<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/news/2002/08/03/offseason_beat/" target="_blank">SI's Offseason Beat on Kelvin Sampson</a>

... as well as more concrete evidence that I'm not alone in believing that the Sooners are next year's Terrapins:

"The average fan wouldn't know it because Oklahoma hasn't been in the media's eye until last year," Price said. "I look at it like this: A little adversity makes a man out of you. It's always like that -- us against the world -- and it's gonna be like that next year, even though we'll be top five."

Top five at the start. Maybe top one at the end.

Oklahoma lost a load in Aaron McGhee (21.8 points, 7.2 rebounds in tournament play) and sixth man Daryan Selvy (6.7 points, 4.9 rebounds), but Sampson returns four starters, including NCAA Tournament West Regional MVP Price and underrated point guard Quannas White. If freshman forward Kevin Bookout (6-foot-8, 260 pounds) can help Jabari Brown in the frontcourt, the Sooners will be dangerous.

While Arizona and Kansas will be pegged for the Final Four all season -- much like Kansas and Duke were last year -- Oklahoma could be the Maryland of 2002-03 and prove to be the best.

--soonerterp.