College basketball's ultimate trip has eluded Oklahoma forward Kevin Bookout in his career with the Sooners.

"Since I've been here, we've won the Big 12 tournament, we've won a Big 12 championship," Bookout said. "We've gone to the Elite Eight and were so close when I was a freshman that I still have a bad taste in my mouth. I think about it every day. I want to go to the Final Four."

The Sooners are a consistent top-10 pick in every national preseason poll and are expected to battle Texas for the Big 12 championship. With the returning talent, it might be the best nucleus OU coach Kelvin Sampson has ever assembled.

"Going into this year, you can tell we're going to be good," said Sampson, who made one previous Final Four trip in 2002. "I like where our program is. But there are no guarantees — look at Texas last year losing (forward P.J.) Tucker and (center LaMarcus) Aldridge. How do you know it won't happen to us this year? But if this team stays healthy, we're going to be hard to play against."

Bookout, Big 12 preseason player of the year Taj Gray and versatile guard Terrell Everett give the Sooners as good a threesome as any other team in college basketball to build around.

Their March hopes will depend on the development of a consistent perimeter threat and staying away from injuries. With only 10 scholarship players on the roster, the Sooners won't be as deep as many teams in their own conference, much less most national championship contenders.

But even after starting guard Drew Lavender and key contributor Lawrence McKenzie transferred after last season, the Sooners figure to be much better.

OU posted a 25-8 record to claim a share of its first regular-season Big 12 title, punctuating the late run with a six-game winning streak capped by victories at UT and Texas Tech.

Nate Carter, the Big West's freshman of the year in 2003, will provide shooting and muscle inside after transferring from California-Riverside. Despite his 6-foot-6 size, Sampson foresees using him like former Sooners standout Eduardo Najera, as an inside and outside threat.

"He just shoots so well," Sampson said. "If you have a post guy who can shoot the three, that's a feather in your cap. Nate will swing back and forth."

Junior college transfer Chris Walker, who averaged 11.7 points and 7.7 assists per game last year at San Joaquin Delta College, will have the first crack at point guard. Sampson could also use Everett there, although he prefers to keep his top defender away from on-ball defensive coverages.

"Terrell will be mainly on the floor," Sampson said. "That's his position — on the court. It won't matter where he's playing. He'll still be out there getting after people."

Bookout is healthy after struggling most of last season with a nerve injury in his right elbow. And he can detect an attitude change among his teammates that shows they are as hungry for March success as he is.

"This is the most talent we've had since I've been here," Bookout said. "We're athletic, and a lot of teams won't be able to match up with us. I think this team has a high ceiling, and it's just a matter of us living up to that."