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Can Oklahoma continue to progress what head coach Jennie Baranczyk has built in Norman? Skylar Vann is the reigning Big-12 Co-Player of the Year. Oregon State transfer Raegan Beers was a third team All-American last season and Payton Verhulst has the ability to be one as well. Lexi Keys, Nevaeh Tot, Sahara Williams, Beatrice Culliton and Aubrey Joens return as well.
Dominance in the Frontcourt
The Sooners were undersized in the majority of their matchups last season but that didn’t stop them from being effective. That especially can be said for Skylar Vann. She led the team in points and rebounds in her first season as a starter. Contending with centers like Ayoka Lee, Audi Crooks, Taiyanna Jackson, etc. Her and Sahara Williams were outmatched physically but never let that slow them or the team down. Vann is phenomenal at running the floor, quickly getting a defender on her hip and finishing through contact. An emphasis of their offense is scoring at a rapid pace, so the guards are always looking there first.
Vann can step out and shoot the three as well, which keeps teams on their toes in transition situations. She is deceptively quick, a good passer in traffic and is phenomenal at tracking the ball off the rim on offense. She can score at all three levels and could have less attention on her to operate with Beers in the paint now.
Beers has been an absolute force through her first two seasons as a Beaver. Last season she averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 66% from the field. She has a soft touch around the rim, nimble feet and is patient in the post. Some post players get the ball, rush their movements and ultimately make mistakes but not Beers. She is also tremendous at setting screens to get people open and rolling to the rim and making herself available.
Versatile Verhulst
Payton Verhulst has been one of my favorite players to watch in college basketball since waking up at 4 am and covering the U19 World Cup team in 2021. She is the ultimate example of versatility. She does absolutely everything on the court. If you need her to be the primary play initiator, she will do it. If you need her to be the number one scoring option, she will do it. If you need her to rebound, defend and do the dirty work, again, she will do it. She led the team in scoring seven times, in rebounds eight times and assists 10 times.
She is the epitome of a connector, a “glue guy”, she’s unselfish and is always looking to communicate with her teammates. Stats and a box score won’t tell her full value to what Oklahoma does, but it’s impossible not to see if you’re watching the game.
High Octane Offense
Last season, 20% of their scoring came in transition, and 60% of their shots came in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock. The Sooners offense was top 25 in scoring offense last season but was top five the two years prior. They were second in team assists which shows how fluid Barancyzk’s offense is. She played a 10-player rotation due to the talent on the team and her offensive philosophy.
Tot, Keys and Joens are key returners at the guard position, while Zya Vann could figure into the rotation as a freshman. Williams, Culliton and Kierstan Johnson all return at the forward positions. Liz Scott will also be back after missing last season with a season ending injury. They missed her size last year, so they are welcoming her back with open arms.
With all of their key players coming back and adding Beers, expectations are sky high. Coach Baranczyk said they are excited for them, and they are looking forward to meeting them. With them joining the SEC it’ll be interesting to see how they fare in conference play with the different philosophies of playstyle. They’ve been stuck in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, this is the year to turn that around and make a deep run.
