Busting Brackets
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Big 12 Basketball power rankings: How far will West Virginia fall?

By Trenton Corn

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 11: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears reacts after scoring during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on January 11, 2020 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 11: Jared Butler #12 of the Baylor Bears reacts after scoring during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on January 11, 2020 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

6. Texas Longhorns

Texas comes in at No. 6 in my rankings and proved they would be a tough out, as they gave Kansas all they could handle at home until Devon Dotson was too much to handle. Texas currently stands 12-5 record-wise (2-3 in conference play)

This week they go on the road and face off against West Virginia, a team that was just upset by Kansas State, and if they show up against Texas still thinking about the past, then Texas will hand them their second loss in a row, and show them the door. Texas also plays a talented SEC team in LSU on Saturday.

My prediction: Texas is 11-3-1 in their last 15 meetings against the Mountaineers. I believe they’ll win this game to make that 12-3-1 in their last 16, as I have Texas pulling off the upset.

I have LSU beating the Longhorns in the Challenge game, as the red hot Tigers have won 6 games in a row.

5. Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma is 12-5, with a 3-2 record in conference play, as they are right in the hunt in the Big-12. They had a disappointing loss to Kansas on Tuesday without their best player. A game that the Sooners should’ve seized the opportunity to win, dramatically increasing their chances to have a chance to win the Big-12. In order to do so, the Sooners need to knock off one of the Baylor or Kansas and lost an opportunity against Kansas at home. They couldn’t make shots as they shot just 30% from the field, but came back, and throttled TCU by 20, hitting shots at a 53 percent clip.

This Sooners team has another chance against a team at the top in the Big-12 standings in Baylor, as they’re going to have to hit shots, along with not allowing Baylor, who is second in the Big-12 in offensive rebounding, to grab offensive rebounds and get more shots. A thing Oklahoma has struggled with.

They play Mississippi State, who is 11-6, winners of two in a row in the showcase game on Saturday.

My prediction: Oklahoma loses to Baylor in their first game of the week, but beats Mississippi State in the showcase.

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