The most consequential game from the Big 12 comes on Tuesday. Can Kansas take another step to another conference title with a win over Oklahoma?
TV schedule: Tuesday, Jan. 23, 7:00 p.m. ET. ESPN
Arena: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma
Of all the teams in college basketball, few had a better week than Kansas 16-3 (6-1). Not only did they win both their league games, but the other contenders at the top of the league all suffered losses, opening the door for the Jayhawks to capture their record 14th Big 12 regular season title.
Their big win came in Morgantown, where a late-game run led by the seniors allowed them to win the battle. Devonte’ Graham played as well as a point guard could against the vaunted West Virginia defense. He scored 16 points and turned the ball over just three times while playing all 40 minutes.
The team then survived a trap game versus Baylor, this time with Malik Newman leading the charge with 24 points. And even with Billy Preston officially off the team, Silvio De Souza is slowly getting acclimated to college basketball — although he’s still a while away from meaningful minutes.
As good a week as Kansas had, Oklahoma 14-4 (4-3) was the complete opposite. The Sooners lost both games with star Trae Young at the forefront. He scored a season-high 48 points in the overtime loss to Oklahoma State, but his bad shot selection made headlines in the post-game critiques. This has been the first time all season that he and the team have faced adversity, so this game will show how mentally tough this team is.
The battle, of course, that everyone will keep their eyes on is the point guards going at each other. I expect both to get some points in this one. However, an underrated battle I’m looking at is at the center spot, with Kansas’s Udoka Azubuike going up against Khadeem Lattin. It’s an offensive versus defensive battle, but, considering the lack of scoring options the Jayhawks have, Lattin could play a key defensive role for an Oklahoma team that likes to give up points.
Next: Where are Kansas and Oklahoma placed in latest Big 12 power rankings?
This is a must-win if the Sooners have any title hopes in this league, and Kansas smells blood in the water. I think a lot of three-pointers are going in this one, and don’t be surprised if extra time is needed.
Prediction: Kansas 91 – Oklahoma 95
Bonus predictions: Sooner’s Young goes for 40, while Graham gets a triple-double for the Jayhawks