2011-2012 College Basketball Conference Preview: Big 12

In preparation for the start of the 2011-2012 regular season on November 7, we’re running a preview series here on Busting Brackets. Our conference previews begin today with a look at the SEC, which promises to feature several teams that could make a run at a national championship this season.

CONFERENCE STRENGTH

If there’s one word that surrounds the Big 12 entering the season, it’s uncertainty. There are three, four, maybe even five teams that could realistically win the conference title…..although we’re still not completely sure if any of these teams will be “great” teams.

In terms of where the top team in the Big 12 ranks entering the season, that’s something you could debate. Baylor, Kansas, and Texas A&M are all presumably Top 25 squads, with Missouri included in that discussion as well given the talent that they return. But what about wild cards like Texas with a ton of new faces, or an Oklahoma State squad that adds a player like LeBryan Nash to the mix? That’s where it becomes harder to gauge just how strong this conference is from top to bottom.

So in looking at overall conference rankings, the Big 12 likely takes a step back this year. Given all the unknowns and new faces, it’s just hard to rank them above conferences like the Big East and SEC, which have teams at the top that will be competing for a national title. Is there a national championship contender in the Big 12? That remains to be seen.

HEAD OF THE CLASS

At this point, choosing the team that will finish at the top of the Big 12 is an extremely difficult task. But choosing the team that should finish at the top of the Big 12 is not. In the overall talent department, Scott Drew‘s Baylor Bears are the best team in the league entering the season.

It all starts with Perry Jones III, who is one of the best players in the country, and there’s no doubt that he’s one of the most exciting to watch. With LaceDarius Dunn gone, Jones will get even more opportunities to score. He’s going to have a lot of help around him as well, with two guys named Quincy expected to make huge contributions. Quincy Acy will be Jones’ partner in the frontcourt and should average a double-double quite easily. Freshman forward Quincy Miller is a huge pro prospect that will make an immediate impact due to incredible athleticism. These three alone give Baylor one of the best frontcourts in college basketball.

But as is always the question with the Bears, can they put it all together and win the Big 12? If they don’t, there are plenty of teams capable of swooping in to capture the conference title.

Kansas lost a whole lot of talent to the NBA Draft, but they do return two guys who are set to breakout this season in Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson. Texas A&M has a new coach in Billy Kennedy and a stud scorer in Khris Middleton. Missouri has a new coach as well in Frank Haith, but not a new lineup as Marcus Denmon is one of four starters returning (would have been five had Laurence Bowers not went down with an ACL tear).

Again, realistically, those four teams have the pieces in place to win the Big 12. The problem is, there are some huge questions that have to be answered for each of these teams to take that next step and actually win the conference. It’s all gonna depend on who addresses their issues the quickest.

SLEEPER TEAM

Believe it or not, Texas is actually flying under the radar for the first time in a long time. That’s what happens when you lose all five starters. Rick Barnes‘ team will be made up of a lot of freshmen with no college basketball experience. Fortunately for Barnes, these guys can play.

Myck Kabongo will be the most talked about of this group, as he is the type of point guard that you want to have running the show. He is very quick and should be able to get into the lane and create opportunities for others to score. Particularly Sheldon McClellan and Julien Lewis, who are also freshman that could make an immediate impact with their scoring ability.

But in all of this talk about freshmen, let’s not forget about the player that will be the leader on this team. J’Covan Brown goes from contributor in a loaded lineup to undoubtedly the top scorer this season for the Longhorns. He’ll need help around him, but again, with a guy like Kabongo distributing the ball, a 15-point average might not be out of the question for Brown this year.

Another important point: Texas has a few difficult non-conference games. The Legends Classic could pit them up against a Top 10 team in Vanderbilt. They travel to UCLA on December 3. They host an underrated Temple team two weeks after that. And then to cap it off, they play at North Carolina on December 21. Games like this will allow the younger players an opportunity to play big time minutes against big time teams. This should do nothing but help them gain valuable experience before heading out on the road in hostile Big 12 environments.

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

Before I present the order of finish, let me say this: I’ve changed this order about 27 times in the last several days. Along with the Pac-12, this might be one of the toughest conferences to predict in the entire country. For example, in my Preseason Top 25 poll a little over a week ago, this is how I had Big 12 teams ranked: #13 Baylor, #15 Kansas, #19 Texas A&M, #25 Missouri. After dissecting things a little more, that order has since changed.

Some of these teams have potential for fantastic seasons. But there are problem areas that they need to address before that happens. A few of these teams will, and a few won’t.

That’s what makes this league so intriguing though entering the 2011-2012 season…..

• 1. Baylor – This has to be Baylor’s year. It just has to be. With all the talent on this team, and traditional powers like Kansas and Texas being a little down, the Bears have to win the Big 12 title.
• 2. Texas A&M – If Baylor doesn’t do it, this is the team that is next in line. Middleton and David Loubeau are a great combination and they both have a chance to do big things this year.
• 3. Kansas – They’re gonna take a step back, but they’ll still be in the race. If Robinson can take a huge step forward, then they certainly have a chance to be at the top of this league.
• 4. Texas – Just don’t think they’re gonna fall off as far as most think they are. Kabongo is gonna be an impact player right away.
• 5. Missouri – Given what they return, most probably feel this is too low. We might still be underestimating the loss of Bowers though on the defensive end of the floor.
• 6. Oklahoma State – If Nash is the player Travis Ford expects him to be, and he can stay consistent throughout the year, then they’ve got a real chance to go dancing.
• 7. Iowa State – Transfer central for Fred Hoiberg, but luckily, these guys can play. Watch out for Royce White. He’s gonna turn some heads this season.
• 8. Kansas State – It’s difficult to put a Frank Martin-coached team this low. But the loss of Jacob Pullen just leaves a ton of question marks.
• 9. Oklahoma – They don’t have the horses to finish in the top half right now. Lon Kruger will coach ’em up though in his first year in Norman.
• 10. Texas Tech – Just not there yet. I do believe Billy Gillispie will improve this program. But it’s gonna take a few years.

Well there it is. What are your thoughts on the Big 12 entering the season?

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