Mens Basketball Ranked 15th in ESPN/USA Today Poll

Sooners holding “Haunted House of Hoops” Baseline Bash tonight

NORMAN, Okla. Kelvin Sampson's Oklahoma men's basketball team finds itself in the No. 15 spot in the preseason ESPN/USA Today poll that was released on Thursday. The Sooners are the fourth-rated Big 12 team behind Kansas (5), Missouri (6) and Texas (11). Connecticut, Duke, Michigan State and Arizona are the nation's top four teams, respectively.

Other top 10 teams are defending national champ Syracuse (7), Florida (8), Kentucky (9) and North Carolina (10). Oklahoma will play five of the poll's top 11 teams this regular season, including non-conference road games against No. 1 Connecticut (Jan. 11) and No. 3 Michigan State (Dec. 6).

Sampson and his Sooners, along with the OU women's basketball team, will host its annual Baseline Bash tonight at Lloyd Noble Center. With a “Haunted House of Hoops” theme, the free event sponsored by Arvest Banks will begin at 5 p.m. with a safe trick-or-treat, carnival games and a haunted house. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and fans are encouraged to participate in the 7 p.m. costume parade. At 7:30, the women's basketball team will partake in a 30-minute skills and drills exhibition while the men will follow with drills and a scrimmage at 8 p.m. Both teams will also engage in 60-minute autograph sessions. Following the on-court basketball activities, the Christian rock group Switchfoot will perform a concert on the Lloyd Noble court. Switchfoot is presented by the OU Campus Activities Council Concert Series.

The OU men's basketball team, which finished 27-7 last year, won its third straight Big 12 Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. The Sooners will play home exhibition games on Nov. 10 and 15 before beginning regular season play Nov. 21 and 22 with the Sooner Invitational in Norman.

2003-04 ESPN/USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll

Team (Points)

1. Connecticut (762)

2. Duke (697)

3. Michigan State (677)

4. Arizona (638)

5. Kansas (589)

6. Missouri (560)

7. Syracuse (533)

8. Florida (507)

9. Kentucky (498)

10. North Carolina (493)

11. Texas (461)

12. Gonzaga (403)

13. Illinois (399)

14. Wisconsin (392)

15. Oklahoma (353)

16. Louisville (291)

17. Stanford (258)

18. St. Joseph's (244)

19. Cincinnati (225)

19. Notre Dame (225)

21. Wake Forest (216)

22. Pittsburgh (148)

23. Marquette (78)

24. Oklahoma State (61)

25. Maryland (46)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Mens Basketball Ranked 15th in ESPN/USA Today Poll

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors