Top Three Big 12 Men’s Basketball Games for Week of Feb. 6
The next week of the 2022-23 Big 12 men’s basketball season is here. Here, we highlight the three games we believe will be the best for the week of Feb. 6-Feb. 12
Texas at Kansas, Monday, 8 p.m., ESPN
Yep, it’s another Big Monday in Lawrence. For the second week in a row, the Longhorns are facing a Top 25 team on Monday.
Texas (19-4, 8-2) now has sole possession of the Big 12 lead with eight games to play. Texas beat Baylor at home and then beat Kansas State on the road. In both games the Longhorns received big boosts of the bench from Sir’Jabari Rice, and Christian Bishop’s bench play was a key component in the Longhorns’ come-from-behind win over the Wildcats.
Kansas (18-5, 6-4) wishes it had this kind of depth. The starting five, led by forward Jalen Wilson, is formidable. But get a couple of their starters in foul trouble and the Jayhawks are playing with fire. If MJ Rice comes back, that will help, especially since it sounds like forward Zach Clemence will be out for a bit.
TCU at Kansas State, Tuesday, 8 p.m., ESPNU
One team is bleeding personnel. The other team is bleeding losses. Someone will get to stop the bleeding on Tuesday.
As long as Mike Miles and Eddie Lampkin Jr. are out for TCU (17-6, 6-4), the Horned Frogs are going to have to get good games out of players like guard Shahada Wells and forward Xavier Cork on a consistent basis. Both can do so, but there can’t be much variation from game to game. Playing on the road is tough in this conference. Playing in Bramlage can be downright scary right now.
I say ‘can be’ because Kansas State (18-5, 6-4) just lost some of its imperviousness at home after the loss to Texas on Saturday. KSU has now lost its last three Big 12 games and it’s time to stop the bleeding. You can rely on Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson all you want. But the Wildcats need more from Desi Sills, Nae’Qwan Tomlin and David N’Guessan.
Last time they played in Fort Worth, Kansas State had 20 turnovers. The Wildcats have to take care of the ball.
Oklahoma State at Iowa State, 5 p.m., TV TBA
This is one of those intriguing under-the-radar games that could turn out to be the best of the week.
Oklahoma State (14-9, 5-5) is on a tear. The Cowboys have won five of their last six. Kalib Boone is playing fantastic basketball. The team is nearly full strength (keep an eye on Avery Anderson III). Like Iowa State, the Cowboys play elite team defense. In some ways they’re mirror images of each other.
Iowa State (16-6, 7-3) got Aljaz Kunc back on Saturday, so they’ve back to full strength. He’ll add to what the Cyclones can do on offense. But, with him gone, this has grown into a much better offensive team that can stay true to its defensive identity.
Could this be a first one to 60 wins kind of game?
This Week’s Schedule (all times central)
Monday
Kansas at Texas, 8 p.m., ESPN
Tuesday
TCU at Kansas State, 8 p.m., ESPNU
Wednesday
Iowa State at West Virginia, 6 p.m., ESPN2
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Oklahoma at Baylor, 8 p.m., ESPNU
Saturday
West Virginia at Texas, 11 a.m., TV TBA
Kansas at Oklahoma, noon, CBS
Baylor at TCU, 3 p.m., ESPN2
Oklahoma State at Iowa State, 5 p.m., TBA
Kansas State at Texas Tech, 6 p.m., ESPN+/Big 12 Now
Links to Use
Rankings
AP Top 25 | USA Today Top 25 | Ken Pomeroy
Team Schedules, Results
Baylor | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | TCU | Texas | Texas Tech | West Virginia
Signing Classes for 2023
Baylor | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | TCU | Texas | Texas Tech
Tournaments
Big 12 Men’s Tournament | NCAA Tournament
Bracketology
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
