Every year, media pundits and fans alike all ask themselves, can Kansas win the Big 12? And every year, we think that the time for one of the Jayhawks’ challengers to rise up is upon us.
Yet, year after year, KU holds off even the most formidable bids to unseat them from the crown of the conference. With five teams in the AP Top 25 this season, including two of the top three, this may finally be the year where we see the nets cut down somewhere other than Lawrence.
Oklahoma Is The Toughest Test For KU In Years
The Sooners are loaded, especially on offense. The four-headed monster of Buddy Hield, Isaiah Cousins, Ryan Spangler, and Jordan Woodward is as good as anyone else in the conference–probably better. Their ability to go on explosive runs is what separates them from Kansas and Iowa State. Against Harvard, their 17-0 start to the second half was as impressive a stretch of basketball as anyone in the country has played thus far.
Upperclassmen Running The Show
There were plenty of five or four star prospects brought into the conference this offseason, but it’s the veterans running things so far. Hield and Cousins at Oklahoma, Frank Mason III and Perry Ellis at Kansas, Georges Niang and Monte Morris at Iowa State. This conference has the most talented group of upperclassmen in the country.
Bruce Weber Showing Perseverance
Many, including myself, thought this would be Bruce Weber’s last season in Manhattan due to the probability that this group would be, um, less than stellar. Yet here they are at 9-2 with one game left against Saint Louis in the non-conference. Wins over Georgia and Colorado State were unexpected, as was the amount of competition they gave North Carolina and Texas A&M.
