The Big 12 Conference had a loaded conference slate on Saturday, including a pair of Top 20 match ups with Kansas and Iowa State meeting up in Ames, while Texas Tech played at Arizona. Elsewhere, there were bubble match ups and more to keep a close eye on across the league as we start the second half of February. Here’s what we learned from these games.
Hilton Remains Magic
Not that this was ever in doubt, but Iowa State continues to dominate at home after crushing Kansas 74-56. They have won 10 games at home by over 20 points, and while Saturday’s win didn’t technically reach that mark, it was as impressive as any win this season. The win snapped KU’s eight-game winning streak, as the Jayhawks looked hungover from Monday night’s enormous win over No. 1 Arizona. The Cyclones pulled away late in the first half and never looked back. KU had Darryn Peterson back, but it did not matter in this game. Iowa State went on a 20-2 run over a span of five minutes later in the first half to take a 36-22 lead with 1:37 to play. The Cyclones remain undefeated at home and now welcome in No. 3 Houston on Big Monday. It’s going to be another electric scene in Ames.
TCU is IN the NCAA Tournament… For Now
As the day began, TCU was not in the NCAA Tournament, per Joe Lunardi. But Lunardi posted an update on Saturday after the Horned Frogs beat Oklahoma State in overtime, and he had TCU in the Last Four In.
It was a great week for TCU, who beat Iowa State on Wednesday night. Unfortunately for Oklahoma State, the Pokes have now lost three in a row and are in the “Next Four Out” category as of Saturday night, at least according to Lunardi. But the Pokes can get back in the conversation if they can pull off the upset against Kansas on Wednesday night.
The Arizona Gauntlet Has Begun
We knew this stretch was going to be brutal for Arizona. And after a 23-0 start to the season, the Wildcats have lost two games in a row against Kansas and Texas Tech. Next up? Arizona takes on BYU at home before going to Houston next Saturday. A brief respite next week against Baylor is followed up by two home games against Kansas and Iowa State.
Has their ever been a harder stretch in the Big 12? I think you’d be hard-pressed to find one.
I said before this gauntlet began that if Arizona could go 4-2, it would be a success. I thought they’d struggle in the road games at Kansas and Houston. But they’re now 0-2, with one of those losses at home on Saturday.
Let’s see if the Cats can turn it around this week.
Houston is Quietly Back Atop the Big 12, For Now
With Arizona losing two games this week, the Cougars are now in first place in the Big 12 with an 11-1 league record, one game ahead of Arizona, and two games ahead of Iowa State, Kansas and Texas Tech.
But look at this next three-game stretch for Houston: at Iowa State, home vs. Arizona and at Kansas.
So who is the best team in the Big 12 right now? We put a poll up on X on Saturday night that has received thousands of votes, with Iowa State and Houston getting the most love. But eight days from now we might all feel much differently.
