Best Built for the Future

Originally Published: Feb 16, 2011 5:58 PM CDTWe are headed toward the last month of the season with all four state men&rsquo;s NCAA Division One basketball teams

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 1:33 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Feb 16, 2011 5:58 PM CDT

We are headed toward the last month of the season with all four state men’s NCAA Division One basketball teams facing the possibility of missing the NCAA tournament. So perhaps it’s time to take a look at the future and ask which program has a nucleus of young (Freshmen and Sophomore) talent that affords it the best chance to make multiple future Big Dances. I believe that Oral Roberts is most geared to make multiple trips to the NCAA tournament.  In fact, though Oakland will be a heavy favorite to win the Summit League Tournament this season, the Golden Eagles could still slide through and make it.  ORU is playing by far its best basketball of the season right now when it counts. ORU underclassmen:  Stephen Roundtree is a good candidate to be conference freshman of the year.  Sophomore forward Damen Bell-Holter is the biggest and best low-post presence in the league.  Sophomore guard Warren Niles is explosive.  That trio will make ORU dangerous for the next 3 seasons.Next season:  Leading scorer Dominique Morrison will be back for his senior season.  In fact Scott Sutton’s club returns 6 of its top 7 scorers next season.  They will need more consistency from the point guard spot. OU underclassmen:  I think the Sooners’ young talent  has gotten a bad wrap at times.  The core of Andrew Fitzgerald, Stephen Pledger and Cam Clark provide a solid building block.  If Fitzgerald can make a big a jump from his sophomore to junior season as he did from freshman to sophomore, he could be a 19 point, 8 rebound per game guy next year.  Next season:  Juco forward Robert Goff should play immediately and transfer Romero Osby will be a big piece of the puzzle.  OSU underclassmen:  Sophomore Jean-Paul Olukemi has had flashes of brilliance his sophomore season.  Freshman Markel Brown has done the same.  Michael Cobbins is redshirting this season, but should be ready to contribute as a redshirt freshman in 2011-12.  Add to the mix incoming LeBryan Nash and juco forward Karron Johnson and the Pokes should see marked improvement.   Next season:  Fred Gulley’s return from injury or better play from Ray Penn at the point is critical.  Tulsa underclassmen:  T-U will lose Justin Hurtt, but could challenge in Conference USA next season.  I love freshman Jordan Clarkson.  In fact, I think that of all the in-state underclassmen he may have the highest ceiling.  Sophomore Scottie Haralson is back with his three-point fireworks and sophomore Bryson Pope showed that he’ll be a huge contributor in the backcourt.  Next season:  The Golden Hurricane must find some frontcourt help to go along with returning forward Steven Idlett.