Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big 12 Basketball: Baylor’s shocking rise, Texas Tech’s missed opportunity

By Tristan Freeman

TULSA, OK - MARCH 17: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears reacts in the second half against the New Mexico State Aggies during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 17, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
TULSA, OK - MARCH 17: Head coach Scott Drew of the Baylor Bears reacts in the second half against the New Mexico State Aggies during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 17, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
LUBBOCK, TX – FEBRUARY 24: Lagerald Vick #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks battles Zach Smith #11 and Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the game on February 24, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Kansas defeated Texas Tech 74-72.(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – FEBRUARY 24: Lagerald Vick #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks battles Zach Smith #11 and Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the game on February 24, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Kansas defeated Texas Tech 74-72.(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Midway through the 2018-19 Big 12 Basketball season, no team has fewer than two losses. What are the key takeaways up to this point?

Who exactly is the favorite to win the Big 12 Basketball Regular Season title this season? This question was being asked last year when it felt like several teams could dethrone Kansas and end the streak.

But this time around, the Jayhawks truly are vulnerable. They don’t have Udoka Azubuike for the rest of the season with an injury, while Silvio De Sousa is officially out due to NCAA violations. One big difference with this Kansas team is that they’re being led by freshmen guards, rather than Big 12 Player of the Year caliber perimeter stars.

Other teams have sensed the Jayhawks’ weakness, including rival Kansas State. They went through a rut when star forward Dean Wade was hurt but the Wildcats are now tied with Baylor for first place at 6-2.

Texas and TCU’s inconsistencies have each of them under .500 at the moment in the Big 12 and are squarely on the bubble. Two teams who are under .500 on the season are West Virginia and Oklahoma State, each looking to play spoiler the rest of the way for a bubble team who can’t afford a loss to them.

All of these teams have shown the ability to win – and lose to one another. But this past week’s results cast a light on some Big 12 teams both good and bad. Here are some key takeaways from the conference that’ll have an impact later on.

Home/Big 12