Big 12 Basketball: Midseason recap, awards, and observations

Texas Tech – 4 (solidly in, but could slide)

No bad losses combined with wins over Kansas and West Virginia have given the Red Raiders a ticket to the NCAA tournament. But losses to Texas and Iowa State have softened them up, and if the team continues to struggle an 8/9 scenario could occur.

Oklahoma – 3 (No. 1 seed resume, No. 4 seed results)

The Sooners have beaten Wichita State, Oregon, Arkansas, USC, and Northwestern.  All of these teams were expected to be top eight seeds in March, but two of them have fallen off a cliff while two others have really struggled. The non-conference for Oklahoma is top seed quality, but it might be neutralized because of inept opponents.

West Virginia – 5 (Virginia is the key)

The Mountaineers have lost three of four games, and face an unranked Kentucky team. In all honesty, the resume looks destined to be another four seed team, but man does that win over the Cavaliers look better and better. West Virginia should be rooting hard for their neighbor’s success.

Kansas – 1 (PAC-12 will decide the Jayhawk’s fate)

The league out west won’t have anyone in a position to get a top seed but will have an impact on what happens to Kansas. Two teams that beat Kansas back-to-back (Washington and Arizona State) have been going up and down the conference ladder. On the other side is Stanford, who a month ago looked like a worthless win, now could be a catalyst for the Jayhawks rise to No. 1.