The Big 12 next year...

[JBaker]

Looks WIDE open.

Kansas will lose Withey, Johnson, Young, Releford, and likely McLemore... Basically every real contributor.
OSU will almost certainly lose Smart, and I'd say a remote outside chance they lose Brown.
Kansas State will lose McGruder and Henriquez.


Despite losing Osby, Pledger, Grooms, and Fitzgerald, that looks like a league we could contend for with decent PG play.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Looks WIDE open.

Kansas will lose Withey, Johnson, Young, Releford, and likely McLemore... Basically every real contributor.
OSU will almost certainly lose Smart, and I'd say a remote outside chance they lose Brown.
Kansas State will lose McGruder and Henriquez.


Despite losing Osby, Pledger, Grooms, and Fitzgerald, that looks like a league we could contend for with decent PG play.

If KU wins the conference next year, every other program may as well de-emphasize basketball. They still have talent but they only have 2-3 guys returning who play regularly: Tharpe, Ellis, and another forward (Hitchcock, maybe?).

 

[WTSooner]

If KU lands Randle, along with what they already have committed, they still might have the most talented roster. They'd certainly be young though.

 

[geeoh]

I'd watch out for Texas next year, especially if they can hold onto Kabongo one more year. Every contributor on their roster is a freshman or sophomore. Not saying they'll win the league, but they definitely won't be a cellar dweller like they are this year.

 

[KBaden145]

Iowa St loses 4 of their top 6, with only Niang and Ejim returning. Baylor loses several players, including Jackson and certainly Austin. OState replaces Smart with Clark but will certainly take a step back. Where Randle goes within the conference (UT or KU) could swing sentiment to that team as preseason favorite. I expect OU to be picked in the top 4 along with some combination of KU, KState, OState, and UT. Of these top teams, I would expect only OU and UT to be improved over this season, so another subpar season for the conference, IMO.

 

[bgrch1350]

I'd watch out for Texas next year, especially if they can hold onto Kabongo one more year. Every contributor on their roster is a freshman or sophomore. Not saying they'll win the league, but they definitely won't be a cellar dweller like they are this year.

Agree. Randle is a huge key too..He might choose KU, Tex or OU.

If KU is adding some talent...they should be solid again next season. Texas should be back at the top of the league. W.V. should be really good. OSU should be really good even without Smart. Baylor might take a huge blow if Jefferson and Austin both bolt or even if one bolts. Both OU and ISU are losing a lot. We are losing 3 starters and most of all we are losing Osby.

 

[OSUFan]

Looks WIDE open.

Kansas will lose Withey, Johnson, Young, Releford, and likely McLemore... Basically every real contributor.
OSU will almost certainly lose Smart, and I'd say a remote outside chance they lose Brown.
Kansas State will lose McGruder and Henriquez.


Despite losing Osby, Pledger, Grooms, and Fitzgerald, that looks like a league we could contend for with decent PG play.

So you're saying OU can contend next year because teams are losing key players but OU losing key players won't matter?

Also Brown isn't going anywhere. He'll be preaseason big 12 player of the year next year unless Smart comes back

 

[DenverSooner]

So you're saying OU can contend next year because teams are losing key players but OU losing key players won't matter?

Also Brown isn't going anywhere. He'll be preaseason big 12 player of the year next year unless Smart comes back

How do you know Brown isn't going anywhere? He has had a great year. I don't know if he is a projected first round player but if he is, he should leave and that is true for every kid in the country. A guaranteed contract is a big deal and they should not pass on it.

 

[JBaker]

So you're saying OU can contend next year because teams are losing key players but OU losing key players won't matter?

I'm saying OU is the only team in the conference aside from OSU that will be returning as big a contributor as M'Baye. And the rest of OU is the better than the rest of OSU.

 

[DenverSooner]

I'm saying OU is the only team in the conference aside from OSU that will be returning as big a contributor as M'Baye. And the rest of OU is the better than the rest of OSU.

If Brown returns OSU returns a lot. They will have Cobbins, Forte, Nash and Brown. That is a very solid core group of players. OU will have Clark, M'Baye, Hornbeak, Hield and Cousins which is also a solid group of players.

Losing Brown would be a big loss to OSU.

 

[JBaker]

If Brown returns OSU returns a lot. They will have Cobbins, Forte, Nash and Brown. That is a very solid core group of players. OU will have Clark, M'Baye, Hornbeak, Hield and Cousins which is also a solid group of players.

Losing Brown would be a big loss to OSU.

I'd expect Brown to return, and I expect OSU to be solid. Just not measurably better than OU.

 

[oSuJeff97]

I'd expect Brown to return, and I expect OSU to be solid. Just not measurably better than OU.

We'll see.

OSU is almost certainly losing Smart, but assuming Brown returns, we don't lose anyone else (except Jurick).

It will be interesting to see what kind of an impact Stevie Clark will make. It's almost unfair to follow Smart... I have a feeling no matter what he does, it won't be good enough...

The "Landry Jones" syndrome...

 

[Max Power]

We'll see.

OSU is almost certainly losing Smart, but assuming Brown returns, we don't lose anyone else (except Jurick).

It will be interesting to see what kind of an impact Stevie Clark will make. It's almost unfair to follow Smart... I have a feeling no matter what he does, it won't be good enough...

The "Landry Jones" syndrome...

So he is going to set a school record for turnovers in a career?

 

[Price is Right]

TCU is bringing in a solid class with one of the better centers in the country, I'd expect them to be improved. Tech brings a lot back and I would expect slight improvement from them as well. I think the big 12 as a whole will be much stronger next year.