Sooner Hoops Loses Out On Committed Big Man

Oklahoma's already shallow frontcourt just became even more so. The Sooners were expecting a boost from JUCO transfer Edson Avila underneath the basket but as the first day of classes opened up on campus he was no where to be found. Avila isn't enrolled at Oklahoma for the fall semester and on Monday the athletic department announced that he wouldn't be.

After averaging 11.4 points and 5.8 boards per game at Seward County (Kan.) Community College last season, Avila was expected to be a contributor to an OU frontcourt that lost Romero Osby, Andrew Fitzgerald and Amath M'Baye last spring.

The Sooners will introduce Ryan Spangler and D.J. Bennett this season, after both sat out the 2012-13 season. Spangler is a transfer from Gonzaga who came back to Norman to play closer to his hometown of Blanchard while Bennett is a JUCO transfer from Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College. Both played well in Oklahoma's recent European tour, with Bennett providing more offense than initially expected of him.

However, the loss of Avila leaves Oklahoma very thin in the frontcourt where Tyler Neal is the only returning player with starting experience. Injuries and foul trouble could be an even bigger factor now than ever before.