Men’s College Basketball 2021-2022 Season Preview: Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Big 12 had a successful year in men’s college basketball in 2020 as the Baylor Bears closed out the season as the national champs. It was a dominant run, and they truly were the best team in college basketball.

The conference comes into the new year looking strong from top to bottom, but there was some drama in the offseason with a few teams planning to leave for the SEC. Texas and Oklahoma will be headed to the SEC in the near future, but for this year at least it’ll be business as usual.

Like many other conferences around the country, Big 12 teams took advantage of the expanded transfer portal and loaded up with all sorts of new faces. Figuring out rotations will be especially important for this group so let’s dive in and take our best crack at deciphering the best players for each squad.

In this one, Oklahoma State.

(Check out our full college basketball season preview!)

Oklahoma State Cowboys 2021-2022 Season Preview

2020-2021 record: 21-9 (11-7 Big 12), fifth in Big 12
Postseason: Lost in NCAA Tournament second round

Key Departures | Oklahoma State Cowboys

• Cade Cunningham (NBA draftee)

Key Additions | Oklahoma State Cowboys

• Moussa Cisse (transferred from Memphis)
• Bryce Thompson (transferred from Kansas)
• Tyreek Smith (transferred from Texas Tech)
• Woody Newton (transferred from Syracuse)

Returners | Oklahoma State Cowboys

• Avery Anderson (12.2 PPG/4 RPG/1.5 SPG)
• Isaac Likekele (9.1 PPG/6.6 RPG/3.6 APG/1.1 SPG)
• Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (9 PPG/5.3 RPG)
• Kalib Boone (9.4 PPG/5.4 RPG/1.6 BPG)
• Rondel Walker (7.8 PPG/2.9 RPG)
• Bryce Williams (7.3 PPG/1.9 APG)
• Keylan Boone (4.4 PPG/4.1 RPG)

Oklahoma State Cowboys Outlook for 2021-2022

The NCAA has recently ruled that Oklahoma State will be banned from postseason play this year after failing their appeal. This is a pretty scummy move by the NCAA, as it punishes kids who really had nothing to do with the infractions. It’s a shame because this team is well coached by Mike Boynton and has a roster capable of winning 20-plus games.

Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe and Kalib Boone are primed for big seasons and should flirt with averaging a double-double. Avery Anderson is a major breakout candidate and is capable of averaging 20 PPG, but this team is talented enough that he won’t have to. Isaac Likekele is the veteran on the team and will be exactly what this roster needs as their leader. Mo Cisse is an elite defender and rim protector that makes this Cowboys front court extremely formidable on both ends of the floor.

(Check out our rankings of the top 100 teams and top 100 players for men’s college basketball in 2021-2022.)

Summary

Don’t expect this team to pack it in and fold just because they’ve been banned from postseason play. There are future NBA players on this roster, and they’re going to be motivated to win the Big 12 regular-season title. Moncrieffe, Boone and Cisse are going to be nearly impossible to score against down low while Anderson and Likekele will make life miserable for the opposing backcourts. This is a special team.