Big 12 Basketball: Kansas still No.1, Oklahoma’s back and Baylor’s resume

The Big 12 Still Runs Through Lawrence

You may think it’s odd to say that the big 12 runs through Lawrence when the Jayhawks aren’t even on top of the conference standings. The Kansas State Wildcats had won nine straight conference games before their loss at home against Iowa State.

In that game, they lost Dean Wade to what seemed to be another foot injury and they’re already going to be without Cartier Diarra for an extended period of time. They do have a pretty favorable schedule the rest of the way but we all saw how they struggled when Wade was injured earlier this season.

Kansas and Kansas State has an important matchup Monday, February 25th, in Allen Fieldhouse. The Wildcats two games prior to that are at West Virginia and at home against Oklahoma State so it’s very likely they go into that game with an 11-3 conference record.

The Jayhawks, on the other hand, have a meeting with Texas Tech in Lubbock this coming Saturday in what may be a game they need to win. The Jayhawks have been a completely different team away from home though so they’re going to need to bring it to pick up a win.

So far in conference play, they are just 2-4 on the road. They still have to play the two Oklahoma schools on the road which they will be heavy favorites in but no game is easy in the Big 12. Kansas likely needs to win just two of those three road games to secure a share of the Big 12 championship.

That is assuming the Jayhawks defend the home court like they typically do. If Kansas State is able to come in and beat Kansas on their home floor than this is completely different. The Wildcats aren’t the only contender left who can dethrone Kansas though.

Texas Tech is also a half game back of Kansas State so that game in Lubbock on Saturday is going to be a big one for both teams. Iowa State is also right there in the race as they are just one game back after winning in Manhattan on Saturday.

In a race that very likely will come down to the final day, we have some big matchups that will determine a lot. The Baylor-Kansas matchup will be a big good matchup if the Bears are healthy but the headliner will be Texas Tech-Iowa State in Ames.

That game will likely have at least one of those two teams playing for a share of the Big 12 title. With how much talent the Cyclones have and that game being at home you have to like their chances. They’ve been a popular pick to dethrone Kansas at the top of the conference but unless the Jayhawks lose a game in Lawrence expect them to get at least a share of the Big 12 Basketball regular season title.