Regardless of a second-round exit within the NCAA event and dropping star seniors Ana Llanusa, Taylor Robertson and Madi Williams, Oklahoma second-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk confidently says the crew’s “basis” is already set in stone.
“I feel we’re fortunate that that’s been the inspiration, that it’s simply the subsequent folks up,” she advised The Oklahoman in November.
“We’re the gatekeepers of this program. In order that’s what we take a look at lower than how we have to substitute folks.”
Baranczyk’s squad must play with out the injured 6-2 redshirt senior Liz Scott, who averaged a career-high 8.6 factors and 6.3 rebounds final season, however as Baranczyk advised the press, her “management” will probably be anticipated as she steps into a brand new position. Kelbie Washington, who redshirted final season after beginning 16 video games in 2021-22, can even not be suiting up this 12 months.
So, what can Sooner followers count on?
A roster stuffed with versatility and ranging ability units. Oklahoma native Lexy Keys transferred to Oklahoma after three spectacular seasons at Oklahoma State, the place she began 71 video games and dropped buckets on her present squad, together with two 14-point performances as a junior and a 20-point gem as a sophomore. From her capturing to her off-ball motion and skill to carry it down on the defensive finish, Baranczyk describes her in The Oklahoman as “simply any individual that you must have in your program.”
The Sooners even have two former five-star merchandise suiting up this 12 months, together with 5-10 freshman ahead Sahara Williams and junior Payton Verhulst, who transferred in from Louisville. Williams averaged a double-double as a senior at Waterloo West Excessive Faculty, was a McDonald’s All-American and gained a gold medal with Crew USA on the 2022 3×3 FIBA World Cup. In the meantime, Verhulst was ranked No. 12 within the nation by ESPN throughout her time at Bishop Miege HS and performed a pivotal position as a freshman through the Cardinals’ Last 4 run. With expectations on Williams to develop right into a star and Verhulst’s elite court docket imaginative and prescient, the Sooners have two worthwhile items.
“Take the star out, I don’t care if she’s two-star, you’re going to like her,” Baranczyk stated of Williams in The Oklahoman. “However you may see why she is [a five-star]. She’ll develop her ability set. She’ll have days the place, …‘Oh my God, she’s solely a freshman,’ then different occasions you’re like, ‘OK, yeah, she’s a freshman.’”
Williams isn’t the one freshman who posted a double-double in highschool—6-3 middle Landry Allen averaged 20.6 factors and 10.3 rebounds as a junior en-route to main Tuttle Excessive Faculty (OK) to its first state championship; and as a senior, Allen was ranked the No. 10 middle within the Class of 2023. Sophomore Beatrice Culliton’s household is state royalty—her grandmother dropped 58 in a highschool sport, shattering the Oklahoma scoring file on the time. As for Culliton, she was named to the Massive 12 All-Freshman Crew final season and appeared in each sport, so finest imagine this isn’t her first rodeo on the large stage.
Go up and down the roster and also you’ll see a strong squad that may drop buckets and maintain its personal on the court docket. Don’t simply take heed to us; tune on this season and see for your self.