Welcome to the official beginning of the College Basketball Season! One of the best conferences in all of College Basketball as 9 of the 10 teams from the Big 12 begin their seasons this week with one game that is headlined to be the marquee matchup for the entire conference.
Baylor: Tuesday vs. Texas Southern, Saturday vs. Southern
Baylor brings a ton of inexperience into this season. So it doesn’t help when Scott Drew announced that Mario Kegler would be suspended for the first 6 games of the year due to violation of a team policy as well as Makai Mason being a game time decision for Tuesday’s night contest. Although Texas Southern is consistently a solid SWAC team and has roster consisting of 6 seniors, Baylor should pick up a win. Southern has struggled the past couple of years and doesn’t look much better heading into this year. Baylor starts the year 2-0.
Iowa State: Tuesday vs. Alabama State, Friday vs. Missouri
It’s hard to believe Alabama State would be a threat to Iowa State considering Alabama State went 0-13 last year in Non-Conference play. But with the Hornets only graduating 2 players and returning all 5 starters from last year’s team. I don’t expect an upset but I expect it to be a close game. The only regular season game Michael Porter Jr. played in was against Iowa State. He is gone, but Jontay Porter and Jeremiah Tilmon return with what should be an above average Missouri team. This will be a big game, but the Hilton Magic and 22 points from Lindell Wiggington will lead Iowa State to a win against a former Big 12 Foe and has the Cyclones 2-0.
Kansas: Tuesday vs. Michigan State
Kansas just reloads and continues to be in Non-Conference Marquee matchup as their annual Champions Classic has them facing Michigan State that will be replacing First Team All-American Miles Bridges as well as Top 5 pick, Jaren Jackson Jr. Even with the cloud above Kansas’ head, they are an elite team just from a talent perspective alone. Michigan State does bring back quite a bit, especially at the guard position with Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford. Kansas is just too talented as they win this game by double digits.
Kansas State: Friday vs. Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State is coming off a 10 win season.. that is all that needs to be said, Kansas State has too much talent. Any line Vegas puts out, pick the over. Wildcats by 25.
Oklahoma: Friday vs. UT-Rio Grande
Rio Grande graduates the best scorer in the WAC with Nick Dixon (20 PPG) out. Rio Grande is guard heavy with their other top 2 scorers returning. Oklahoma for parts of the game will look sluggish due to the Trae Young after effect and lack of an efficient scorer. But in the end, OU picks up a win to begin the year by about 12-15 points.
Oklahoma State: Saturday at. Charlotte
Oklahoma State has a very strange beginning of the season as they travel to face a 6 win team from a year ago and dead last in the Conference USA a year ago in Charlotte. Charlotte does return leading scorer, Jon Davis as well as Najee Garvin. It’s hard to get a good gauge of this Oklahoma State team, but they do pick up a win on the road, but Charlotte won’t make it easy.
TCU: Wednesday vs. Cal State Bakersfield, Sunday vs. Oral Roberts
After one of the best seasons in over a decade, TCU takes the court with 2 home games against inferior opponents. With the combo of experience and incoming talent like F Yuat Alok, TCU rolls in and makes quick work of both teams. Jaylen Fisher puts up 20 points in the first game and Alok gets a double double in the game against Oral Roberts.
Texas: Tuesday vs Eastern Illinois, Friday vs. Arkansas
Eastern Illinois will essentially be a tune up for a big mathup against former SWC rival, Arkansas. On Fort Bliss, as part of the Armed Forces Classic. Arkansas loses a lot this year after 3 of their top 4 scorers graduate. On a neutral court, Texas takes this game in a back and forth affair. Give me the Horns by 5.
Texas Tech: Tuesday vs Incarnate Word, Friday vs. Mississippi Valley State
2 of the worst teams in all of CBB come to Lubbock as Tech is coming off their best year since the Bob Knight era. They were so bad that both teams last year combined for less wins than Tech had losses. But with Keenan Evans, Zhaire Smith and Tommy Hamilton all gone, Tech is looking to break in some new players. Due to the gap in talent, Tech takes both game in pretty convincing fashion.
West Virginia: Friday vs Buffalo
West Virginia by far gets the toughest Mid-Major team in Week 1. Buffalo went 27-9 last year, Won the MAC and made it to the 2nd round. And this Bulls team is led by 3 seniors that averaged over 15 PPG a year ago. Buffalo is no joke and this is a game Press Virginia is going to need to send constant pressure towards Bufffalo’s guards. This is a game Jevon Carter would thrive in due to him playing up to his competition especially on defense. In probably the boldest prediction all year, Buffalo comes into Morgantown and upsets West Virginia to begin the craziness that is College Basketball. Buffalo 76, West Virginia 72.
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