NORMAN, OK — The pandemic hit Oklahoma harder than most college baseball programs. The Sooners were built to win big in 2020, led by one of the nation’s most talented weekend rotations in Cade Cavalli, Levi Prater and Dane Acker. But the Sooners never got to see where that trio might have taken them in the postseason, and then all three left for pro ball after the season, leaving Oklahoma depleted on the mound, and without the ability to hit the road and scour the JUCO ranks for immediate reinforcements.

So Oklahoma struggled to a 27-28 showing (11-13 in the Big 12) in 2021, largely because it simply lacked depth on the mound. This summer, the coaching staff prioritized getting back to its roots, a process that included bringing in 13 JUCO transfers to go along with 13 freshmen.

And it’s going well. The team is meshing well both in the clubhouse and on the field, and Oklahoma has upgraded its talent and its depth throughout its roster, but particularly on the mound, where it really needed a boost after ranking 189th in the country with a 5.84 ERA last year.

Four power arms from the JUCO ranks have made a particularly big impact. The crown jewel is...