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Big 12 MBB Basketball Preview: 1/11-1/15

Baylor and West Virginia postponed their game, but there is a whole slate of other key Big 12 match ups!

NCAA Basketball: Texas at Texas Tech Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

TCU @ Oklahoma

Tuesday, January 12th 6:30 PM CT, ESPN+

Oklahoma (6-4, 2-3) is coming off of a hard fought, four point loss to Kansas in their last game. While disappointing, it was an improvement from their loss to Baylor which was never much of a game. The Sooners will have a good opportunity to break their two game losing streak when they host TCU (9-4, 2-3). The Horned Frogs also lost their last two games to Baylor and Kansas, but by wider margins than the Sooners. OU has also passed the eye test much better, as they have veteran talent while TCU is one of the youngest teams in the league. However, the Sooners were without Brady Manek and Jalen Hill due to COVID protocol in their last game. Their ability (or inability) to return might be key in this game, but I’ll take the Sooners either way.

76-68 Oklahoma

#6 Kansas @ Oklahoma State

Tuesday, January 12th 7:00 PM CT, ESPN+

#6 Kansas (10-2, 4-1) had a close shave against Oklahoma in their last game. That performance seems to indicate that inconsistency might be a hallmark for Kansas this season, as they got blown out by Texas, blew out TCU, then barely beat Oklahoma. Oklahoma State (8-3, 2-3) is a bit unpredictable as well, splitting their last four games, all of which were close except for their most recent 16 point win over Kansas State. Kansas has had issues in the past playing against the Cowboys and while that might rear its head again here, I think the Jayhawks win a close one.

73-71 Kansas

Iowa State @ Kansas State

Wednesday, January 13th 6:00 PM CT, ESPNU

Iowa State (2-7, 0-5) is trying to find its first conference win as they rematch Kansas State (5-8, 1-4). The Wildcats beat the Cyclones by 9 in Ames back in December. Since then, Kansas State hasn’t won a single conference game, losing all but one by double digits. Iowa State, while winless in conference play, had been looking better in their losses until their most recent game against Texas Tech, where they lost by almost thirty points in Ames. I might have picked the Cyclones before that game, but I now think Kansas State completes the sweep over ISU.

68-61 Kansas State

#15 Texas Tech @ #4 Texas

Wednesday, January 13th 8:00 PM CT, ESPN2

This is a very important matchup in Big 12 conference play as #4 Texas (10-1, 4-0) hosts #15 Texas Tech (10-3, 3-2). If the Red Raiders want to climb back into the race for the Big 12 title, they need a win here. Texas has looked good in conference play, with their most recent win coming off a buzzer beater three from Andrew Jones. The Red Raiders are on a two game winning streak, handily beating the bottom two teams in the conference. Texas is good this year, but not undefeated in conference play good. ESPN’s BPI actually likes Texas Tech in this game, so I’ll choose this game as Texas’s first conference loss.

73-70 Texas Tech