Veteran college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein has released his preseason power rankings for the upcoming SEC men’s basketball season, and the Oklahoma Sooners find themselves positioned near the bottom of the list.
Rankings Reveal a Steep Uphill Battle
The rankings place Oklahoma at No. 13, sandwiched behind traditional powerhouses such as Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Missouri, Texas A&M, Georgia, Auburn and Ole Miss. The placement signals a tough road ahead for a program that has not reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the past five seasons.
Coach Porter Moser, now in his sixth year at the helm, is entering what many insiders describe as a make‑or‑break season. The pressure intensified after Roger Denny, the university’s newly appointed athletic director, pledged additional resources, including increased NIL funding and a dedicated general manager, to support Moser’s rebuilding effort.
Despite the bleak external outlook, the Sooners have managed to retain several key contributors — Xzayvier Brown, Derrion Reid, Dayton Forsythe and Kai Rogers — while adding transfers Khani Rooths, Tyler Hendricks and Pop Isaacs through the portal. The roster also welcomes Akoldah Gak, a former NBA G‑League prospect, in hopes of bolstering front‑court depth.
Rothstein’s assessment suggests that even with these additions, the team may struggle to break into the upper tier of the conference, potentially marking another missed NCAA Tournament appearance. For a fan base that has grown skeptical of the program’s trajectory, the upcoming season represents more than just wins; it is a test of whether the administration’s promised investments can translate into tangible progress.