“We’re a young team, but we’re a talented team,” Capel said Thursday afternoon in his opening remarks at the Sooners’ media day. “We’re working to try to get better every day. We’ve had some great practices. We’ve had some guys try to step up and be leaders for us, which is essential for such a young team. I’m excited about the direction we’re going and really anxious to see us play against someone else.

“I think we can be a really good basketball team this year.”

Earlier Thursday, OU found itself ranked No. 16 in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. The two Big 12 Conference teams ranked higher were Kansas (No. 1) and Texas (No. 3), which is fitting since the Sooners are picked third behind the Jayhawks and Longhorns in the league’s preseason poll.

The Sooners are ranked No. 17 by the Associated Press.

OU lost Griffin, his older brother, Taylor, and point guard Austin Johnson off last year’s 30-6 team which advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to eventual national champion North Carolina. The Sooners return starting guards Willie Warren, the 2008-09 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and Tony Crocker.

They are the only two players, Capel said Thursday, who have nailed down starting positions on this year’s team.

Incoming McDonald’s All-Americans Tommy Mason-Griffin and Tiny Gallon are expected to contribute immediately, with Mason-Griffin a prime candidate to replace Johnson at the point. Capel said both his freshmen have played well in practices thus far.

The Sooners host the University of British Columbia in an exhibition game Nov. 3, then don’t play again until their Nov. 14 season opener against Mount St. Mary’s, also at the Lloyd Noble Center.