Way-too-early 2024-25 Big 12 basketball rankings: Can Oklahoma State avoid last place?

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With the addition of Houston this season and Arizona next season, Big 12 men’s basketball is getting even better.

The conference should sustain juggernaut status in the 2024-25 season.

Iowa State should be a legitimate national title contender. Kansas should be back to being Kansas. Baylor is in limbo (more on that below), and Cincinnati and BYU are dark horses to compete for the conference crown.

OSU and West Virginia have new coaches and Big 12 staples Kansas State and Texas Tech have question marks.

But this is April 2024! With the coaching carousel still spinning and the transfer portal whirring, who knows how silly this will all sound by April 2025.

With this season in the books, here’s my way-too-early Big 12 men’s basketball outlook for 2024-25.

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Former OU coach Kelvin Sampson led Houston to a 32-5 record in 2023-24 and the Big 12 championship.

1. Houston

In college basketball, nothing stays the same. Except for Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars.

Defensive Player of the Year Jamal Shead is expected to declare for the NBA Draft, but the Cougars plan to return their other four starters from last season’s 32-5 team. That includes leading scorer LJ Cryer.

In the last four seasons, Houston has made a Final Four, an Elite Eight and two Sweet 16s. No reason to think these Cougars won’t make another Big 12 and national title run.

2. Iowa State

The Cyclones have improved in each of T.J. Otzelberger’s first three seasons. The 2023-24 Cyclones went 29-8 and advanced to the Sweet 16.

And much of that team is likely to stay intact. Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey, two of the best guards in the conference, are expected to return for another season in Ames. Same goes for All-Big 12 Freshman forward Milan Momcilovic.

Iowa State has already added three players via the transfer portal, including former Charlotte center Dishon Jackson.

The defending Big 12 Tournament champs should only get better.

3….

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/way-too-early-2024-25-095605093.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2024-04-10 09:56:05

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