The lowdown
2000-01 record: 26-7; 12-4 in Big 12 (t2nd)
Final Ranking: No. 19 ESPN/USA Today; No. 13 AP
Postseason: Lost to Indiana State 70-68 in first round of NCAA Tournament.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. What kind of help is Hollis Price going to get on the perimeter? Will Jason Detrick, Quannas White or Ebi Ere be impact players on the perimeter? Can any of them handle the ball enough to help bring the ball up court?
2. How much of an impact will Jabahri Brown have in the post? Kelvin Sampson said he's one of the best big men he's had sit out, but how will that translate? How does that effect Jozsef Szendrei?
3. Can Aaron McGhee be more of an MVP type player for the Sooners? Nolan Johnson overshadowed him, but he needs to be a leader this season.
Three Key Facts
1. Hollis Price is recovering from three surgeries performed within 10 days of tearing his triceps against Indiana State in last season's NCAA Tournament. As of mid-June, Price was about 50 percent recovered.
2. The Sooners lost leading scorer Nolan Johnson and Kelley Newton, but head coach Kelvin Sampson has added two JUCO all-Americans to help fill the void quickly. Jason Detrick was a first-team all-American while averaging 23 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists at SW Missouri State-West Plains, while Ebi Ere earned second-team honors at Barton County (Kan.) CC. Ere originally signed with OU out of high school, but averaged 25.5 points and 7.6 rebounds instead last season for Barton County.
3. Sampson has led teams to eight straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the past seven in Norman, and the first coming as head coach of Washington State. The streak ranks fifth among current coaches.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The Sooners' newcomers are as good as advertised and they make a run for the Big 12 title and a decent seed in the tournament.
Worst case: The Sooners hover in fifth, still make the tournament but are out early.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Aaron McGhee
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Sr.
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F
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6-8/250
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PTS: 12.9 | REB: 4.8 | AST: 0.7
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Hollis Price
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Jr.
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G
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6-1/165
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PTS: 11.8 | REB: 2.6 | AST: 4.7
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Daryan Selvy
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Sr.
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F
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6-6/215
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PTS: 6.9 | REB: 5.2 | AST: 0.9
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Nolan Johnson
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F
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6-4/220
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PTS: 13.2| REB: 4.9 | AST: 1.8
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Kelley Newton
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G
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6-2/190
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PTS: 9.8 | REB: 2.5 | AST: 1.3
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Oklahoma Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Matt Gipson
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G/F
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6-9
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Burkburnett, Texas/Burkburnett H.S.
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Jason Detrick
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G
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6-5
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Newport News, Va./SW Missouri-West Plains JC
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Quannas White
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G
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6-1
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New Orleans, La./Midland JC
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Ebi Ere
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G
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6-5
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Tulsa, Okla./Barton, Kan. CC
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