Big 12 Basketball Update & Power Rankings

March 6th Big 12 Basketball update

Now, Oklahoma State feels like it can legitimately belong in the NCAA tournament conversation.

The Cowboys (20-9, 9-6) are the conference’s hottest team with a six-game winning streak. Their last two of the streak were against Texas and Kansas State. A win Saturday in the Bedlam series at Oklahoma probably solidifies their chances.

Consider that a month ago the Cowboys were scuffling at 14-9 and had NIT written all over their resume. But the streak started innocently enough with wins over Iowa State, Texas Tech, Baylor and Colorado.

Then the 68-59 win over Texas seemed to get their fledgling hopes some life. Beating Kansas State, 77-71, in Gallagher-Iba isn’t anything new. The Wildcats haven’t won there since they were in the Big 8 in 1993.

On senior night senior point guard Byron Eaton scored 25 points and went 15-of-15 at the free throw line. One of the things that first-year coach Travis Ford said was that his relationship with Eaton was going to be either one of the best or worst experiences of Eaton’s career.

Well, Eaton is averaging a career-high 14.5 points and 5.5 assists. Now, the Cowboys have a legitimate chance to claim the fourth seed in the Big 12 tournament should the final weekend break their way.

Who needs what this weekend?

We know Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma are locks to make the tournament.

Texas A&M (22-8, 8-7). The Aggies are the conference’s second-hottest team with a five-game winning streak. They play host to Missouri on March 7. A win at Reed Arena really gets them back into the tournament conversation. A loss probably puts them in a situation where they must get to the Big 12 tournament semifinals to have hope.

Texas (20-9, 9-6). With A.J. Abrams, the Big 12’s all-time leader in 3-pointers with 372, the Longhorns are probably in the tournament because of all of the work earlier in the season with wins over Wisconsin and Villanova. Add a win over Oklahoma and they are probably good. However, it wouldn’t hurt to win their first game in the Big 12 tournament.

Kansas State (20-10, 8-7). It just doesn’t look good for the Wildcats. They don’t have any good out-of-conference wins. They have solid conference wins over Missouri and Texas, but the overall resume is flat. But credit Bill Martin for putting together a 20-win season after losing two NBA first-round picks in Michael Beasley and Bill Walker.

Nebraska (17-11, 7-8). Welcome to the NIT because that’s where the Cornhuskers are going if they don’t win the tournament.

> Check out the great Big 12 sports gear includingOklahoma Sooners hats & gear, Texas Longhorns apparel and more online through Big 12 Fans!

Briefly…

Kansas may have won a share of at least its fifth consecutive conference championship but Texas Tech doesn’t care. The Red Raiders have beaten the Jayhawks in three consecutive meetings at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock. The 84-65 drubbing on March 4 was fueled by senior Allen Voskuhl’s career-high 35 points on 9-of-14 3-point shooting….Missouri finished undefeated at home this year at 18-0. It’s the first time the Tigers were undefeated at home since 1993-94. The Tigers’ 12 wins are also the most they have collected in Big 12 play …Texas’ winning streak against Baylor ran to 24 when the Longhorns knocked off the Bears, 73-57, on March 2.

Power Rankings

Kansas
Missouri
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas
Kansas State
Texas A&M
Nebraska
Baylor
Texas Tech
Iowa State
Colorado

By Kevin Lonnquist
Big 12 Fans Correspondant