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Only one more month until March and the Big XII Title is still very much up for grabs. Kansas maintains their hold on the top spot with another blemish free week behind them, but a Big Monday matchup with your Iowa State Cyclones could threaten their position.
The gap between second and fourth sits at two games, which is not insurmountable with half the round robin format left to be played; however more teams than just Iowa State will need to challenge Kansas if their reign is to end this year.
The Week That Was:
Monday, January 27th
Texas (19) 86 – Iowa State (15) 89
We witnessed dominance and letdown; most importantly we witnessed a win.
Tuesday, January 28th
West Virginia (17) 65 – Kansas State 59
U-G-L-Y, you ain’t got no alibi!
Baylor (20) 53 – Oklahoma State 64
I’m guessing there were more people inside Oklahoma Joe’s than GIA Tuesday night.
Wednesday, January 29th
Texas Tech 36 – Oklahoma (24) 81
Iowa State expended all of TTU’s offense on Saturday. You’re welcome, Sooner basketball fan.
Kansas (9) 64 – TCU 61
TCU will not go quietly into the night.
Saturday, January 31st
Kansas State 57 – Kansas (9) 68
Kansas’ lone loss remains on the road in Ames. The rematch in Lawrence once again provides ISU a shot to tie for the conference lead.
TCU 66 – Iowa State (15) 83
The game, at least half of it, everyone wanted to see.
Texas Tech 58 – West Virginia (17) 77
Hey, WVU, finish a game on time, will ya?
Texas (19) 60 – Baylor (20) 83
Yet another team who used up their entire offensive production against Iowa State, leaving them lacking in their follow up game.
Oklahoma (24) 64 – Oklahoma State 56
Poor Poke fans.
Players of the Week
Player of the Week – Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma
The Junior Forward averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in wins over Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.
Newcomer of the Week – Bryce Dejean-Jones, Iowa State
BDJ averaged 17.0 points in wins over Texas and TCU while shooting .769 (10 of 13) in the comfy confines of Hilton Coliseum. He will need to take that show on the road tonight for Iowa State to reclaim their stake at the top of the conference standings.
Game of the Week
Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State – A scary second half from the Sooners. OSU’s lack of any sort of scoring depth will be their undoing. Well, that and their coach.
The Week That Is:
Monday, February 2nd
Iowa State (11) @ Kansas (8) – 8:00 PM on ESPN
Tuesday, February 3rd
West Virginia (15) @ Oklahoma (21) – 7:00 PM on ESPN2
Wednesday, February 4th
Oklahoma State @ Texas (25) – 7:00 PM on Longhorn Network or ESPN3
TCU @ Baylor (19) – 7:30 PM on ESPN News
Kansas State @ Texas Tech – 8:00 PM on ESPNU
Saturday, February 7th
Baylor (19) @ West Virginia (15) – 11:00 AM on ESPNU
Kansas (8) @ Oklahoma State – 1:00 PM on ESPN
Texas Tech @ Iowa State (11) – 1:00 PM on ESPNU
Oklahoma (21) @ TCU – 2:00 PM on ESPN News
Texas (25) @ Kansas State – 3:00 PM on ESPN
Game of the Week
Iowa State @ Kansas
And it isn’t even close.
But also...
WVU @ Oklahoma
Kansas @ Oklahoma State
Both games, if they go the way they need to, could help Iowa State get into sole possession of first place.
And, also…
Texas Tech @ Iowa State
Because it could get ugly.
Conference Standings
Moving on Up
Oklahoma – At 5-4, Oklahoma seems to be all but out of contention for the title, but the Sooners still have a home and home matchup with Iowa State and a season ending home contest with Kansas looming on their schedule. Win those, and keep themselves from making any mistakes against the rest of their foes, and the title could still be theirs.
West Virginia – The Mountaineers have won three straight since a road loss to Texas, but only the road win at K-State was truly impressive. Still they sit at 6-2 in conference play and are tied with Iowa State for 2nd place. Tuesday’s matchup in Norman is pivotal if WVU wants to stay in the hunt.
Not Looking Good
Texas – This could be the beginning of the end of the Rick Barnes era, which is a shame.
Oklahoma State – This could finally be the end of the Travis Ford era, which may be a relief for many Cowboy fans.
Team
|
Conference Record
|
Last 5
|
Streak
|
Kansas (8)
|
7-1
|
4-1
|
W4
|
West Virginia (15)
|
6-2
|
4-1
|
W3
|
Iowa State (11)
|
6-2
|
4-1
|
W2
|
Oklahoma (21)
|
5-4
|
3-2
|
W2
|
Kansas State
|
5-4
|
2-3
|
L2
|
Baylor (19)
|
4-4
|
3-2
|
W1
|
Oklahoma State
|
4-5
|
3-2
|
L1
|
Texas (25)
|
3-5
|
2-3
|
L3
|
TCU
|
1-7
|
1-4
|
L4
|
Taco Tech
|
1-8
|
1-4
|
L2
|