Oklahoma Men's Basketball- Big 12 Standings and Rankings- Jan 17

[OUBeliever56A]

The Oklahoma Sooner Men's Basketball Team kept themselves in the Big 12 battle this last week as they battled Kansas tough and won over WV.

Here is the Big 12 Standings as of Jan. 17th:

1st - Kansas - 5-0 in Big 12 - 16-1 overall - AP #2, Coaches #2 and NET #5 - defeated I-State in Lawrence on Sat 62-60
T2nd - Iowa State - 4-1 in Big 12 - 13-3 overall - AP #12, Coaches #12 and NET #11
T2nd - Kansas State - 4-1 in Big 12 - 15-2 overall - AP #13, Coaches #15 and NET #14
T2nd - Texas - 4-1 in Big 12 - 15-2 overall - AP #7, Coaches #7 and NET #10 - defeated Tech in Austin on Sat 72-70
5th - Texas Christian - 3-2 in Big 12 - 14-3 overall - AP #14, Coaches #13 and NET #22 - defeated K-State in Ft. Worth on Sat 82-68
T6th - Baylor - 2-3 in Big 12 - 12-5 overall - AP #21, Coaches #22 and NET #19 - Defeated OSU in Waco on Sat 74-58
T6th - Oklahoma - 2-3 in Big 12 - 12-5 overall - AP NR, Coaches NR and NET #45 - Defeated WV in Norman on Sat 77-76
8th - Oklahoma State - 1-4 in Big 12 - 9-8 overall - AP NR, Coaches NR and NET #50
T9th - Texas Tech - 0-5 in Big 12 - 10-7 overall - AP NR, Coaches RV#42 and NET #65
T9th - West Virginia - 0-5 in big 12 - 10-7 overall - AP NR, Coaches NR and NET #30

The Big 12 conference has 6 teams ranked in the top 25 of the country in the AP, coaches and NET rankings. That is impressive.

In action during the middle of the week, the schedule is:

Tuesday - Jan 17:

Kansas at Kansas State - 6 PM - ESPN - We will see if Kansas can stay unbeaten in the conference against a surprising K-State team. I pick K-State
Texas at Iowa State - 7 PM - ESPN+ - The loser of this game will have 2 losses. Iowa State needs to hold serve at home. Pulling for I-State.
Baylor at Texas Tech - 9 PM - ESPNU - Tech desperately needs a win in conference, but Baylor is going for three wins in a row. Baylor gets the win.

Wednesday - Jan 18:

TCU at West Virginia - 6 PM - ESPN+ - WV needs a win badly at home against a very strong TCU team. I will pick WV.
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State - 8 PM - ESPNU - Bedlam in Stillwater. The Cowboys have been good scorers at times, OU must stay close in Stillwater. OU wins another close game!

[gcruse7]

Fortunately for OU, all of college basketball recognizes the strength of the Big 12 this year. Currently the NCAA tournament bracket projections have 5 B12 teams getting a top 4 seed in a regional. Even with the Sooners 2-3 conference record, they have us in the tournament as a 10 seed. We really need to take care of business in Stillwater, as the opportunities to win on the road in the Big 12 will be very difficult.

One interesting thing about OU's conference schedule is that as it currently stands, 7 of our last 8 games are against teams currently ranked in the top 25. We will have the chance to put up some resume-building wins for the tournament selection committee at a time when it really counts.

[OUBeliever56A]

In action last night, Tuesday Jan 18th, there were some surprises.

Kansas State, at home, did beat Kansas 83-82 on a alley-oop dunk by K-State with a few seconds left.

Iowa State in Ames, beat Texas by 11 points, 78-67. I was surprised at the margin.

Baylor won in Lubbock 81-74 with Texas Tech trying to comeback late in the game.

Kansas, K-State and I-State is now 5-1 with Texas falling to 4-2. Baylor is 3-3.