| Team | Record | Week Ahead |
| 1. Kansas |
13 - 1 |
at Texas Tech (Wed); vs. Texas (Sat) |
| 2. Oklahoma |
12 - 2 |
at Missouri (Wed); vs. Ok State (Sat) |
| 3. Missouri |
11 - 3 |
vs. Oklahoma (Wed); at Texas A&M (Sat) |
| 4. Texas |
8 - 6 |
vs. Baylor (Mon); at Kansas (Sat) |
| 4. Kansas St. |
8 - 6 |
at Ok State (Tue); vs. Colorado (Sat) |
| 4. Oklahoma State |
8 - 6 |
vs. Kansas St (Tue); at Oklahoma (Sat) |
| 7. Texas A&M |
7 - 7 |
at Colorado (Wed); vs. Missouri. (Sat) |
| 8. Nebraska |
6 - 8 |
vs. Iowa St. (Wed); at Baylor (Sat) |
| 9. Baylor |
5 - 9 |
at Texas (Mon); vs. Nebraska (Sat) |
| 10. Iowa State |
3 - 11 |
at Nebraska (Wed); vs. Texas Tech (Sat) |
| 10. Texas Tech |
2 - 12 |
vs. Kansas (Wed); at Iowa St. (Sat) |
| 12. Colorado |
1 - 13 |
vs. Texas A&M (Wed); at Kansas St. (Sat) |
Thoughts on the final week of the regular season ahead after the jump.
Biggest Surprise from Last Week: The ease of Kansas’ two wins. It was a 54b’s "show me" week for the Jayhawks last week, and they certainly answered the call. Even though KU caught a break as Blake Griffin sat in street clothes on Monday night sidelined with post-concussion symptoms, the Jayhawks left little doubt as to who is the Big XII’s best team. Kansas won in Norman 87-78 to take command of the conference race and slammed the door shut with a dominating 90-65 win over Missouri on Sunday. It is easy to overlook the fantastic job done by Bill Self this season as it seems the Jayhawks are always among the nation’s elite. KU did win the national title last year, but they also lost all five starters to the NBA and graduation. Self probably knew what he would get this season from Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich but the rest of the team was completely unproven. Kudos for Self for bringing along Tyshawn Taylor and Mario Little and for getting role players like Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed to play above their abilities. One more thing, the Jayhawks do have two outstanding offensive players in Collins and Aldrich but they are winning with defense and rebounding. This make shift group is poised to go 15-1 in the Big XII and grab the fifth straight conference title for KU. I love Rick but Bill Self is on another level.
Team with Most Favorable Schedule: Kansas. The Jayhawks cruised in their hell week last week and are now rewarded with two very winnable games—at Texas Tech and vs. Texas. The only way KU drops either of those is if they start looking ahead to the Big XII and NCAA tournaments. That seems unlikely, though. All the other top teams have toss up games—OU at Missouri, Missouri at Texas A&M, Oklahoma State at Oklahoma—making an outright KU title almost a certainty.
Team with Least Favorable Schedule: Oklahoma. How quickly things change! Just more than a week ago, OU came to Austin frontrunners in the conference, destined for a #1 NCAA seed, and positioned to be the top ranked team in the country. After a slow start in Austin, a Blake Griffin concussion, and a home loss to Kansas, everything has changed. The Sooners are no longer control their Big XII destiny and may have to win in Columbia on Wednesday to avoid drawing the three seed in Oklahoma City. Another loss would also severely damage the Sooners’ hope of a #1 seed as Michigan State, Memphis, Louisville, and Duke are all closing fast. Even if OU finds away to win at Missouri, they would then face the hottest team in the conference, Oklahoma State, on Saturday. The Cowboys took a big step toward the NCAA tournament with their home win over Texas but a road win over OU would definitely punch their ticket.
Team with Most to Prove: Still Kansas State. Last week I wrote the Wildcats needed to win three of their last four to feel safe and win either at Missouri or at Oklahoma State. So far they are just 1-1 and got blown out at Missouri. KSU still has an RPI above 70 and is without a single impressive non-conference victory. A home win over Missouri and road wins over Texas and Texas A&M are probably not going to be enough. Even with a weak NCAA bubble, Kansas State needs to do more.
