College Basketball 2018 Big 12 Preview: Oklahoma State

Mike Boynton Jr. is welcomed to Stillwater with the least experienced roster in the conference, and potentially in the entire country. Oklahoma State loses their top 3 scorers off of a 21-15 team that went 3 rounds deep into the NIT a year ago. Jeffrey Carroll, Kendall Smith, and Mitchell Solomon graduate as they return Cameron McGriff and Lindy Waters. OSU added some transfers for this year with grad transfer Mike Cunningham (USC Upstate) as well as guards Curtis Jones (Indiana) and Michael Weathers (Miami Ohio). This Oklahoma State team is experienced, but also extremely young. The only senior on this squad is Cunningham. They have 5 juniors and 6 freshman. A ton of the bench this year is going to be relied on by Freshman. Be on the lookout for Yor Anei, the 6 foot 9 freshman from Shawnee Mission South in Overland Park, Kansas. Expect him to compete for a potential starting spot as well as Kentrevious Jones. Both are tall freshman with some size, although Jones weighs 270. If they can rattle off some surprising wins early and gel together, this Oklahoma State team could contend for a NCAA Tournament berth. Worst case, they struggle together, their depth becomes a major issue, and they miss out on the postseason entirely.

Notable Non-Conference Games:

November, 22nd- Memphis (Advocare Invitational)

November, 23rd- Villanova/Canisus (Advocare Invitational)

November, 30rd- At. Minnesota

December, 16th- Nebraska (Sioux Falls, SD)

January, 26th- vs. South Carolina (Big 12/SEC Challenge)

Oklahoma State has some very interesting matchups in some being in strange locations. Memphis will be without Dedric Lawson and regrouping. Going on the road to face Minnesota creates a tough environment and Nebraska on a neutral court. Their conference slate for the most part is evened out, but the last 3 games are brutal with Kansas, a road game against Baylor, and finishing things off with Press Virginia. At the worst, Okie State could lose all of these notable games in Non-Conference. At the very best, they succeed expectations and go 3-2.

Potential Starting Lineup:

PG: Mike Cunningham (Sr.)

SG: Curtis Jones (Jr.)

SF: Lindy Waters III (Jr.)

PF: Cameron McGriff (Jr.)

C: Kentrevious Jones (Fr.)

Potential Finish: NIT Tournament, 2nd Round