Big XII Week Ahead: March 3rd - 9th

We’ve reached the homestretch, and the race for the conference championship is clearly a two horse race. Texas and Kansas stand alone at the top. The Longhorns are blessed with two home games this week, while Kansas plays at home on ‘Big Monday’ but must also face a desperate Aggie team in College Station to close out the year.

By virtue of Kansas State’s recent slide, the Baylor Bears now control their own destiny for the third seed in Kansas City. Kansas State is in need of two wins to feel safe; OU looked to be in good shape until it was announced that Blake Griffin will miss at least the next week with a knee injury; and A&M will be playing for their post-season lives from here on out.

Some might say that Tech, Oklahoma State, or even Nebraska still field NCAA tournament hopes. I am not one of those people. Regardless of who you pull for, it’s March. Let the Madness begin!

Texas 11-3 (Last Week 1-1) The disappointment from Lubbock will be even more painful if the Horns don’t bounce back with two homes wins this week.
Week Ahead: vs. Nebraska on Tuesday and vs. Oklahoma State on Sunday

Kansas 11-3 (Last Week 2-0) Two more wins for Bill Self’s club and the Jayhawks will earn a co-championship, ala 2006. How great would it be if the Aggies allowed the Longhorns to play for an outright title by upsetting KU?
Week Ahead: vs. Texas Tech on Monday and at Texas A&M on Saturday

Baylor 8-6 (Last Week 2-0) After dropping four straight, the Bears have reeled off three in a row. Two wins this week would put Scott Drew’s club firmly in the NCAA tournament and lock up the #3 seed in the Big XII tourney. If Baylor wins on Wednesday, would it be accurate to point out that the Bears have passed the Aggies in basketball, just as the Red Raiders have passed them in football?
Week Ahead: vs. Texas A&M on Wednesday and at Texas Tech on Saturday

Kansas State 8-6 (Last Week 0-2) The Wildcats have now dropped four straight and five of their last six. Games with bottom feeders Colorado and Iowa State can’t come soon enough. KSU was left out of the Dance last year despite going 10-6 in conference. I don’t see that happening again this season.
Week Ahead: vs. Colorado on Tuesday and at Iowa State on Saturday

Oklahoma 7-7 (Last Week 1-1) The RPI and strength of schedule numbers remain strong. As long as OU gets at least one W this week, they should feel pretty secure.
Week Ahead: at Oklahoma State on Wednesday and vs. Missouri on Saturday

Texas A&M 7-7 (Last week 1-1) When you are in real need of a couple of victories, this is not the schedule you’d like to see. The Aggies need at least one W, if not two to really feel like they’re headed to the NCAA’s.
Week Ahead: at Baylor on Wednesday and vs. Kansas on Saturday

Texas Tech 7-7 (Last Week 1-1) The Red Raiders are another bi-polar ball club. They can’t win on the road and can’t be beaten at home. That trend will probably continue this week.
Week Ahead: at Kansas on Monday and vs. Baylor on Saturday

Oklahoma State 7-7 (Last Week 2-0) The Cowboys are the hottest team in the conference having won six of their last seven. Going from 1-6 to 8-8 in conference should keep the whispers of a coaching change silent for at least another year. With an RPI of 72, an at-large bid is still a reach, though.
Week Ahead: vs. Oklahoma on Tuesday and at Texas on Sunday

Nebraska 6-8 (Last Week 1-1) The Huskers road loss to OSU ended any hopes of the NCAA tournament. Looking back, the road losses to Colorado and Iowa State were just too costly.
Week Ahead: at Texas on Tuesday and vs. Colorado on Sunday

Missouri 5-9 (Last Week 0-2) The Tigers have to be the biggest disappointment of the year.
Week Ahead: vs. Iowa State on Wednesday and at Oklahoma on Saturday

Iowa State 4-10 (Last Week 0-2) After a promising 3-3 start, 4-12 looks very likely now.
Week Ahead: at Missouri on Wednesday and vs. Kansas State on Saturday

Colorado 3-11 (Last Week 1-1) The first year of the Jeff Bzdelik era was one to forget.
Week Ahead: at Kansas State on Tuesday and at Nebraska on Sunday

--AW--