Summer time means a look ahead to next season!
Each week moving forward, we will preview one conference in college basketball from soup to nuts.
Check below for this week’s breakdown on the Big 12.
Big 12 Preseason Power Rankings
1. Baylor
Projected Starting 5:
G LJ Cryer
G Adam Flagler
G Keyonte George
F Jalen Bridges
C Flo Thamba
Projected Bench: Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (injured), Jordan Turner, Dale Bonner, Joshua Ojianwuna, Zach Loveday, Dantwan Grimes, Langston Love, Caleb Lohner
Key Losses: James Akinjo, Matthew Mayer, Kendall Brown, Jeremy Sochan
Key Newcomers: Keyonte George, Joshua Ojianwuna, Jalen Bridges (West Virginia), Caleb Lohner (BYU), Dantwan Grimes (JUCO)
2. Kansas
Projected Starting 5:
G Dajuan Harris
G Gradey Dick
F Jalen Wilson
F Kevin McCullar
C Ernest Udeh
Projected Bench: KJ Adams, MJ Rice, Zach Clemence, Bobby Pettiford, Zuby Ejiofor, Cam Martin, Joseph Yesufu, Kyle Cuffe Jr.
Key Losses: Remy Martin, Jalen Coleman-Lands, Mitch Lightfoot, Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack, Christian Braun
Key Newcomers: MJ Rice, Ernest Udeh, Gradey Dick, Zuby Ejiofor, Cam Martin (redshirt), Kevin McCullar (Texas Tech)
3. TCU
Projected Starting 5:
G Mike Miles
G Damian Baugh
F Chuck O’Bannon Jr.
F Emmanuel Miller
C Eddie Lampkin
Projected Bench: Xavier Cork, Micah Peavy, Darius Ford, Shahada Wells, Souleymane Doumbia, PJ Haggerty, Rondel Walker
Key Losses: Maxwell Evans, Francisco Farabello
Key Newcomers: PJ Haggerty, Rondel Walker (Oklahoma State)
4. Texas
Projected Starting 5:
G Tyrese Hunter
G Marcus Carr
F Dillon Mitchell
F Timmy Allen
C Christian Bishop
Projected Bench: Brock Cunningham, Rowan Brumbaugh, Dylan Disu, Sir’Jabari Rice, Arterio Morris
Key Losses: Avery Benson, Jase Febres, Courtney Ramey, Andrew Jones, Tre Mitchell, Devin Askew
Key Newcomers: Arterio Morris, Rowan Brumbaugh, Sir’Jabari Rice (New Mexico State), Dillon Mitchell, Tyrese Hunter (Texas)
5. Texas Tech
Projected Starting 5:
G De’Vion Harmon
G Elijah Fisher
G Jaylon Tyson
F Kevin Obanor
C Fardaws Aimaq
Projected Bench: KJ Allen, Robert Jennings, Lamar Washington, D’Maurian Williams, Richard Isaacs, Daniel Batcho, Clarence Nadolny, Kerwin Walton
Key Losses: Davion Warren, Bryson Williams, Marcus Santos-Silva, Adonis Arms, Terrence Shannon Jr., Chibuzo Agbo, Kevin McCullar, Mylik Wilson
Key Newcomers: Richard Isaacs, Robert Jennings, Lamar Washington, Jaylon Tyson (Texas), D’Maurian Williams (Gardner Webb), Fardaws Aimaq (Utah Valley), De’Vion Harmon (Oregon), Elijah Fisher, Kerwin Walton (North Carolina)
6. Oklahoma State
Projected Starting 5:
G Avery Anderson
G John Wright
G Bryce Thompson
F Tyreek Smith
C Moussa Cisse
Projected Bench: Kalib Boone, John Wright, Chris Harris, Woody Newton, Bernard Kouma, Quion Williams, Russell Harrison, Caleb Asberry
Key Losses: Isaac Likekele, Bryce Williams, Keylan Boone, Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, Rondel Walker, Donovan Williams
Key Newcomers: Quion Williams, John Wright (High Point), Russell Harrison (Louisiana Monroe), Caleb Asberry (Texas State)
7. Oklahoma
Projected Starting 5:
G Grant Sherfield
G Joe Bamisile (needs NCAA waiver)
G Otega Oweh
F Jalen Hill
C Tanner Groves
Projected Bench: Milos Uzan, Jacob Groves, Bijan Cortes, Benny Schroder, Sam Godwin, CJ Noland
Key Losses: Ethan Chargois, Marvin Johnson, Jordan Goldwire, Elijah Harkless
Key Newcomers: Otega Oweh, Milos Uzan, Joe Bamisile (GW), Benny Schroder, Sam Godwin (Wofford), Grant Sherfield (Nevada)
8. Iowa State
Projected Starting 5:
G Jeremiah Williams
G Gabe Kalscheur
G Jaren Holmes
F Hason Ward
C Osun Osunniyi
