Here are the Top 3 takeaways from the second night of the Big 12-Big EAST Battle during Big 12 men’s college basketball action.
It was a Big 12-Big EAST buffet of Top 25 games on Wednesday night in the Big 12-Big EAST Battle, which continues through the end of the week.
In Storrs, Conn., No. 25 UConn outlasted No. 15 Baylor, 76-72, in a game that was dramatic all the way to the end.
In Ames, Iowa, No. 6 Iowa State handed No. 5 Marquette its first loss, 81-70, in a game that you had to hunt for to find.
In Omaha, Neb., the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks fell for the first time this season, losing to Creighton, 76-63.
After two nights of the Battle, the Big EAST has a commanding 4-1 lead.
Here are three thoughts on the night.
No. 1 Goes Down in Omaha
There’s something about Creighton playing No. 1 teams at home. The Bluejays beat No. 1 UConn last year. The Bluejays beat No. 1 Kansas on Wednesday.
Kansas (7-1) wasn’t going to go undefeated this season. But Creighton (6-3) received a big boost before the game when center Ryan Kalkbrenner returned from an injury. That gave the Bluejays the proper matchup against Kansas center Hunter Dickinson.
Kalkbrenner gave Creighton 17 points and 10 rebounds. Dickinson gave Kansas six points and eight rebounds. So, Kalkbrenner won that matchup and it set a tone.
For perhaps the first time this season, Kansas was physically outplayed inside. That’s the only way to explain Creighton outrebounding Kansas, 44-31.
Creighton gave teams a bit of a template to beat Kansas — at least for now. Make Dickinson as little of a factor as possible and require those around him to win the game. Kansas shot 37% from the field and 35% from the 3-point line.
The backcourt had 39 combined points from AJ Storr, Dajuan Harris Jr. and Zeke Mayo. But all of them shot less than 50%. Forward KJ Adams Jr. didn’t give Kansas much either (four points, five rebounds).
So is that a weakness? Only if Kansas allows it to be. Coach Bill Self is the king of adjustments. He’ll figure it out.
The Disrespect for Iowa State-Marquette
Maybe Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Big EAST commissioner Val Ackerman should call ESPN and Fox because consigning No. 6 Iowa State and No. 5 Marquette to ESPN+ was just straight up disrespectful. The increased access to the Big 12 inventory for Fox can’t get here fast enough.
So, if you migrated over to ESPN+, you watched two teams that LOVE to play defense. But the Iowa State (6-1) offense ruled.
The Cyclones shot 51%, made six 3-pointers and was 15-of-21 from the free-throw line. They outrebounded the Golden Eagles (8-1), 40-37, and outscored them in the paint, 42-30.
Keshon Gilbert started the game with No. 10 and ended it with No. 51 after he suffered a cut on his nose and he had to change jerseys. He scored a team-high 24 points. Joshua Jefferson had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
I’ve written already this year that I think this is the best offensive team that T.J. Otzelberger has put together. But the Cyclones aren’t sacrificing defense, as they held Marquette to 39% shooting.
Marry that stifling defense with a high-level offense and, well, the entire country has a problem.
“It Feels Like a Conference Game”
Well, Yormark did try. But the Big 12 CEO’s weren’t on board with going after UConn.
But Fox’s commentators, including Bill Raftery, noted that the atmosphere in Gampel Pavilion felt like a conference game, even though it was just the second time Baylor and UConn faced each other (the first meeting was in 1965).
The game was notable because Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe (hamstring) and UConn forward Alex Karaban (head) did not play. The Bears also lost guard Jeremy Roach to concussion protocol in the second half.
But the contest didn’t lack for drama, as UConn (6-3) only had it won in the final second. Liam McNeeley led the way with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Baylor (5-3) has played a murderous schedule and all three of its losses have come to Top 25 teams. The Bears played well — 49% shooting, just 10 turnovers and won the battle on the glass, 30-29. Guard Robert Wright had a huge game for Baylor, with 22 points. Josh Ojianwuna only had three points but grabbed 14 rebounds.
I’m not worried about Baylor when it comes to Big 12 play. The Bears have been tested and for the next few weeks they’re going to play a few mid-majors before their Big 12 opener. By then, they should be ready to roll.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
