Oklahoma is No. 8 in ESPN's Preseason "BPI"

[OUHoops]

FWIW:

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...-wichita-state-shockers-top-summer-bpi-update

The Sooners, in particular, are surprising to see so highly regarded after their 11-20 record a year ago. So what happened with Oklahoma?

For starters, last season the Sooners faced the most difficult strength of schedule in the country. So right off the bat, BPI knows Oklahoma was better than its 11-20 record sounds. Still, OU finished last season only 69th in BPI, so what else is going on?

The answer is continuity. Though guard Jordan Woodard, who spent more time on the court for the Sooners than anyone, is gone, he is the only player among their top eight in minutes per game from last season to have departed. The Sooners lost two bench players to transfer as well, but by and large this team is intact.

Plus, the model knows Oklahoma is adding five-star recruit Trae Young to its ranks.

 

[playmakr]

Wait, what?

 

[cjhsooner]

Yeah, I don't see it. Maybe it is due to the abysmal 2nd half performances last season, but I hate putting any added pressure on a team that may not have a winning mentality.

Also, Wichita State at #1 tells you all you need to know.

 

[sperry]

It's a statistical model, but there is no data for this season. It's going to be biased towards teams with a lot of returning players.

 

[Darwin]

They grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory several times last year so they were not as bad as their record but 8 seems ridiculous and top twenty a long shot.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

So TCU IMO is a sleeper team this year. Won the NIT, return everyone and added a couple 4 star players. I think they might be top half of the league this year

 

[sperry]

This team should be a top 20 team this season. Top 10 is not out of the question.