Many would say that this year’s best conference is the ACC. But according to BPI and RPI, the Big 12 and Big 10 are tied for first and the ACC is ranked 3rd. The Big 12 has the highest percentage of the teams going to the NCAA Tournament on a year by year basis.
This year’s storyline though features Kansas slightly behind the pack, but certainly not out of it by any extent. Texas Tech has shown that last year wasn’t just a flash in the pan season and they are near the top of the ranks, just a game and a half out of first place.
Kansas State, by many, was considered to be a dark horse with how much expierence they have coming back in breaking the 14 year long streak for the Jayhawks. With Dean Wade coming back, K-State is playing well at the right time.
Iowa State has continued to stay in the hunt with great shooting performance from Marial Sharon and solid defense. Iowa State has taken 5 of their last 6 (lone loss coming by 4 to Kansas), and playing their way right into a chance at breaking the streak.
The Baylor Bears are also in the hunt as they’ve had a resurgence since F Tristan Clark went out for the year. After being predicted by many to finish at the bottom, Baylor is tied for 1st in February.
Today, we take a look at each contender, what they have done, and what is upcoming as the grind that is the Big 12 continues on and the seeding for the Tournament continues to come together.
Kansas:
Kansas has an unstoppable force at home. They are undefeated and have faced most of the top teams in the conference at home. The problem have been their road woes. And that could be the very reason why KU’s streak comes to an end. KU is 1-5 on the road with their lone win coming to Baylor, where they nearly blew a 20 point lead in the final 4 minutes of the contest.
It was set in stone for certain with the news that Silvio De Sousa is ruled ineligible for the rest of the season. I’m not sure how huge of an impact he would’ve made, but missing depth will be gone for the season. Kansas has been a great at home though, as they just got off a mugging of Texas Tech, who was coming off a dominate win over TCU in the middle of the week.
Maybe the biggest game of the year for the Jayhawks looms ahead of them and it stays in the state of Kansas. KU will travel to Manhattan to face the #1 team in the conference. This will be very interesting as to how Kansas plays, because of their woes on the road and how hot Kansas State is right now.
Kansas has been through tough stretches and, in the end, came out on top. That is very likely for this season as well.
Iowa State:
Iowa State is playing right at the right time right now. They’ve won 5 of their last 6 and just got a big road win over Texas. Texas is also one of the 5 teams that have beaten Kansas on that same home floor. This streak also includes a huge road win over then-#8 Texas Tech, #20 Ole Miss, and a 25 point win against West Virginia.
It has been Tailen Horton-Tucker and Marial Shayok that have been caring the load from a scoring standpoint. Horton-Tucker has been the leading scorer the previous 2 games, but Shayok has scored 20+ in 4 of his last 6 games. He has been a huge splash ever they got him from Virginia last year.
Out of all the teams in the hunt, Iowa State might have the easiest schedule the rest of the way. They have 3 games against the 5 teams listed in this post and only one of them is on the road (Kansas State). That slate makes them the favorite by some to win the conference. And winning 5 of their last 6 will certainly help with a #2 scoring threat rising in Horton-Tucker.
Baylor:
Baylor has been a feel good story for any team that’s not in the Big 12. The most efficient player on their team, Tristan Clark, went down with a season ending leg injury. Ever since that happened, Baylor is 7-1 in their last 8 games and won six in a row.
Baylor is also coming off the most impressive week of any team in CBB. On Monday, Baylor went into Norman and blew out Oklahoma, 77-47. Baylor would then go onto smash TCU at home, 90-63, behind 9-12 shooting from 3 point range and 40 points from graduate transfer guard, Makai Mason. Baylor is the hottest team in not only the conference, but in the entire country.
The problem moving forward for the Bears, is that they have the toughest slate of any team in the conference coming up. They still have to play all 4 of these teams on the road still and has a home game on Saturday, against Kansas State. That slate includes back to back games against Iowa State and Texas Tech on the road. And their season finale is in Lawrence against Kansas.
The fact that the Bears are in this spot, is nothing short of a miracle and a great job from Scott Drew. From a team, that was projected to finish 9th or 10th and only had 3 players returning from last years team, they are making noise.
Kansas State:
Ever since Dean Wade has returned back to the lineup, Kansas State has played their best basketball of the season. That was until Kansas State did not show up and surprising to many, lost to the worst team in the SEC in below .500 on the season, Texas A&M. It would be interesting to many as they would bounce back on the road against Oklahoma State.
Dean Wade would respond with his most efficient game on the season with 24 points on a perfect 9/9 shooting from the field. Kansas State outrebounded the Cowboys by 10, and was lights out from behind the arc with 55% shooting on 16 made threes.
Kansas State has the most important week of any team in the conference. Especially if Kansas State can pull off the upset against KU, it would be a matchup in Waco for the top spot in the conference and Kansas to be at least a game and a half back of the other. Getting back on track was important and should lift their self-esteem before they face a bitter rival at home. This week could dictate whether K-State could win the conference or not.
Texas Tech:
Texas Tech looked to be back on track after they handled TCU at home by 19. And then, they went into Allen Fieldhouse and got to meet Dedric Lawson in person.
Texas Tech has been streaky as of late, as they have wins over Texas on the road, Arkansas, and a blowout win over TCU. But they also have losses over Baylor, Iowa State (at home), and Kansas State. Texas Techs defense has been among the best in conference play, but gave up 79 to Kansas and 13 made 3 pointers.
Texas Tech’s slate isn’t quite as difficult, but isn’t the easiest left out of the 5 contenders. Tech gets Baylor and Kansas at home, and ends the season with a road trip to Ames. Texas Tech was so close a season ago of ending the streak. Tech has another chance to make up for their missed opportunity last season and make history with their first Big 12 championship in it’s school’s history
3 Biggest Games coming up:
#3. Texas Tech at. Oklahoma. Saturday, 3 PM
#2. Kansas State at. Baylor. Saturday, 5 PM, ESPN2
#1. Kansas at. Kansas State. Tuesday, 8 PM, ESPN
Chances of winning the Big 12:
Iowa State 30%
Kansas: 25%
Kansas State: 20%
Baylor: 15%
Texas Tech: 10%
Image Credit: https://www.theintelligencer.com/sports/article/Former-UVA-player-Shayok-flourishing-for-Iowa-13515159.php