Projected Bench: Tre King, Aljaz Kunc, Robert Jones, Demarion Watson, Eli King, Tamin Lipsey, Caleb Grill
Key Losses: Izaiah Brockington, Tyrese Hunter, George Conditt, Tristan Enaruna, Tre Jackson, Jaden Walker
Key Newcomers: Osun Osunniyi (St. Bonaventure), Jaren Holmes (St. Bonaventure), Jeremiah Williams (Temple), Hason Ward (VCU), Demarion Watson, Eli King, Tamin Lipsey, Tre King (Eastern Kentucky)
9. West Virginia
Projected Starting 5:
G Joe Toussaint
G Kedrian Johnson
G Erik Stevenson
F Tre Mitchell
C Mohamed Wague
Projected Bench: Kobe Johnson, Seth Wilson, James Okonkwo, Jimmy Bell, Emmitt Matthews,, Pat Suemnick, Josiah Harris
Key Losses: Sean McNeil, Jalen Bridges, Isaiah Cottrell, Taz Sherman, Gabe Osabuohien
Key Newcomers: Erik Stevenson (South Carolina), Emmitt Matthews (Washington), Tre Mitchell (Texas), Joe Toussaint (Iowa), Josiah Davis, Jimmy Bell (JUCO), Mohamed Wague (JUCO), Pat Suemnick (JUCO), Josiah Harris
10. Kansas State
Projected Starting 5:
G Markquis Nowell
G Cam Carter
F Nae’Qwan Tomlin
F Keyontae Johnson
C Abayomi Iyiola
Projected Bench: Jerrell Colbert, Desi Sills, Dorian Finister, Taj Manning, Tykei Greene, Ismael Massoud
Key Losses: Nijel Pack, Davion Bradford, Mark Smith, Mike McGuirl, Selton Miguel, Kaosi Ezeagu, Luke Kasbubke, Tykei Greene, David N’Guessan
Key Newcomers: Desi Sills (Arkansas State), Nae’Qwan Tomlin (JUCO), David N’Guessan (Virginia Tech), Jerrell Colbert (LSU), Camryn Carter (Mississippi State), Dorian Finister, Taj Manning, Tykei Greene (Stony Brook), Abayomi Iyiola (Hofstra), Keyontae Johnson (Florida)
Big 12 Preseason First Team
Mike Miles, TCU
Adam Flagler, Baylor
LJ Cryer, Baylor
Tyrese Hunter, Texas
Jalen Wilson, Kansas
Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year
Adam Flagler, Baylor
Big 12 Preseason Sleeper
Iowa State
10 Impact Big 12 Freshmen
*In no particular order
Keyonte George, Baylor
Langston Love, Baylor (redshirt)
Gradey Dick, Kansas
MJ Rice, Kansas
Ernest Udeh, Kansas
Dillon Mitchell, Texas
Arterio Morris, Texas
Rowan Brumbaugh, Texas
Elijah Fisher, Texas Tech
Otega Oweh, Oklahoma
5 Under-The-Radar Big 12 Freshmen
*In no particular order
Zuby Ejiofor, Kansas
Richard Isaacs, Texas Tech
Lamar Washington, Texas Tech
Milos Uzan, Oklahoma
Quion Williams, Oklahoma State
10 Impact Big 12 Transfers
*In no particular order
Kevin McCullar, Kansas (Texas Tech)
Jalen Bridges, Baylor (West Virginia)
Tyrese Hunter, Texas (Iowa State)
Fardaws Aimaq, Texas Tech (Utah Valley)
Jaylon Tyson, Texas Tech (Texas)
De’Vion Harmon, Texas Tech (Oregon)
Grant Sherfield, Oklahoma (Nevada)
Osun Osunniyi, Iowa State (St. Bonaventure)
Tre Mitchell, West Virginia (Texas)
10 Under-The-Radar Big 12 Transfers
*In no particular order
Caleb Lohner, Baylor (BYU)
Rondel Walker, TCU (Oklahoma State)
Sir’Jabari Rice, Texas (New Mexico State)
Tre King, Iowa State (Eastern Kentucky)
Hason Ward, Iowa State (VCU)
Jeremiah Williams, Iowa State (Temple)
Joe Bamisile, Oklahoma (GW) *Needs NCAA waiver
Erik Stevenson, West Virginia (South Carolina)
Desi Sills, Kansas State (Arkansas State)
Cam Carter, Kansas State (Mississippi State)
5 Big 12 Breakout Players
*In no particular order
*A player is not eligible to be a breakout player if he’s previously averaged in double figures
Flo Thamba, Baylor
Chuck O’Bannon Jr., TCU
Eddie Lampkin, TCU
Moussa Cisse, Oklahoma State
Jalen Hill, Oklahoma
Leftovers
- Florida, Miami finalizing agreement to meet this season in Jacksonville
- CBS Sports Podcast (6/16) — Minnesota’s Niko Medved
- Dayton, Florida State to begin home-and-home series
- Florida/TCU, Wisconsin/Providence to headline 2025 Rady Children’s Invitational
- Texas A&M, Florida State to start neutral site series in Tampa
