Another week of Big 12 basketball is in the books. With each passing week, the Big 12 is seemingly becoming more and more of a media darling. The Border War was plastered all over ESPN this weekend, and if it weren’t for the Super Bowl (whatever that is), we’d probably still be seeing highlights of Marcus Denmon’s take over of the game. The Big 12 race has become a three-team contest, but let us not forget how quickly things can change, especially in a league with this kind of talent.
Alley-Oops
- Marcus Denmon/Mizzou Arena/The Border War: That’s right, a three-way tie. Obviously, Marcus Denmon deserves an alley-oop for one of the most impressive late game performances I’ve ever seen. After a bit of a shooting slump, Denmon has placed himself back in the conference POY race. Next, I want to recognize Mizzou Arena, namely how loud the student section was. Earlier in the season, I ranked the student sections of the Big 12, and placed Mizzou Arena’s third. I want to officially amend that to place them as a close second now to Allen Fieldhouse. Lastly, the Border War in general. After all the hype that surrounded this game, whether it was the College Gameday crew, the rumors about vicious t-shirts, or the finality of the rivalry, this game did not disappoint.
- If I’m Going Down… : Yes, the Pokes from Stillwater are having a disappointing season. They will likely not see the glory of March Madness, and could possibly see no postseason play at all. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to try and ruin other teams’ chances at postseason glory. First, Oklahoma State upset #2 Missouri. Then, they gave Baylor a run for its money, narrowly losing by four points. Then, on Tuesday, the Pokes defeated surging Iowa State at home. While Oklahoma State may not be a threat to compete for the conference crown, they sure are making it difficult for everyone else to do so.
- Bounce Back at Baylor: Kansas lost a heartbreaker in Columbia this past weekend. The real question was, how would they respond? The Jayhawks had no time to wallow, as they faced a tough road game on Wednesday night, traveling to Waco to take on Baylor. Bill Self obviously prepared his team wonderfully, and they came out firing on all cylinders, as they surged to an easy 68-54 victory over the Bears. Also, a shout out to Jeff Withey. After being held scoreless against Missouri, the seven-footer dropped 25 on Baylor.
Airballs
- Scott Drew’s Coaching: I hate to say this, I really do, because I think Scott Drew is a good coach, especially because of what he brings to the table with his recruiting skills. But the way he was outcoached last night by Bill Self was undeniable. When you allow a team to go on the kind of run Kansas did in the second half, and you don’t make the proper adjustments, it’s time to rethink your strategy.
- Quiet Norman: Oklahoma basketball. Producer of basketball freak Blake Griffin. A Final Four appearance in the last 10 years. And thousands upon thousands of empty seats. When #4 Missouri came into town on an ESPN Big Monday, fresh off their stunning victory against Kansas, you would think some Sooner faithful would show up. This was not the case. Even the crickets didn’t show up to Llyod Noble on Monday, which is unfortunate, because they missed a heck of a game.