No. 8 Texas at No. 3 Kansas: 5 key storylines for Big 12 matchup

Even with Baylor in action Saturday, the marquee Big 12 match-up on Saturday is No. 8 Texas versus No. 3 Kansas.

The first weekend of 2021 ushers in the first Big 12 match-up between two top-10 teams as decided by the AP Poll. There will be no absence of importance when Texas and Kansas meet up for the first of two times this season. Texas will travel to Allen Fieldhouse Saturday where Kansas currently holds a perfect 5-0 record which includes a 79-65 victory over West Virginia in their most recent game.

Texas enters coming off a victory over Oklahoma State 77-74 in their first conference game of the season. Texas has been very competitive in non-conference play as well,  with a 69-67 victory over North Carolina and a 68-64 loss to Villanova.

The Longhorns feature four players who average double-digit scoring, led by senior guard Matt Coleman. Head Coach Shaka Smart has been playing ten players double-digit minutes which is great preparation for the challenging Big 12 season.

Head Coach Bill Self has had the Jayhawks on a rotation where eight players average double-digits, yet have maintained the third-highest Pace of Play in the Big 12 at 71.6 possessions per game. At 66.1 points per game, the Jayhawks come in averaging almost four more points per game than Texas.

By the conclusion of the Big 12 play on Saturday, it is projected that there will be just two teams remaining that are undefeated sitting atop the BIG 12 standings. Whoever exits this match up the victor will be one of those teams. A Regular Season Championship will not be won in the first week of conference play, but it very well can be lost.