Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Virginia’s potential, conference tourneys and other big questions

By Tristan Freeman

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 09: Jack White #41 high fives Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils in front of Jay Huff #30 and Braxton Key #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 09: Jack White #41 high fives Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils in front of Jay Huff #30 and Braxton Key #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 08: Austin Reaves #12, Kur Kuath #52, Jamal Bieniemy #24 and Victor Iwuakor #0 of the Oklahoma Sooners (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 08: Austin Reaves #12, Kur Kuath #52, Jamal Bieniemy #24 and Victor Iwuakor #0 of the Oklahoma Sooners (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

2. Who is the third-best team in the Big 12?

Hunter
I think it’s Oklahoma. Kristian Doolittle is a star in my eyes and Manek isn’t far behind. They are inconsistent, but Kruger is a very good coach.

Walter-Warner

Texas Tech is the third-best team in the Big 12. They aren’t the most consistent team in the country, but when push comes to shove, the only teams that outrank them in the conference are Baylor and KU. West Virginia can’t be the answer since they’re two games under .500 in conference play.

Weidenburner

This question evoked a literal groan from me. I’m going away from consensus and picking Oklahoma. I know the predictive metrics like West Virginia and Texas Tech more, but I can’t choose a team that’s lost six of its last seven or a Texas Tech team that confounds nightly. Kristian Doolittle is one of the best players in the Big 12 and they do just enough on both sides of the ball, including being one of the best teams in the country at not turning the ball over on offense. I reserve the right to change my mind if Texas Tech handles well the Baylor-Kansas swing to close out the regular season.

Sinodhinos

I do not want what I am about to say to detract from the following great points I am going to make, but, not only is West Virginia the third-best team in the Big 12, they might be the second-best team. Unlike Virginia, West Virginia can score, they just have not during the 6 of the last 7 they have lost. Tshiebwe, Culver, McBride, and Hailey can all get double digits in any game. As a team, on average they score 4 points fewer than conference leader Kansas and defensively, they trail Baylor by just 3 per game, with Kansas in-between. All this while West Virginia has been playing awful the last 7 games.

Home/NCAA Basketball News