Games of the Week:
Monday Baylor at Texas 8 pm ESPN A Longhorn victory assures Texas of an NCAA berth. A loss would make the Big XII tournament way too important.
Tuesday Kansas State at Oklahoma State 6:30 pm ESPN2 As mentioned above, Kansas State really needs this one. OSU needs it too. Two teams fighting for their NCAA lives produces must see tv.
Wednesday Oklahoma at Missouri 8 pm Big XII Network OU needs this one for a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Meanwhile, Missouri needs to bounce back from the KU embarrassment and add another line to their NCAA resume.
Saturday Missouri at Texas A&M 1 pm ESPN2 Assuming the Aggies win at Colorado on Wednesday, a win would put them at 9-7 in the conference and probably into a tie for fifth. That would be unbelievable considering they started 1-4 and 3-7 in the Big XII. A home victory over NCAA-tourney bound Missouri would also position A&M for an improbable NCAA berth.
0 recs | 14 comments
Status on Abrams' injury, Johnson
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2009/03/01/will_abrams_pla.html
goingforthecorner - March 1, 2009
How about Kansas
just unreal. How do you lose all these players after a championship, only to win your conference the very next season? Bill Self is obviously COY in the Big 12, and deserves NCOY consideration. I’m jealous of them to say the least.
goingforthecorner - March 1, 2009
Bill Self has me convinced he's the real deal
I used to think of him as a guy surrounded by talent that didn’t really have to coach. Well he’s done a damn good job this year with some journeymen players.
Some things I keep in mind before gushing about COY, first of all Sherron Collins. This guy is an unbelievable playmaker. He’s small but quick and is a good shooter. He runs that team. Put some okay shooters around him and you’ve got a good chance. Second you have to also remember that annually Kansas benefits from playing in the North. They play Nebraska, Iowa St, and Colorado twice each year. Thats concievably 6 conference wins gift-wrapped for them. They play the south teams once. And not only does Kansas avoid the South, the South beats itself up at the same time. So there is something to be said about friendly scheduling. But you probably know all about that.
Regardless Kansas has really stepped up after a landmark year in 08.
owenh - March 1, 2009
The "North is weaker" argument...
…may have been perfectly valid the last few years, but not this year.
TB - March 1, 2009
if you want to see a guy surrounded by talent who doesn't coach
look in Waco.
Turgeon does a pretty good fascimile, too, though.
Beergut - March 2, 2009
I predict a loss by at least 18 vs. Baylor, and a 30 point blow out at KU
the reason Kansas is so good is because:
Kansas = Texas + Offense
Bruce Willis was dead the whole time - March 1, 2009
Epic username, but you fail
goingforthecorner - March 1, 2009
hmm think we can beat baylor at home, but its no lock. Kansas is hopeless at this point barring a miracle
owenh - March 1, 2009
I gotta agree with Bruce on this one
If we had Collins or any other one of their starters starting for us instead of Atchley or Mason, we’d at least be a lock to a 1st round bye in the Big12 tourney… instead, I dont even know if we are going to make the NCAA tourney
3500 Duval - March 1, 2009
Final warning before you're banned
Thanks.
Peter Bean - March 1, 2009
what's going on here?
dhab? I’m guessing 3500 and Bruce are both newly created accounts from the same user.
goingforthecorner - March 2, 2009
We won't lose to Baylor
We’re in the final week; we know what this team is about, and what it’s capable of. I’m confident we can win at home. I’m also hopeful (perhaps foolishly so, but I’m a fan) that there is at least one more headline victory in store before our season is done. Maybe not at KU … but possibly during the Big XII tourney or, best case, in the NCAA.
NYCHorn - March 1, 2009
Today is Dexter Pittman's birthday
which therefore guarantees a monster Sexy performance and a W.
goingforthecorner - March 2, 2009
hopefully he eats cake AFTER the game...:)
vy til i die - March 2, 2009
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