TCU is averaging 89.5 points per game, with Vlad Brodziansky averaging. 17.3 points to rank sixth in the conference amon
HOOPS INSIDER
INSIDE ONE OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL’S PREMIER CONFERENCES | COMPILED BY PATRICK STEVENS, SPECIAL TO GATEHOUSE MEDIA STORY OF THE WEEK
RANKING THE LEAGUE *
Kansas takes down Kentucky: No one should consider Kansas a finished product, and it didn’t win many style points by shooting 35.3 percent from the floor against Kentucky in the Champions Classic. But the bottom line is that the Jayhawks earned a 65-61 victory over the perennial power while using only seven players. Bill Self’s team remains the clear-cut favorite in the Big 12, and it already owns what will likely hold up as one of the of the league’s best nonconference triumphs.
STOCK RISING
STOCK FALLING
Texas Tech: A year ago, the Red Raiders were an extremely tough out in Lubbock, taking out Baylor, Kansas State, Texas Christian and West Virginia during league play. But they couldn’t get out of their own way on the road, going 2-11 outside of their home arena and managing a winless season on the road in conference play. Texas Tech had no such trouble in their first venture away from home this year, beating Boston College by 11 and Northwestern by 36 in the Hall of Fame Tip Off tournament. The Red Raiders (4-0) have only one more trip before January --- a Nov. 30 date with Seton Hall in New York.
No one (yet): It’s hard to quibble with anyone in the Big 12 at this stage. Seven of the 10 schools entered Tuesday’s play without a loss, and West Virginia has won three in a row since falling to Texas A&M in Germany. Iowa State responded to losing its first two by claiming the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, and Oklahoma State (hardly expected to be great) absorbed its first loss on a neutral floor to Texas A&M. Someone will invariably struggle, but it’s been a great start across the board in the Big 12.
week: 1)
1. Kansas (3-0): Solidly in the top spot after winning a slugfest with Kentucky. The Jayhawks would no doubt agree that it’s better to learn some lessons while winning. (Last
2. Baylor (4-0): The Bears took out Wisconsin in the opener of the CBE Classic, showing the sort of toughness that helped them get off to a great start last season. (LW: 3) 3. Texas Tech (4-0): Keenan Evans was one of the more underrated power conference players nationally, but his torching of Northwestern on Sunday will go a long way to getting him some more attention. (LW: 7) 4. Texas Christian (4-0): It’s time for the Horned Frogs to face some stiffer competition, and that could well come by the end of the weekend at the Emerald Coast Classic (LW: 4) 5. West Virginia (3-1): The Mountaineers have a solid shot at running the table in the AdvoCare Invitational, an Orlando-based event with plenty of programs hoping for breakout seasons. (LW: 2)
WEEKEND SPOTLIGHT
6. Oklahoma (2-0): One of two conference teams in the PK80 this week in Portland, Ore., the Sooners could use the tournament as a coming-out party after last year’s struggles. (LW: 5) 7. Texas (3-0): The Longhorns also take an undefeated record to the Pacific Northwest for their first big tests since ending a disappointing 2016-17 with an early Big 12 tournament exit. (LW: 6) 8. Kansas State (4-0): The Wildcats will spend Thanksgiving in Las Vegas, with Arizona State the first opponent in a two-game stint in Sin City. (LW: 8) 9. Iowa State (3-2): Looked lost while getting beat by Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but the Cyclones acquitted themselves well by responding with three wins in a row in the relocated Puerto Rico Tip-Off. (LW: 9) 10. Oklahoma State (3-1): Got a lift with the return of Jeffrey Carroll on Monday, but he’ll need to do better than shoot 2 of 12 like he did against Texas A&M for the Cowboys to make much of an impact in the Big 12 race. (LW: 10) * Records through Nov. 20
NUMBERS OF NOTE
TCU head coach Jamie Dixon yells for a call during first half of a game against Iowa State in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament March 10 in Kansas City, Mo. after winning the NiT in coach dixon’s first season, the Horned Frogs have their sights set on their first NCaa Tournament appearance since 1987. TCu returns all five starters from that NiT championship team, including preseason all-Big 12 forward Vladimir Brodziansky. [ORLIN
19
WAGNER/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]
Steals for Kansas State in Monday’s 80-58 victory over Northern Arizona, tying a school record. The Wildcats also had 19 steals against Tulane on Jan. 10, 1976.
Texas Christian vs. New Mexico
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Weekend slate All times CST Friday, 6 p.m. CST, Niceville, Fla., CBS Sports Time Game TV Network FridaY The Horned Frogs made it through the early 7 p.m. Oakland at Kansas JTV stretch of their schedule without a loss, SaTurdaY and now they must head to the Emerald 2 p.m. Savannah State at Texas Tech FSSWP Coast Classic where some greater chal7 p.m. Western Illinois at Iowa State CyTV lenges await. TCU is averaging 89.5 points SuNdaY per game, with Vlad Brodziansky averaging 2 p.m. Houston Baptist at Oklahoma St. FSOK 17.3 points to rank sixth in the conference *-Does not include bracketed tournaments beyond first among individual scorers. The Lobos are in game their first season under coach Paul Weir and have already lost to Weir’s old school, New Mexico State. While New Mexico (2-1) isn’t the NCAA tournament regular it once was under Steve Alford (and others), a possible meeting with Big Ten power Maryland in Saturday night’s title game. The Terrapins, who meet St. Bonaventure in their semifinal, are off to a 5-0 start and are led by sophomore guards Anthony Cowan Jr. and Kevin Huerter.
Points for West Virginia’s Daxter Miles Jr. last week against Morgan State, a career high. He was 12 of 15 from the floor against the Bears.
3 Games with at least 20 points for Baylor guard Manu Lecomte this season. The senior had only four such games in his college career coming into the year.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK • G Keenan Evans, Texas Tech: Was the star of the Hall of Fame Tip Off tournament, averaging 27 points in defeats of Boston College and Northwestern.
• G Svi Mykhailiuk, Kansas: Averaged 22 points and four rebounds while leading the Jayhawks to victories over Kentucky and South Dakota State.
• G Nick Weiler-Babb, Iowa State: Earned Puerto Rico Tip-Off MVP honors while averaging 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists on the week.
• G Trae Young, Oklahoma: Had 22 points and 13 assists against Ball State, further establishing the big-impact freshman as one of the top guards in the league.
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Baylor head coach Scott drew (right) speaks to guard Manu Lecomte during a timeout against alcorn State Nov. 17 in Waco, Texas. [JERRY LARSON/WACO TRIBUNE HERALD]
