Big 12 Basketball Recap (December 15-21)

Well, this week wasn’t as grand of a success as others have been for the Big 12 because of losses to teams in other Power-5 conferences, but overall, the league remains the top league in the country. For many teams, this week held the final tests before conference play begins. Seeing a lot of patsies on the schedule right before the true round robin seems to be the norm.

Baylor Bears, Record: 9-1 overall, 1-0 this week, RPI: 25
Results:
Baylor 66, New Mexico State 55

Jonathan Motley, Lester Medford and Al Freeman all scored in double figures as the Bears had no problem with the Aggies.

Good wins: Texas A&M (RPI: 45)

Good Losses: Illinois (Current RPI: 36)

Bad Losses: None

Iowa State Cyclones, Record: 9-1 overall, 1-0 this week, RPI: 33
Results:
Iowa State 83, Drake 54

Eleven players scored in Iowa State’s destruction of Drake. The Cyclones are off until December 31.

Good wins: Arkansas (RPI: 12), Alabama (RPI: 42)

Good Losses: Maryland (RPI: 22)

Bad Losses: None

Kansas State Wildcats, Record: 7-4 overall, 1-0 this week, RPI: 123
Results:
K-State 71, Texas A&M 64

This is by far the best win for K-State this season. I still think that if you can keep Marcus Foster under control, the Wildcats are extremely beatable.

Good wins: Texas A&M (RPI: 45)

Good Losses: Arizona (RPI: 11), Potentially Pittsburgh (RPI: 73), Potentially Tennessee (RPI: 67)

Bad Losses: None

Oklahoma Sooners, Record: 7-3 overall, 1-1 this week, RPI: 30
Results:
Oklahoma 85, Oral Roberts 53

Washington 69, Oklahoma 67

Oklahoma’s five starters all played 33 or more minutes in the loss to the Huskies. Only one bench guy played significant minutes. Will this come back to haunt the Sooners in conference play?

Good wins: Butler (RPI: 66), Potentially UCLA (RPI: 106)

Good Losses: Wisconsin (RPI: 13), Washington (RPI: 26), Potentially Creighton (RPI: 134)

Bad Losses: Potentially Creighton (RPI: 134)

Oklahoma State Cowboys, Record: 8-2 overall, 1-1 this week, RPI: 46
Results:
OSU 68, Middle Tennessee State 44

Maryland 73, Oklahoma State 64

If you’re going to take a loss right before the conference season, it might as well be to a team that is going to increase your RPI. LeBryan Nash and Phil Forte played their roles in the loss to the Terrapins, but no one else seemed to show up.

Good wins: None

Good Losses: Maryland (RPI: 22)

Bad Losses: South Carolina (RPI: 77)

TCU Horned Frogs, Record: 11-0 overall, 1-0 this week, RPI: 69
Results:
TCU 88, Texas-San Antonio 57

Unsurprisingly, Kyan Anderson is leading the team in points and assists this season.

Good wins: None

Good Losses: None

Bad Losses: None

Texas Longhorns, Record: 10-1 overall, 2-0 this week, RPI: 10
Results:
Texas 106, Lipscomb 61

Texas 78, Long Beach State 68

The Longhorns had five players score in double figures against Long Beach, including four starters. Stanford will be a trickier matchup for Texas on Tuesday, but look for them to handle the Cardinal with relative ease. This team is good.

Good wins: Potentially Iowa (RPI: 89), Potentially UConn (RPI: 87), Potentially California (RPI: 64)

Good Losses: Kentucky (RPI: 1)

Bad Losses: None

Texas Tech Red Raiders, Record: 9-1 overall, 2-0 this week, RPI: 105
Results:
Tech 101, South Carolina State 39
Tech 72, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 51

Their best win of the season is Auburn and the Tigers have an RPI of 111. It might get pretty ugly for Tech when the Big 12 Conference season starts.

Good wins: None

Good Losses: LSU (RPI: 16)

Bad Losses: None

West Virginia Mountaineers, Record: 10-1 overall, 1-0 this week, RPI: 24
Results:
WVU 83, NC State 69

This is a big win from a prestige perspective for the Big 12. Definitely the biggest win of the week for the conference.

Good wins: NC State (RPI: 57), Potentially UConn (Current RPI: 87)

Good Losses: LSU (RPI: 16)

Bad Losses: None

Important games around the Big 12 this week:

Kansas at Temple, Monday
Stanford at Texas, Tuesday