Jamie Dixon’s first dropping season at TCU he’s retooling the roster with portal gamers and highschool recruits. Micah Peavy was a former prime prep participant in Texas who began 25 video games for Texas Tech final season. Peavy transferred after Chris Beard left for Texas.
He’ll doubtless be the go-to participant for TCU who additionally welcomes Emanuel Miller (Texas A&M), Damion Baugh (Memphis), Xavier Cork (Western Carolina), Shahada Wells (UT Arlington), JaKobe Coles (Butler) — wow it retains going — Maxwell Evans (Vanderbilt) and Cashius McNeilly (Texas A&M).
Even considered one of TCU’s returning prime gamers, Chuck O’Bannon Jr., is a former switch (USC).
The Massive-picture story: This a lot turnaround in a single program makes TCU essentially the most tough crew to mission. They could possibly be the shock squad of the league or they could possibly be a chaotic mess. TCU is on NCAA probation for the following three years, so that they dodged a bullet there, however the big-picture story listed here are the transfers, notably: why has TCU seen so many gamers switch out of this system the final three years?
‘The groups we’ll see on the NCAA Event bubble in March’ zone
7. Oklahoma Sooners basketball
Why they’re right here: Out of respect for his or her new basketball coach Porter Moser. Outdoors that, there’s no motive OU shouldn’t be greater. Decrease? Perhaps.
Brady Manek is at North Carolina. De’Vion Harmon is at Oregon. The return of both a type of gamers would have put OU within the prime 5 of the league. However, the transfer of brothers Tanner and Jacob Groves — in addition to Duke level guard Jordan Goldwire — makes this crew extremely attractive.
The Groves addition most likely would have flown beneath the radar had they not pulled a Kevin Durant-in-Allen-Fieldhouse like efficiency within the event towards KU. However they did and now OU followers will be excited. I count on OU to be essentially the most improved crew from begin to end due to what Moser did at Loyola-Chicago.
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The Massive-picture story: Moser constructing a program at OU.
You’ll have heard, however Texas has a brand new coach, OSU and KU gave their coaches large extensions and Baylor’s coach simply gained a title. So Moser has loads to compete with recruiting smart in Norman. A robust first season constructed on the shoulders of transfers ought to assist him on the highschool recruiting path in addition to OU being one of many prime manufacturers in school athletics.
6. Texas Tech Pink Raiders basketball
Why they’re right here: Terrence Shannon got here again. And Kevin Obanor came to town.
Shannon was most likely the most important wait-and-see participant as a result of he has been the Red Raiders most talented piece the final two years and has the flexibility to be the kind of scorer that may drag a crew to the event.
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Kevin McCullar and Marcus Santos-Silva give Tech a semblance of a Massive 3. Tech ought to have size and possibly even depth with the addition of Obanor (Oral Roberts) Daniel Batcho (Arizona), Bryson Williams (UTEP), Sardaar Calhoun (Florida State) and three extra transfers.
Obanor and Shannon would be the motive this crew makes the event. Obanor was one of many ORU’s greatest scorers final season and was the second-best participant for a Candy 16 crew. He averaged 18.7 factors and 9.6 rebounds final season.
The Massive-picture story: Mark Adams hasn’t been a head coach since 2013. He hasn’t been a Division I head basketball coach since 1997, when he coached UTRGV (then often known as Texas-Pan American) from 1992-1997, the place he was fired after this system was caught violating a number of NCAA guidelines.
So the microscope must be on Adams who definitely deserved the shot as the head coach when Beard left.
Most Tech followers will let you know now that Beard is gone that Adams was the key to Tech’s success as he created the “no-middle” protection. Like Moser, there’s loads driving on the primary season for Adams.
He has a crew that may make the NCAA Event and even produce a lottery choose if Shannon takes a step. However it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if Adams dives deep into the elite highschool recruiting scene like Beard tried to do or if Adams leans extra into the switch portal. So far, he seems just fine on the recruiting trail.
‘Groups that must be within the NCCA Event until unhealthy issues occur’ zone
5. Baylor Bears basketball
Why they’re right here: I’m zagging, as they are saying, on the No. 8-ranked Bears. Most preseason polls have Baylor within the prime 10, together with the AP, however there have been a variety of gamers leaving Waco. However possibly they need to be greater with the championship pedigree now?
