Big 12 Basketball: Preseason mailbag entering 2021-22 campaign
By Andrew Tineo
Big 12 Basketball sent 70% of their teams to the NCAA Tournament last year and has featured three different teams in the Final Four over the past three years.
The conference similar to the rest of college basketball had its fair share of shakeup, with Texas and Texas Tech creating an environment that could not get more toxic and lethal, with the departure of Chris Beard to Texas.
Three of the top guard transfers in the country ended up in the Big 12 and all three play for the pre-season consensus top three teams in the conference.
Kenpom has four Big 12 teams inside the Top 15 and six teams inside the top 50.
Three of the top teams have a chance at a consistent top ten spot inside the AP, while the middle of the pack will be the toughest of any in the country.
I appreciate all of the people that asked questions in this week’s mailbag and a variety of different topics.
We take a look at the questions and how I think the Big 12 will shape up in 2021-2022.
Buy or sell Dajuan Harris stock?
It’s easy to judge potential, based on their first year. Even with receiving 16 minutes a game, it’s unfair to judge Harris’s first season in Lawrence.
I would buy Harris stock and for him to become more vocal within the offense. I’m not betting on averaging double-figures, but around seven points per game are not out of the realm of possibility.
The Jayhawks had an off-year as a whole and although he did not shoot much, Harris shot 64.3% from beyond the arc and was productive, when the shot would go up.
Harris displayed his offensive ability against Eastern Washington in the first round, with 13 points on 5-8 shooting from the field in a season-high 35 minutes.
Harris was ranked the best player in the state of Missouri out of high school and was an original Missouri State commitment, before flipping to Kansas.
Harris’s defensive presence has already been felt, especially with his four steals in the win over Kentucky last year and four games of three steals or more.
The Jayhawks backcourt is so loaded, that I don’t expect Harris to get starts, but he will get more than 16 minutes a game and take advantage of the opportunities.