Yet again, ku is the favorite to win the Big 12 (I wish I could argue this point of view).
Though losing their only big man (who can bang), makes the birds more vulnerable.
Baylor has been very good (surprisingly good). Sometimes a team peaks early, becomes complacent, and does not improve much the rest of the season = lets hope this is Baylor in 2016/17...ha.
I believe it's a tad premature to suggest that West Virginia is the clear #3 in the Big 12.
WV has an impressive win over Virginia in the non-con, but as the old saying goes, never take away too much from ONE game.
West Virginia lost their top two scorers from last season (Paige & Williams) and their 6th man (Holton). West Virginia's top 2 scorers this season, Ahmad & Adrian (averaged 4.9 pts & 4.5 pts in 2015/16). As nice as the win was over Virginia, you can't ignore that WV lost to 9 & 4 Temple.
As most would agree, the rest of the Big 12 seems to be anyone's guess.
Oklahoma lost the most from last season...followed closely by Iowa State.
Texas has not looked very good this season (but to their credit, the Horns have played a tough non-con schedule).
TCU & Texas Tech appear to be improved.
Though Tech lost their two top scorers from last season and TCU lost their top scorer from last season.
Most improved Big 12 team will likely be Okie State.
Okie State got back their best player from injury = Jawun Evans.
As well as, sharp shooting Forte. Okie State also return Hammonds, Carroll, Waters... plus Ford had a couple of really good commits that are contributing. And Brad Underwood has fired up the program. **If you remember, before he was injured, Okie State behind Jawun Evans, defeated ku by 19 points in Stillwater. Evans could be injury prone = I believe Evans has already missed one game this season due to injury.
I believe K-State is improved (given the non-con schedule, hard to say how much).
For starters, the CATS are shooting the ball much better (so far anyway).
Last season, K-State had a lot of freshman play a lot of minutes. Those freshmen are sophomores.
And K-State added a very talented freshman, in Sneed.
DJ has raised his play.
Iwundu is solid as he goes, not scoring much more, but continues to play tough D.
I still believe Wade is going to raise his play as the season progresses.
IMO, K-State is clearly better than TT & TCU.
Given the amount of fire power they lost, I also like K-State over Iowa State & OU this season.
And as already noted, Texas has not looked good.
K-State lost 3 Big 12 games in overtime last season.
Lost to Texas twice in heart breaking fashion.
Perhaps, K-State wins the close games in 2016/17
K-State has improved, the Big 12 as a whole, not so much.
My prediction: K-State will battle Okie State & WV for the #3 spot in the Big 12 (you could also argue that Iowa State could be in the mix). Bottom line, I don't see K-State finishing any worse than 5th place in the Big 12.
If K-State does not beat Texas next week, please delete this message...ha.
No doubt the CATS need to stay healthy... and Isaiah Maurice is going to have to grow up in a hurry to contribute when DJ and/or Wade find foul trouble.
GO STATE !!
Though losing their only big man (who can bang), makes the birds more vulnerable.
Baylor has been very good (surprisingly good). Sometimes a team peaks early, becomes complacent, and does not improve much the rest of the season = lets hope this is Baylor in 2016/17...ha.
I believe it's a tad premature to suggest that West Virginia is the clear #3 in the Big 12.
WV has an impressive win over Virginia in the non-con, but as the old saying goes, never take away too much from ONE game.
West Virginia lost their top two scorers from last season (Paige & Williams) and their 6th man (Holton). West Virginia's top 2 scorers this season, Ahmad & Adrian (averaged 4.9 pts & 4.5 pts in 2015/16). As nice as the win was over Virginia, you can't ignore that WV lost to 9 & 4 Temple.
As most would agree, the rest of the Big 12 seems to be anyone's guess.
Oklahoma lost the most from last season...followed closely by Iowa State.
Texas has not looked very good this season (but to their credit, the Horns have played a tough non-con schedule).
TCU & Texas Tech appear to be improved.
Though Tech lost their two top scorers from last season and TCU lost their top scorer from last season.
Most improved Big 12 team will likely be Okie State.
Okie State got back their best player from injury = Jawun Evans.
As well as, sharp shooting Forte. Okie State also return Hammonds, Carroll, Waters... plus Ford had a couple of really good commits that are contributing. And Brad Underwood has fired up the program. **If you remember, before he was injured, Okie State behind Jawun Evans, defeated ku by 19 points in Stillwater. Evans could be injury prone = I believe Evans has already missed one game this season due to injury.
I believe K-State is improved (given the non-con schedule, hard to say how much).
For starters, the CATS are shooting the ball much better (so far anyway).
Last season, K-State had a lot of freshman play a lot of minutes. Those freshmen are sophomores.
And K-State added a very talented freshman, in Sneed.
DJ has raised his play.
Iwundu is solid as he goes, not scoring much more, but continues to play tough D.
I still believe Wade is going to raise his play as the season progresses.
IMO, K-State is clearly better than TT & TCU.
Given the amount of fire power they lost, I also like K-State over Iowa State & OU this season.
And as already noted, Texas has not looked good.
K-State lost 3 Big 12 games in overtime last season.
Lost to Texas twice in heart breaking fashion.
Perhaps, K-State wins the close games in 2016/17
K-State has improved, the Big 12 as a whole, not so much.
My prediction: K-State will battle Okie State & WV for the #3 spot in the Big 12 (you could also argue that Iowa State could be in the mix). Bottom line, I don't see K-State finishing any worse than 5th place in the Big 12.
If K-State does not beat Texas next week, please delete this message...ha.
No doubt the CATS need to stay healthy... and Isaiah Maurice is going to have to grow up in a hurry to contribute when DJ and/or Wade find foul trouble.
GO STATE !!