I believe placing them at 5 does that on this league.
Matthew Mayer goes to be the go-to-player, however Baylor goes to be asking guys to step as much as fill wants and I don’t assume they’ve the purpose guard state of affairs beneath management.
Adam Flagler and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchouwa give Baylor a three-headed assault that make them a certain preseason prime 25 crew.
Baylor additionally has the second-best incoming recruiting class within the convention, ranked No.13 by 247Sports. The very best-ranked recruit getting into the convention is 6-foot-8 Kendal Brown, the No.11-ranked recruit within the nation.
The purpose guard might be Arizona/Georgetown switch James Akinjo.
Nevertheless, whereas I’m not going to be the one who picks the defending nationwide champions to complete within the backside half of their league, I do assume a constructing 12 months for Baylor is honest after dropping the gamers they did. However Scott Drew shouldn’t be doubted anymore.
The Massive-picture story: Fran Frachilla usually talks about Kansas’ goal. Groups appear to rise to the event to play the Jayhawks on this league. I don’t assume any crew faces the identical factor that KU does. However I believe that ought to/has to alter now that Baylor has a championship on the resume.
Baylor ought to now not count on to get sleep-walk video games from the backend of the league anymore. Followers at a opposing arenas shouldn’t skip the Baylor sport anymore. If that also occurs, it’ll say much more concerning the league.
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball
Why they’re right here: Isaac Likekele is back. Not like the three groups above, he’s a returning star within the Massive 12 and possibly a prime three guard on this league.
This crew is sneakily bringing again a variety of gamers from final 12 months’s squad and the addition of Bryce Thompson (Kansas), Woody Newton (Syracuse) and Tyreke Smith (Texas Tech). OSU could possibly be the hardest crew to play within the Massive 12.
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The Massive-Image story: OSU might be barred from the NCAA Event. Oklahoma State was solely allowed to play in final 12 months’s event as a result of its event ban enchantment was nonetheless pending, thus permitting them and this 12 months’s No. 1 total choose Cade Cunningham to play within the event.
Maybe that enchantment works and OSU can play in March. Maybe it doesn’t. And maybe it doesn’t get addressed till subsequent season. It might be terrible for this crew to study of their destiny through the season, so hopefully we’ll study one thing quickly or in no way. The identical will be mentioned for the crew I count on to win the league.
3. West Virginia Mountaineers basketball
Why they’re right here: They could have been my No. 2 crew had Miles McBride determined to return, however he’s gone. With McBride, WVU most likely is on a shortlist of groups that would have made the Remaining 4. With out him, the Mountaineers did not even obtain a prime 25 vote.
I’ve them third as a result of I imagine in coach Bob Huggins, and I believe Taz Sherman, Jalen Bridges, Sean McNeil and Gabe Osabuohien give them the athletic means to return to a urgent fashion. Huggins adjusted that fashion when his greatest participant was Derek Culver. He’s gone. Whereas I’m no WVU insider and may’t say for sure that they’ll do, if WVU goes again to the press — and no coach has ever coached that fashion higher than Huggins — I count on WVU to win loads.
Additionally, I count on freshman Kobe Johnson to be the darkhorse prime freshman within the league. In a 12 months the place transfers spotlight the perfect newcomers, Johnson, 3-star recruit, was the Ohio Excessive College participant of the 12 months from Canton McKinley Excessive College. He’s a darkhorse alright, as a result of he’s additionally the No. 194th ranked recruit at 247 Sports activities.
The Massive-picture story: That is the wildest prediction I’ve on right here. I’ll wind up being extra mistaken about WVU than any crew on this record. As a lot as this crew could possibly be actually good and athletic, they may additionally bomb and be one of many worst groups within the league as a result of I don’t imagine they’ve the half court docket offense to win video games, thus my prediction they’re going to press.
‘Championship contender’ zone
2. Texas Longhorns basketball
Why they’re right here: The curse Texas basketball has inside in its program that began within the early 2010s has to finish sometime.
