Sooner23
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1. Kansas Jayhawks
Never underestimate the job Self continues to do at one of the nation's most storied basketball programs. This season, he'll return Final Four holdovers Elijah Johnson, Travis Releford and Jeff Withey. He will add redshirts Ben McLemore and Jamari Traylor and a top-25 recruit, 6-foot-8 Perry Ellis, to the roster. McLemore and Ellis should contribute immediately as two of the more athletic wings in the conference.
Expect the Jayhawks' defense to be as stout as ever. Their 39.8 percent 2-point field goal defense was second in the nation last season and their blocked shot rate was ninth at 15 percent. This is in large measure because of Withey's defense in the paint. It will be the main reason the Jayhawks will be favored to win another Big 12 title under Self.
2. Texas Longhorns
Rick Barnes' young team limped into the NCAA tournament last season, making it his 14th consecutive appearance as the Longhorns' head coach. Armed with young veterans and another excellent recruiting class, they'll be sprinting in this season. Cameron Ridley, a 6-10 center, was a top-10 recruit and is the best big man in Austin since LaMarcus Aldridge.
The Horns' assist rate was 258th in the country last season, so there's room for improvement in the backcourt. While J'Covan Brown left school before his eligibility was completed, Longhorns fans should be enthused about their young guards. If Myck Kabongo, Sheldon McClellan and Julien Lewis mature at a normal rate, the Longhorns could be a top-10 team at some point in the season.
3. Baylor Bears
Usually, losing three NBA draft picks would be devastating, but coach Scott Drew has reloaded the roster again. The 7-1 Isaiah Austin, ESPNU's No. 3 player in 2012, should have an immediate impact up front. He has an excellent chance to be in next June's NBA draft lottery. And 6-9 junior Cory Jefferson will provide a defensive presence at the rim.
The strength of this Bears team, however, will be in the backcourt. Senior guard Pierre Jackson is one of the most electric players in the country, and while his assist rate was 18th in the nation last season he'll need to take care of the ball better this year. His running mate, Brady Heslip, is one of the nation's best shooters in college basketball, knocking down 46 percent of his shots from behind the arc. Cal transfer Gary Franklin should have a bigger role this year, and freshman L.J. Rose will also see quality minutes in a deep backcourt.
4. Kansas State Wildcats
Bruce Weber has inherited a better team in Manhattan, Kan., than the one he left behind at Illinois. The Wildcats had the ninth-most efficient defense under Frank Martin a year ago.
Rodney McGruder, a 6-4 senior guard, is one of the nation's underrated players, but not to coaches in the league. In fact, he embodies Kansas State's toughness. Jordan Henriquez, a 6-11 center, went for three double-doubles in his final six games but must play with more consistency. A huge key for the Wildcats will be the continued maturation of young guards Will Spradling and Angel Rodriguez.
5. Oklahoma State Cowboys
This should be a turnaround year for Travis Ford and the Cowboys, as he welcomes two-time Texas 5A champions Marcus Smart and Phil Forte to Stillwater. Smart will join Le'Bryan Nash as Oklahoma State's second consecutive McDonald's All American and is a flat-out winner who can excel at both backcourt positions.
Guards Markel Brown and Brian Williams gained valuable experience a year ago, even as OSU struggled to a 15-18 record. They will have to shoot better from the perimeter. If they don't, Forte will get an opportunity to show the range from deep that he teamed with Smart in high school.
6. Oklahoma Sooners
If Lon Kruger has proven anything in his coaching career, it is that he can rebuild programs. And he has the Sooners right on track in Year 2. In addition to returning all five starters, including sharpshooter Steven Pledger, Kruger has some newcomers who should help immediately.
Amath M'Baye, a 6-8 Wyoming transfer, drew rave reviews from NBA scouts who saw him in practice last season. He averaged 12 points and six rebounds as a sophomore in the Mountain West, including 16.2 points in his last nine games. He'll be assisted on the front line by veterans Romero Osby and Andrew Fitzgerald.
Athletic 6-4 freshman wing Buddy Hield is the best of an underrated crop of recruits who will strengthen the Sooners' backcourt.
7. West Virginia Mountaineers
Huggins had one of the youngest teams in the country and lost All-Big East power forward Kevin Jones.
Deniz Kilicli, a 6-11 senior center, returns and will be helped inside by talented but enigmatic LaSalle transfer, 6-10 Aaric Murray. Dayton transfer Juwan Staten adds depth to a young backcourt led by sophomore point guard Jabarie Hinds.
8. Iowa State Cyclones
The 23-11 Cyclones from last season were built with transfers and will miss three of them this coming season, including the Houston Rockets' first-round pick, Royce White. But coach Fred Hoiberg has another one waiting to go in Michigan State transfer Korie Lucious, who could be one of the top guards in the Big 12 immediately.
Georges Niang, a 6-7 undersized Massachusetts power forward, was a target of a number of high-level schools and should help quickly.
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Nobody ever said it was easy winning in Lubbock, even for noted program-builder Billy Gillispie. In the spring, he had almost as many transfers as his team had wins a year ago.
The Red Raiders do have a promising young inside player in 6-7 forward Jordan Tolbert. And former Mississippi State point guard recruit Josh Gray signed with Gillispie after the Bulldogs made a coaching change.
10. TCU Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs are in a serious rebuilding phase, but that has been new coach Trent Johnson's specialty. Sophomore guard Kyan Anderson had a solid freshman season in the Mountain West but will have to step up his game in the Big 12.
Senior guard Garlon Green, brother of the Indiana Pacers' Gerald Green, has had moments of brilliance but will need a few more to keep TCU in games this season.
