Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball: Mid-season power rankings

By Matt Ostrowski

Mar 13, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the championship logo mid-court before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Baylor Bears during the semifinals round of the Big 12 Championship at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of the championship logo mid-court before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Baylor Bears during the semifinals round of the Big 12 Championship at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jaysean Paige (5) lays it up in front of Florida Gators forward Devin Robinson (3) during the first half of a basketball game at the Stephen C. O
Jan 30, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jaysean Paige (5) lays it up in front of Florida Gators forward Devin Robinson (3) during the first half of a basketball game at the Stephen C. O /

3. West Virginia Mountaineers

17-4, 6-2 Big 12

Since conference play started, just about everyone on West Virginia has come back down to earth. After having an elite offense for much of the non-conference, the Mountaineer’s are now shooting just 43% from the floor in conference play, good for seventh in the Big 12. This is mostly thanks to Jevon Carter, Devin Williams, and Daxter Miles all shooting well below 40% since conference play began.

The only player that has prevented their offense from completely cratering is Jaysean Paige. Since conference play began, his minutes have seen a major increase, and he’s scoring 17 points per game in Big 12 games as well. He’s scoring 35.8 points per 100 possessions on the season, good for second in the Big 12, behind Buddy Hield.

After last season, and even the early parts of this season, it looked as if Paige’s future was as a shooter. However, he’s scoring so well and efficiently in Big 12 play despite shooting just 26% from three. He’s attacking the rim with reckless abandon, with 40% of his shot attempts coming at the rim, and he’s making them at a rate of 63%, according to hoop-math.com. His attacking of the rim has led to him shooting eight free throws per game, too.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Jonathan Holton was suspended for indefinitely for violating team rules. As West Virginia looks at their schedule, they see @Iowa State, vs. Baylor, and @Kansas as their next three games. This seriously could not have come at a worse time for the Mountaineers. Holton has arguably been their most consistent player this year, is essential to their full-court pressure defense, and his offensive rebound rate of 18% would be valuable to any team. They already got pounded by Florida in their first game without Holton. Someone other than Paige is going to have to step up.

Next: Number Two

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