If Chris Beard can construct an elite program in Lubbock, he ought to have the ability to do it in Austin. And it helps that Texas didn’t see a mass exodus of gamers after the rent.
Andrew Jones is again. So are Courtney Ramey, Jase Febres and Brock Cunningham. The primary two I wasn’t certain would stick round. And whereas they did lose a variety of gamers to both the NBA or switch portal, Texas changed them with high-level transfers.
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Tre Mitchell (UMass), Timmy Allen (Utah) and local product Dylan Disu (Vanderbilt) all averaged a minimum of 15 factors and two of them did it at Energy 5 faculties. Two extra transfers, Christian Bishop (Creighton) and Devin Askew (Kentucky) had been extremely coveted.
However the greatest addition, the one which made this a prime 5 crew, is Marcus Carr. The Canadian was a standout at Minnesota and began his profession at Pittsburgh. Carr averaged 19.4 factors for the Gophers final season. He’s a profession 33.6% shooter from 3-point vary, and shot 36.1% in 2019-2020. He has carried a popularity as being an in-efficient quantity scorer previously, however might need been the perfect switch available on the market this offseason.
Due to the teaching change and transfers, Texas’ highschool recruiting class wasn’t loaded with only one, Jaylon Tyson (No. 33-ranked recruit) arriving on campus.
The Massive-picture story: Level guard.
So many school basketball consultants have Texas within the prime 5 of the preseason rankings. It’s reflection of Chris Beard and what he’s finished. However Beard’s groups the final two seasons had been underachievers due to a scarcity of a real level guard. And Texas’ latest most disappointing groups — Shaka Good’s second season — had been disappointing as a result of the purpose guard play was not good.
You may’t win large on the school basketball degree with out good to strong to elite level guard play. If Matt Coleman was coming again, I’d have Texas because the No. 1 crew within the nation.
Is Carr going to be that?
He averaged almost 5 assists final season. He’s a quantity scorer and desires the ball in his palms.
He is additionally at Texas for a 12 months. Can Beard develop Askew, as soon as a marquee recruit for Kentucky, into a degree guard longterm?
1. Kansas Jayhawks basketball
Why they’re right here: The extra issues change on this league, the extra they keep the identical. KU is the AP’s No. 3-ranked crew within the nation and was selected by the Massive 12 coaches as the favourite to win the league.
Many preseason polls have them starting from 3-5. It steams from the choice of All-Pac 12 level guard Remy Martin, considered one of school basketball’s most prolific scoring level guards the final two seasons, choosing KU.
Martin is the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year.
Invoice Self’s work with level guards is usually neglected throughout his hall-of-fame profession, however Self has had extra success with level guards than large males at Kansas (Mario Chalmers, Sherron Collins, Tyshawn Taylor, Frank Mason, DeVonte’ Graham, Devon Dotson). Final 12 months’s crew struggled not due to large man depth however due to a scarcity of scoring level guard that KU has had for years.
That not solely adjustments but it has depth this year. KU has one other switch (Joseph Yesufu) and even a high-level recruit Bobby Pettiford on the place together with Martin. It ought to make Ochai Agbaji, KU’s prime wing, and Christian Braun and Jalen Wilson much more harmful. And David McCormick, the perfect large man within the league final 12 months, is again.
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All these new faces however but 4 starters and two function gamers off the bench return.
On paper, KU is as an entire crew as there may be within the nation with confirmed gamers in a program that has had success with transfers. It’s an older crew, it’s an skilled crew and it’s coached by Bill Self.
The large-picture story: Nobody is aware of when the IARP choice will come.
In April the NCAA mentioned the choice will come inside 12 months. KU was the third program to go to the brand new IARP board after which the pandemic struck that pushed all the pieces again.
KU is facing 5 Level I NCAA violations. If the NCAA needs to keep away from a PR state of affairs, they might maintain off on making any punishments that have an effect on this season, and the identical could possibly be mentioned for Oklahoma State. The way in which KU pursued each recruits (the perfect class within the league) and transfers point out that the NCAA’s impending choice will not be on their thoughts. KU currently as the No. 3 2022 recruiting class in the country in accordance with 247Sports.
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