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Big 12 Basketball questions: POY picks, top surprises and disappointments

By Tristan Freeman

Nov 7, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Keyonte George (1) and forward Flo Thamba (0) react after a play against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Keyonte George (1) and forward Flo Thamba (0) react after a play against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big 12 Basketball Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Big 12 Basketball Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

4. What is an under-the-radar storyline in the league that few are talking about?

Watson

Iowa State’s ability to consistently squeak out ugly wins under T.J. Otzelberger is almost silly at this point, but I love it. Otzelberger inherited a team that went 2-22 in 2020-21 and took them to the Sweet 16 last season. Game after game, people doubted the Cyclones because they played in ugly, defensive games…but they just kept winning. That has carried over to this season after an 11-2 start with wins over Baylor, UNC, Oklahoma, and Villanova. It may not be pretty, but it’s time we all stop doubting T.J. Otzelberger and Iowa State – college basketball’s Grind City.

Burgess

An underrated storyline in this conference to me is the job that TJ Otzelberger is doing at Iowa State. After making the Sweet Sixteen and losing his top two leading scorers, Tyrese Hunter and Izaiah Brockington, and two key reserves in George Conditt IV and Tristan Enaruna, he has the Cyclones playing well with wins over Villanova and North Carolina in the non-conference and began league play by beating Baylor and Oklahoma.

Rosenberg

I don’t think enough people are talking about the emergence of Sir’Jabari Rice of Texas. He decided to transfer for his sixth season from New Mexico State and has taken the Big 12 by storm. So far off the bench, he’s averaging 9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. In conference play specifically, he played a critical scoring piece in the loss to Kansas State, scoring 16 points and shooting 60% from the field. There’s something about mid-major to power 5 transfers this season that’s caused more excitement than I’ve ever seen. Rice is a pivotal player in that excitement.

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