Look Ahead in the Big XII: Jan. 28th - Feb. 3rd

by awiggo on Jan 27, 2008 10:36 PM CST in Texas Longhorns Basketball

Another week gone by and the Big XII is still looking good for six NCAA tournament bids. Kansas is obviously the favorite, but Texas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Baylor are all in good position through the first few weeks of conference play. Here is what is in store this week in the Big XII.

Kansas 5-0 (Last Week 2-0) The Jayhawks had no trouble at home over the past week as they destroyed Iowa State by 24 points and Nebraska by 35 points. This week presents two road games, though. The first will be for the league lead in Manhattan. The trip to Kansas State and the trip to Austin present the two most realistic shots at defeat. Anything short of 14-2 in conference should be seen as a disappointment in Lawrence.
Week Ahead: at. Kansas State on Wednesday and at Colorado on Saturday

Kansas State 4-0 (Last Week 2-0) The Wildcats are playing good basketball right now. Kansas State has held their last three conference opponents under 60 points and are currently rank as the 5th best defensive team overall according to Ken Pomeroy. They are undefeated but face a very tough week ahead.
Week Ahead: vs. Kansas on Wednesday and at Missouri Saturday

Baylor 4-1 (Last Week 1-1) The Bears followed up their epic five overtime win in College State by dropping a home game to the Sooners. Dropping that one is not fatal but home wins will be crucial down the stretch for this potential bubble team. Baylor is still looking at an uphill climb, though. Three of their next four are on the road and each of them are projected as losses.
Week Ahead: at Texas on Saturday

Texas 3-1 (Last Week 2-0) The Horns took care of business against two of the lower division conference teams but draw two of the top six this week. A&M’s woes have Horns’ fans dreaming of stealing one in College Station. Keep in mind that Texas hasn’t won at A&M since 2004.
Week Ahead: at Texas A&M on Wednesday and vs. Baylor on Saturday

Oklahoma 2-2 (Last Week 1-0) Apparently the injury to Blake Griffin wasn’t as serious as originally reported. Griffin was back in uniform on Saturday, a full two weeks earlier than expected. With Griffin, OU should be able to at least get a split this week.
Week Ahead: vs. Oklahoma State on Monday and at Texas A&M on Saturday

Texas A&M 2-3 (Last week 1-1) The Aggies may have saved their season with a win at OSU on Saturday and now get two home games this week. A&M’s offense has struggled to find the basket in each of their conference losses. To win either of the games this week that must change.
Week Ahead: vs. Texas on Wednesday and vs. Oklahoma on Saturday

Missouri 2-3 (Last Week 1-1) The Tigers split their pair of road games last week and now get home games this week. To get to 9-7, Missouri must get both of these and now will probably have to play without their starting point guard, Stephon Hannah, who was hospitalized on Sunday after a disturbance outside a bar. Not good news for Mike Anderson's club, to say the least.
Week Ahead: vs. Nebraska on Wednesday and vs. Kansas State on Saturday

Iowa State 2-3 (Last Week 0-2) The Cyclones are going in the wrong direction on both ends of the floor. They do get one of their few winnable games this week, though.
Week Ahead: vs. Colorado on Tuesday and at Nebraska on Saturday

Texas Tech 2-3 (Last Week 1-1) Just as Tech has A&M’s number, Texas has Tech’s. Martin Zeno is talented but not talented enough to lead this team out of the bottom half of this league.
Week Ahead: vs. Oklahoma State on Saturday

Oklahoma State 1-4 (Last Week 0-2) The Cowboys have dropped four straight and now have to go on the road twice this week. OSU is not done dropping off the college basketball map just yet.
Week Ahead: at Oklahoma on Monday and at Texas Tech on Saturday

Colorado 1-4 (Last Week 0-2) Jeff Bzdelick will get the Buffs on track eventually. It just won’t be this season.
Week Ahead: at Iowa State on Tuesday and vs. Kansas on Saturday

Nebraska 0-4 (Last Week 0-1) The sweetness of the non-conference win over Oregon is long gone. Nebraska has now dropped four straight but should be able to pick up a conference win on Saturday.
Week Ahead: at Missouri on Wednesday and vs. Iowa St. on Saturday

--AW--

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Comments

The Mizzou loss looks bad.

I don't know how we lost to Mizzou? They play a unique style of ball, but there is no excuses to losing to that team. It seems like every year we get trapped on the road, by mediocre teams. Who remembers a couple of years ago when we lost games at ISU and Nebraska, or when we lost to KSU? We can't have those games. We need to beat the teams that we are supposed to beat if we want a high seed. I think a realistic seed for this team is a 3 or 2 seed. More likely a three.

For us to get a high seed, we need to sweep Baylor, Tech, OSU, OU, and split with A&M. Then we need to beat everybody in the north except KU and possibly KSU.

On the upcoming game, I think we are a better team, but A&M is physical and will give us problems. A&M, on the other hand, has not looked good in conference play. They were lucky to beat a mediocre OSU team with a, possibly, lame duck coach. We just need to hit our threes and not give them too many second chance points. We do that and I think we walk out of there with a win.

I bleed burnt orange!!!!

by FNJ on Jan 27, 2008 11:10 PM CST reply actions

Mizzou shot 56% from the floor

And had 10 more points off free throws than we did.

Call it bad D, or just an amazing night for Mizzou or some of both, but thats how we lost. I dont know the stat for winning percentage when a team shoots 56% from the floor, but Im going to go ahead and say if you shoot that well you will win the vast majority of your games.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Jan 28, 2008 8:19 AM CST up reply actions