Big 12 Women’s Basketball Week 1 Preview, Schedule, TV Info
The first week of the 2022-23 Big 12 women’s basketball season is here. Our Week 1 primer gets you ready for the week ahead in Big 12 basketball.
Below you’ll find our game of the week, our mid-major danger game of the week, notes to watch, the week’s schedule with TV information and links to other useful college basketball information during the season.
Game of the Week
Kansas State vs. Wisconsin, Friday. This is a big game for the Wildcats, and not just because it’s being played as part of a doubleheader at the home of the Milwaukee Brewers. It will be the second game of the season without center Ayoka Lee. The Wildcats’ opener against Central Arkansas on Monday should serve as a chance to work out some of the rust and the rotation. The Wisconsin game represents the first significant test for K-State against a Power 5 team. It could be a gauge of how the rest of their season goes. It will certainly tell coach Jeff Mittie what needs to be worked on.
Mid-Major Danger Game of the Week
SMU at Oklahoma, Friday. This is the closest we’re going to get this week. SMU was barely under .500 a year ago, but the Mustangs had five road wins and finished last season No. 114 in NCAA Net rankings. SMU will go up against one of the most experienced returning teams in the Big 12 Conference and must find a way to slow down both guard Taylor Robertson and forward Madi Williams.
Five Players to Watch
F Stephanie Soares, Iowa State: The 6-foot-6 NAIA transfer dominated Winona State with 26 points in an exhibition game. Coach Bill Fennelly is telling everyone that it’s not about where she is now, it’s about where she is in March.
G Serena Sundell, Kansas State: Much more will be expected from here and the rest of Kansas State’s young players without Ayoka Lee.
G Aubrey Joens, Oklahoma: How much will the Sooners use Iowa State forward Ashley Joens’ younger sister?
G Taylor Jones, Texas: She didn’t play much at Oregon State last year due to injury. How much run will she get on a talented team like the Longhorns?
C JJ Quinerly, West Virginia: An All-Big 12 Freshman last year, she feels like a building block for the future with new coach Dawn Plitzuweit taking over.
Team to Watch
Oklahoma State. Forward Kassidy De Lapp said new coach Jacie Hoyt changed everything at OSU when she came in. That included conditioning. She said she’s in the best shape of her life. The Cowgirls have a pair of mid-majors on the schedule this week. It’s an opportunity to truly test out the new system and gain some confidence. A loss to either UTRGV or Northwestern State might spell early trouble.
What Else to Watch?
The early window for 2023 recruits to sign begins on Wednesday and lasts for a week. We’ll see how many of these players that have committed to Big 12 teams will sign before Nov. 16 when the window closes.
T-Rob Watch
Oklahoma guard Taylor Robertson is the Big 12 and Oklahoma career 3-Point record holder with 446 3-pointers. Entering her last season in Norman, she has the chance to leave Norman as the all-time NCAA leader in made 3-pointers, male or female. In each primer, we’ll track her progress.
Taylor Robertson: 446
Men’s leader: Fletcher McGee (Wofford), 509
Needed to pass McGee: 64
Women’s leader: Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State), 497
Needed to pass Mitchell: 52
This Week’s Schedule (all times central)
Monday
Iowa State 87, Cleveland State 54
TCU 69, Lipscomb 62
Oklahoma 105, Oral Roberts 94
Oklahoma State 95, UTRGV 63
Texas Tech 69, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 49
Kansas State 83, Central Arkansas 43
Baylor 88, Lamar 50
Wednesday
Kansas 72, Jacksonville 61
Thursday
West Virginia 81, USC Upstate 31
Iowa State 79, Southern 55
Baylor 71, Incarnate Word 42
Friday
Oklahoma 97, SMU 74
Kansas State 77, Wisconsin 63 (at Milwaukee)
Oklahoma State 89, Northwestern State 51
Texas 68, Louisiana 45
Saturday
TCU at North Carolina, 1 p.m., ACCNX
Rankings
AP Top 25 | USA Today Coaches | NCAA NET
Team Schedules, Results
Baylor | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | TCU | Texas | Texas Tech | West Virginia
Tournaments
Big 12 Women’s Tournament | NCAA Women’s Tournament
Bracketology
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
