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Big 12 Basketball: 5 biggest takeaways from first month of 2019-20

By Zach Stearman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 05: Udoka Azubuike #35 and Devon Dotson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks react in the first half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 05: Udoka Azubuike #35 and Devon Dotson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks react in the first half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 21: Freddie Gillespie #33 and Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears celebrate their 78-69 win over the Syracuse Orange in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 21: Freddie Gillespie #33 and Mark Vital #11 of the Baylor Bears celebrate their 78-69 win over the Syracuse Orange in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Kansas and Baylor are alone in the top tier

The Big XII conference is once again one of the deepest in the nation, but there are only two teams that look to be contenders on a national scale: Kansas and Baylor. Kansas is not a surprise to many as they opened the season ranked third in the AP poll. Baylor, however, may come as a bit more of a surprise.

The Jayhawks are led by Devon Dotson and the aforementioned Udoka Azubuike, two strong candidates for Big XII player of the year. They have been the conference’s most consistent team to this point, with their one loss coming on opening night to Duke. KU has taken care of business otherwise including a pair of wins against Dayton and Colorado, two teams with NCAA tournament hopes.

Defense has been the calling card for Kansas so far this season, as the Jayhawks rank fifth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency per prophetratings.com. The presence of Azubuike down low has scared opponents into attempting an extremely high number of three-point shots. Kansas has been happy to give up the deep ball in exchange for keeping opponents out of the paint. They create a lot of havoc when opponents do drive, ranking in the top 50 in the country in both steal percentage and block percentage.

Baylor, on the other hand, has been a bit more offensive-minded. The bears use a unique three guards starting lineup which allows them to rotate between ball handlers, making the defense treat all three as a threat to drive and score or dish. Baylor actually hasn’t shot the ball particularly well, but they are ninth in the country in offensive rebounding percentage, a Scott Drew staple. The additional possessions created on the glass make the Bears a really tough team to defend.

The health of Tristan Clark remains a huge question mark for Baylor as the preseason All-Big 12 forward has not lived up to his potential yet this season. He remains on a minute restriction through December as he rehabs from a knee injury that ended his 2018-2019 season. Baylor hopes Clark will be 100% by the time conference play begins, and they will surely need him to be to accomplish their goals.

Next. Latest Big 12 power rankings. dark

This iteration of the Big XII conference remains as deep as ever but might lack in the number of top-tier teams with Sweet 16 potential. With Baylor and Kansas leading the way, however, the Big XII is sure to be a factor all season long.

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