Feist article: 3-7-2017
Big 12 Title Contenders
by Jim Feist
The Big 12 is loaded with
rebounders, fast-pace attacks and teams capable of making runs to the Final
Four. However, there has only been two national championships out of the
conference in the last 40 years: Kansas (1988, 2008). Several will be
knocking on the door again, though.
Kansas: Bill Self's team is loaded with balance
and experience behind 5-11 senior Frank Mason (20 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg), 6-8
freshman Josh Jackson (16.5 ppg, 7 rpg) and junior G Deonte Graham (13 ppg, 4.5
apg). They've already taken down Duke (77-75) as a dog and has run away
with the Big 12 regular season title.
Kansas is third in the Big 12 in scoring,
tops in field goal shooting and second in field goal defense. The
Jayhawks are 11-5 over the total against winning teams, capable of running with
anyone with their depth. They are in the spotlight, coming down the stretch on
a money-burning 6-12-1 spread run.
Baylor: Don't mess with the Bears under the
glass, with 6-10 junior Jon Motley (16.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg), 7-foot junior Jo
Lual-Acuil (9 ppg, 7 rpg) and 6-8 junior Terry Maston (7 ppg, 4 rpg). Baylor is
tops in the conference in points allowed and field goal defense. They
shut down explosive Oregon in an impressive 66-49 rout, along with a 66-63 win
over Louisville.
A pair of junior guards provide
experience in Al Freeman (9 ppg), and Manu Lecomte (12.6 ppg). Do they
have enough defense and depth to survive the March grind? They haven't the last
two years, getting bounced twice by Kansas (62-52, 70-66) in the Big 12
tourney, then one-and-done in the Dance, a 57-56 loss to Georgia State and a
79-75 loss to Yale a year ago.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers have a
powerhouse defensive team for Bob Huggins again, tops in the Big 12 in
scoring margin by a whopping +19 per game. He has never been shy about wanting
physical players in the frontcourt, led by 6-9 senior Nathan Adrian, a
Morgantown local, and 6-8 sophomore Esa Ahmad.
They can put up points, too, behind
junior guard Devon Carter , leading a helter-skelter full-court press
that causes turnovers, as in an 89-68 rout of Baylor. If you're looking for a
weak spot with this group it comes from the free throw line at 66% in Big 12
play (#8). That could hurt come tourney time.
Iowa State: Second-year coach Steve Prohm has
taken teams to five Sweet 16s. This Iowa State squad is powered by a four-guard
attack behind senior Point guard Monte Morris (16 ppg, 6 apg), a second-team
All-Big 12 selection last year who decided to pass on the NBA Draft. He
is aided by Matt Thomas (11.5 ppg), 6-4 senior Nazareth Mitrou-Long (15.9 ppg)
and 6-5 senior G Deonte Burton (14 ppg, 6.7 rpg).
This group lost 73-71 Gonzaga as +4.5
dog, beat Miami (73-56) as a dog, and had 92-89 OT win at Kansas as a +10
puppy. Iowa State is about an attacking offense and bombing away from long
range, No. 3 in the conference shooting 38% beyond the arc. It's not a big team
and they are last in the Big 12 in defensive rebounding, which will be a
concern in March.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys are not shy about
running, tops in the Big 12 in scoring. Sophomore Juwan Evans (18 ppg),
6-6 junior Jaeffrey Carroll (17.7 ppg) and senior Phil Forte power this
backcourt oriented offense. They live by the three, last in the Big 12 in
shooting, but second in three-point shooting behind Kansas.
The dealt with a mid-season slump before
clicking on a late season 8-1 SU, 7-2 ATS tear. But can they step up? Ok-State
has losses to North Carolina (107-75), Maryland (71-70) and West Virginia
(92-75). Still, this team should be fun to watch in March -- unless you happen
to be trying to play defense against them.
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