OU Men's Basketball Ranked No. 19 in USA Today Coaches Poll
Posted by Gilbert Sam on 4:34 PM
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Preseason recognition for the University of Oklahoma men's basketball team continues to roll in. The Sooners are ranked No. 19 in the initial 2014-15 USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll.
OU's No. 19 position in the poll marks its first preseason ranking since the 2009-10 season when it was No. 16 in the coaches poll and No. 17 in the AP version.
The Sooners are one of four Big 12 teams that appear in the top 20. Fellow league members Kansas (No. 5), Texas (No. 10) and Iowa State (No. 14) are also ranked.
OU returns four starters and 68 percent of its scoring and 70 percent of its rebounding from last year's Big 12 runner-up squad, which finished 23-10 overall and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners averaged 81.9 points a game in 2013-14, the nation's seventh highest figure and the program's highest in 20 years.
The returning starters are junior guard and preseason All-Big 12 selection Buddy Hield (16.5 ppg), junior guard Isaiah Cousins (11.0 ppg), sophomore guard Jordan Woodard (10.3 ppg, 4.6 apg) and junior forward Ryan Spangler (9.6 ppg, Big 12-leading 9.3 rpg).
The Sooners open the 2014-15 season Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in a home exhibition game against Washburn. The first regular season contest is slated for 2 p.m. on Nov. 16 against Southeastern Louisiana inside Lloyd Noble Center.
1. Kentucky
2. Arizona
3. Duke
4. Wisconsin
5. Kansas
6. North Carolina
7. Florida
8. Virginia
9. Louisville
10. Texas
11. Wichita State
12. Villanova
13. Gonzaga
14. Iowa State
15. Connecticut
16. VCU
17. San Diego State
18. Michigan State
19. Oklahoma20. Ohio State
21. Nebraska
22. SMU
23. Michigan
24. Syracuse
25. Iowa
OU's No. 19 position in the poll marks its first preseason ranking since the 2009-10 season when it was No. 16 in the coaches poll and No. 17 in the AP version.
The Sooners are one of four Big 12 teams that appear in the top 20. Fellow league members Kansas (No. 5), Texas (No. 10) and Iowa State (No. 14) are also ranked.
OU returns four starters and 68 percent of its scoring and 70 percent of its rebounding from last year's Big 12 runner-up squad, which finished 23-10 overall and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners averaged 81.9 points a game in 2013-14, the nation's seventh highest figure and the program's highest in 20 years.
The returning starters are junior guard and preseason All-Big 12 selection Buddy Hield (16.5 ppg), junior guard Isaiah Cousins (11.0 ppg), sophomore guard Jordan Woodard (10.3 ppg, 4.6 apg) and junior forward Ryan Spangler (9.6 ppg, Big 12-leading 9.3 rpg).
The Sooners open the 2014-15 season Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in a home exhibition game against Washburn. The first regular season contest is slated for 2 p.m. on Nov. 16 against Southeastern Louisiana inside Lloyd Noble Center.
Preseason USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll
1. Kentucky
2. Arizona
3. Duke
4. Wisconsin
5. Kansas
6. North Carolina
7. Florida
8. Virginia
9. Louisville
10. Texas
11. Wichita State
12. Villanova
13. Gonzaga
14. Iowa State
15. Connecticut
16. VCU
17. San Diego State
18. Michigan State
19. Oklahoma20. Ohio State
21. Nebraska
22. SMU
23. Michigan
24. Syracuse
25. Iowa
/// SoonerSports PR
