Expect the unexpected: Big 12 looks to be in for a wild basketball ride this season
If Saturday is any indication, the Big 12 is in for a wild basketball season.
Three ranked teams lost road games: No. 11 Iowa State fell at Oklahoma, No. 6 Kansas fell at No. 25 Texas Tech, and No. 14 Texas fell at Oklahoma State.
And, right here in Fort Worth, TCU gave No. 1 Baylor a run for its money before the Bears pulled away late.
“First and foremost, you look at the NET rating,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “And it’s not even close where the Big 12 is compared to the other leagues. And that’s because you’ve got a bunch of great teams. That means they don’t lose a lot, and they don’t lose at home hardly ever.
“So, if you’re able to go on the road in these environments and face these teams and get a win, you’re doing something right. You’ve got to credit the players for being able to beat great teams on the road.”
TCU coach Jamie Dixon has said he believes a 9-9 conference record in the Big 12 should lock a team into the NCAA Tournament. There’s a good chance a team with an 8-10 record in league play will make it, too, and possibly even 7-11 given how strong the conference is compared to others.
But getting to the eight- or nine-win mark in league play is easier said than done as Saturday showcased.
As Drew alluded to, the Big 12’s lowest-ranked NET team going into the weekend was Kansas State at No. 89. The SEC, meanwhile, had two teams ranked in the 200s with Georgia (234) and Missouri (242).
The Big Ten also has a school ranked in the 200s with Nebraska (206) as does the Pac-12 with Oregon State (212). The ACC’s lowest-ranked team is Pittsburgh (194).
The NET stands for “NCAA Evaluation Tool,” which is how the NCAA ranks teams and is a key determinant for at-large bids for the NCAA Tournament. Every Division I school is ranked, from No. 1 Baylor to No. 358 Delaware State.
Clearly, the Big 12 is the deepest league in the country and Saturday’s results may become the norm. Expect the unexpected.
Texas Tech, without two of its best players in Terrence Shannon Jr. and Kevin McCullar, managed to defeat Kansas in Lubbock. Oklahoma State made Texas look dysfunctional on offense in a 64-51 victory. And Oklahoma looked like a tournament-caliber team in its win over Iowa State. Heck, even the Big 12’s lowest-ranked NET team, Kansas State, gave West Virginia all it could handle in Morgantown.
“Every team in the Big 12 is going to bring their best effort,” said Baylor guard Adam Flagler, who went on to praise the environment and atmosphere of Schollmaier Arena on Saturday. The same can be said for other venues around the league.
“It was amazing having everybody here,” said TCU guard Mike Miles. “This is the biggest crowd I’ve had since I’ve been here. Obviously last year there was no one, almost no one could come. It was good. I like those moments. Big crowds, big games, especially against the No. 1 team.”
