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Big 12 Basketball: How recent success of conference stems from coaching

By Jonathan Lidskin

Jan 31, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Scott Drew yells from the bench during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Scott Drew yells from the bench during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big 12 Basketball
Big 12 Basketball Texas Longhorns interim head coach Rodney Terry Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas… is back folks!

While Texas went through some turmoil with its coaching situation, it appears the team is playing just as well. However, this is not just about Texas. Texas Tech and TCU have also become notable programs in college basketball over the past couple of years.

We’ll start with Texas, who after the Chris Beard incident unfolded, has continued to play well. All the credit in the world goes to Interim Head Coach Rodney Terry. Terry’s head coaching experience has no doubt helped him in this unfortunate circumstance as he spent nearly a decade as a mid-major head coach. Terry has Texas as the top-rated Big 12 team in KenPom and no individual player has taken a big step back after Beard was suspended and eventually fired. Terry’s in-game coaching will be tested in the NCAA Tournament, but for now, he’s passing his test with flying colors.

Many people felt that Jamie Dixon was unfairly fired at Pitt. He did a tremendous job there and the program has suffered since he was fired. Dixon has seized his new opportunity at TCU and has taken the form of a giant killer. After nearly upsetting Arizona in the second round last season, Dixon’s team has lived up to the preseason expectations this season. The Horned Frogs are 16-4, 5-3 in the Big 12 and squarely in the regular season title picture. If Dixon and his staff can continue to develop like this, there is no doubt that TCU can consistently be a top-four team in the league.

Mark Adams is having a rough season this year, but he gets a pass for multiple reasons. The first of those reasons is that Adams was left with a depleted roster for his first year at Texas Tech. He turned a roster full of relatively unknown transfers into a top-ten and Sweet 16 team. He was doubted by many, including the former head coach of the Red Raiders (who Adams beat twice in his first year). While Adams’ time in Lubbock might be short-lived, it’s good to see him getting this opportunity and making the most of it.

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