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5 questions entering the Big 12

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 7th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the Big 12:

1. Will this be a sentimental season in the Big 12?
It will be for me and those who have truly appreciated just how great this league has been. The additions of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF will be tremendous for the Big 12 a year from now, but the expansion of the league will also mean the end of the double round robin scheduling format which ultimately crowns a true regular season champion. Some coaches have already spoken out about why the Big 12 should stay with the double round robin format when the conference expands to 12 teams. The current plan for the league is to stay at 18 games while attempting to maintain natural rivalries within the conference. Enjoy this last go around in the Big 12 — we likely won’t see something like it ever again.

2. Does Kansas have enough?
It doesn’t have what it had when it won the national title last April, but it still has enough to compete for a Big 12 regular season title and earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. We’ve seen this movie before with Bill Self in a starring role. Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun, Remy Martin, and David McCormack are no longer in Lawrence, but Self still returns two starters in veteran point guard Dajuan Harris (5.4 points, 4.2 assists) and Jalen Wilson (11.1 points, 7.4 rebounds). Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar (10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists) should also have a major impact. The Jayhawks need a pair of freshmen — MJ Rice and Gradey Dick — to solidify one wing spot and the combination of Zach Clemence and 6-11 freshman Ernest Udeh to stabilize the pivot.

3. Can Baylor stay healthy?
The Bears won 27 games and were a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament last season despite injuries to three starters in LJ Cryer, Adam Flagler, and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. Cryer (13.5 points) only played 19 games due to a foot injury while Flagler (13.8 points) was never 100 percent throughout the course of last season. The 6-8 Tchamwa Tchatchoua — Baylor’s emotional leader — suffered a knee injury on February 12th and never returned to the lineup. Maintaining good health is a key requisite for any program to reach its goals, but in the Bears’ case, it’s a major thing to highlight considering what happened last season. If Baylor can avoid major health setbacks, a second Final Four appearance in the last three years is very much within the realm of possibility.

4. How will TCU handle expectations?
It remains to be seen. TCU is just one of three teams currently ranked in the ROTHSTEIN 45 (Virginia and Dayton are the two other) who return all five starters from last season. The Horned Frogs were inches away from beating Arizona in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season and anything less than a Sweet 16 appearance in 2023 will be a disappointment in Fort Worth. This should be Jamie Dixon’s best team since he took over at his alma mater, but understand this: Unlike past years, TCU isn’t going to have the luxury of sneaking up on anyone. 

5. Who is the sleeper?
Oklahoma State. The Cowboys were ineligible for the postseason a year ago, but have more than enough to reach their second NCAA Tournament in the past three seasons. Mike Boynton’s squad returns four players — Avery Anderson, Bryce Thompson, Kalib Boone, and Moussa Cisse — who possess all-conference caliber potential. A word to the wise: Keep an eye on Cisse. The 6-10 big man averaged 10.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks during the final seven games of last season and looks like he has the ability to emerge as the best big man in the Big 12. Oklahoma State isn’t getting the same attention as other teams in this conference, but it’s still got an outstanding chance to hear its name called on Selection Sunday.

Leftovers