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Bob Huggins on coaching in this year’s Big 12: “It’s brutal”

West Virginia’s Bob Huggins described coaching in this year’s Big 12 as “brutal” and believes it’s the best conference that he’s ever been a part of in all of his years as a head coach in college basketball.

“Since we’ve been in the league, it’s the best that it’s ever been,” Huggins told College Hoops Today on Friday. “From top to bottom, it’s unbelievable. There used to be a team or two at the bottom that you could definitely beat — not this year.”

Eight teams from the Big 12 — Kansas, Texas, Baylor, Kansas State, TCU, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia — were projected to make the NCAA Tournament in this week’s BRACKET BREAKDOWN. That’s 80 percent of the league. Oklahoma — who is not currently projected to make the NCAA Tournament — beat Alabama by 24 on Jan. 28th in Norman. All 10 teams in the Big 12 are ranked in the Top 74 of the NET, which means that every single road win in league play will equal a Quad 1 victory.

Huggins was also a head coach in the Big East in 2011 when 11 of the league’s 16 teams made the NCAA Tournament, which equates to 68.8 percent of the conference.

“It’s harder for us because of the travel,” Huggins said as he prepared to board a plane for Saturday’s game at Texas. “It’s been that way for a long time. Next year, we’re going to have to get on a plane and go to Provo to play BYU. It’s just the way it is for us in this league.”

BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF will all join the Big 12 next season as the conference will play one year with 14 teams prior to the departures of both Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC.

After Saturday’s game in Austin, West Virginia (15-9) will stay on the road and play Baylor on Monday night in Waco.

Five teams from the Big 12 — Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor, and Texas — were among the Top 16 projected seeds in Friday’s BRACKET BREAKDOWN.

Leftovers