Bold Predictions for the 2015-16 Big 12 Conference Season

The season is almost upon us! What better time than now to throw out bold predictions for the Big 12 Conference. Enjoy these calls which I’m sure will cause outrage and discussion.

Baylor – The Bears will finish 4th thanks to extreme front court talent that still ranks among the nation’s best. Even without Kenny Cherry and Royce O’Neill, Baylor still has the tools to push the top three teams to the limit throughout the year.

The shining moment will come at the end of the season, when King McClure wins Big 12 Freshman of the year.

Iowa State – Iowa State will win both the Big 12 Conference regular season and Big 12 Tournament titles. A good deal of national projections have the Cyclones among the top 10 or so teams that could win a national title. ISU will shock portions of the basketball world by dethroning perennial champion, Kansas, en route to the Final Four in Houston.

ISU will place at least two players on the first-team at season’s end with two more coming on the second. Deonte Burton will win Newcomer of the year.

Bonus prediction: Iowa State will have three players selected in the NBA Draft with Georges Niang, Jameel McKay, and Monte Morris.

Kansas – Kansas will finish 3rd, ending their run of 12 straight Big 12 regular-season titles. The Jayhawks are talented beyond a doubt, but Diallo may not play if the NCAA doesn’t rule in favor of his eligibility. Additionally, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk will underwhelm for a second straight season.

The lack of production from two critical secondary players will mean Perry Ellis and company have too much slack to pick up to maintain the team’s now-expected dominance.

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Kansas State – The Wildcats will finish dead last in the conference and Bruce Weber will be fired. While most people expect nothing out of K-State this year, it will be even worse than projected. They have almost an entirely new roster going against multiple veteran-laden squads.

Coach Weber is a good leader, but the deck is stacked against him in the Big 12 and he will be moved in favor of a younger coach at the end of the year.

Oklahoma – Buddy Hield will not only win Big 12 Conference “Player of the Year”, but national POY as well. Oklahoma will jump KU to finish second and reach the Sweet 16.

Hield’s super season will help Lon Kruger win Big 12 “Coach of the Year”.

Oklahoma State – The Cowboys will finish 8th. Phil Forte remains a dead-eye shooter, but the graduation of Le’Bryan Nash, Michael Cobbins, and Anthony Hickey Jr. will be too much to overcome. This season will put head coach Travis Ford on the hot seat for 2016-2017.

Texas – Shaka Smart’s new team will finish square in the middle of the conference. However, he will energize the team to new levels of productivity. I look at Isaiah Taylor to be named Second-Team All Big 12 and Prince Ibeh to make the All-Defensive team.

Texas Tech – Texas Tech will be seen as the most improved team in the Big 12 by finishing 7th over KSU, TCU, and Oklahoma State. Tubby Smith is still a fine coach, and I believe he is due for a better year as he combines old and new players for this season.

TCU – The Horned Frogs are getting there, but will remain in ninth place in 2014-2015. On the bright side, they will be competitive in a good number of games and will play an unselfish brand of basketball. TCU will be among the more improved teams in the conference, even when wins are hard to acquire.

West Virginia – The oft-talked about rule changes for this season will benefit the Mountaineers the most. They will finish number one in offensive possessions among all Power 5 teams.

Their style will mask the fact that they lack a star guard without Juwan Staten (who graduated). WVU can definitely scare some teams, but they will finish 6th in the Big 12 at the end of the day.

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