As we head into conference play, I thought we should take a look at each team in the Big 12 and how they should fare in conference. For the Jayhawks, Big 12 play starts on Wednesday January 10th when we host the one loss Oklahoma State Cowboys. Almost all of the records posted in this thread are my speculations on each team's success from now to the end of the season. I will post my predictions for each game sometime before Conference season starts before on January 6th.
Baylor Bears - Schedule
So far this season, the Bears are 7-3 with their best victory @ Colorado State. All 3 of their losses have come against quality opponents in Syracuse, Gonzaga and South Carolina. They have 3 more winnable games at home before their Big 12 opener at those very same Oklahoma State Cowboys. They figure to struggle this conference season as they are still recovering from the Patrick Dennehey fiasco, but they are improving over young head coach Bryce Drew.
Record Coming Into Big 12 Play: 10-3
Big 12 Record: 5-11
Final Record: 15-14
Game Against Kansas: Jan. 24th @ Baylor
Colorado Buffaloes - Schedule
Colorado is having a down year after having decent seasons the past couple of years. Kansas fans favorite Ricardo Patton is in his final season as Colorado's coach as he announced his retirement on October 25th. This is a rough going out party for Ricardo, as so far the Buffaloes are 3-6 including losses at home against Pepperdine and @ UNC Wilmington. Before their January 6th Big 12 opener against Texas, they play TCU and Central Florida at home.
Record Coming Into Big 12 Play: 4-7
Big 12 Record: 5-11
Final Record: 9-18
Games Against Kansas: Jan. 27th @ Kansas, Feb. 14th @ Colorado
Iowa State - Schedule
The Cyclones had a rough year last year and fired their coach. They brought in former Northern Iowa coach Greg McDermott, who is rebuilding the program. Last year's leading scorers Curtis Stinson and Will Blalock departed for the NBA Draft, so their new leading scorer is G Mike Taylor, who takes the starting job and scoring torch from Stinson. Their biggest win so far is @ Minnesota, but every other time they have had a chance to make a name for themselves they have lost. They lost on the road to Ohio State, Iowa and McDermott's former employer Northern Iowa and at home against Bradley. They have one more game against North Dakota State before their January 6th conference opener @ Missouri.
Record Coming Into Big 12 Play: 9-5
Big 12 Record: 8-8
Overall Record: 17-13
Games Against Kansas: Jan. 13th @ Iowa State, Feb. 24th @ Kansas
None of these 3 teams will make the NCAA Tournament this season, but Iowa State should get an invite to the NIT. I have KU winning all 5 of their games against these teams with the only game I struggled to say we would win was at Iowa State. It is incredibly difficult to win inside Hilton Coliseum, and with their games against OSU and A&M on the road, all other home games I put down as W's for the Cyclones. Next up we will take a look at Kansas State (I will look at Kansas in it's own thread), Missouri and Nebraska.