By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
Is Texas Tech the best team in the Big 12? The Red Raiders have already defeated Houston in Fertitta Center and Arizona in Lubbock.
But can they beat the Wildcats in McKale?
That’s the big question heading into Saturday’s matchup in Tucson. The answer could go a long way in determining who wins the conference championship.
Here’s an update on the five teams from the West and four other teams in the mix.
Arizona (10-1, 16-6)
Who is going to stop Arizona? The Wildcats are 10-1 in the Big 12 and can win under a variety of circumstances.
All last season, and especially in the Sweet 16, the Cats were completely reliant on Caleb Love. If he was inefficient, Arizona lost.
But Tommy Lloyd and his staff have developed the bench and role players into growing stars. The in-season development of Tobe Awaka is the latest example.
The result: UA can win when Love struggles. And that’s a game-changer.
BYU (6-5, 15-7)
The Cougars are in a good spot. The win over UCF changes the perception of the team from the wrong side of the Bubble to the right side.
Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology has BYU in the Tournament as one of the Last Four In.
But there’s still so much of the season left to be played. Kevin Young runs a strong offensive scheme and his roster is respectable.
Combined with the NIL benefits BYU can provide, the program is a growing power.
Utah (5-6, 13-9)
Utah is arguably overperforming expectations in its first year in the Big 12. The Utes are 5-6 in league play and ninth in the Conference standings.
The win on the road against TCU remains noteworthy and the victory over Cincinnati looks better after the Bearcats beat UCF in Orlando. But to move up a tier in the league’s pecking order, Craig Smith’s team must win games away from Salt Lake City.
Facing West Virginia and Cincinnati on the road this week, the opportunity is there for the taking.
Arizona State (3-8, 12-10)
It’s not a good sign when the local Arizona State media start Tweeting about the “Fire Bobby” chants coming from the Student Section at Desert Financial Arena.
Even putting aside his antics in the Arizona game, Bobby Hurley’s tenure in Tempe is in a tenuous spot.
The Sun Devils have had losing seasons in three of the last four years and are at risk of back-to-back losing seasons for the second time this decade.
Colorado (0-11, 9-13)
The Buffs have lost 11 straight games with no end in sight.
Tad Boyle’s team faces Houston and Kansas next, followed by UCF, Iowa State, and Baylor. Other than the matchup against UCF in Boulder, it’s hard to see where Colorado finds a win this season.
There are still nine games left to be played over the next month. But there’s a growing chance that CU ends the Conference season 0-20.
Other Big 12 Contenders
Houston (10-1, 18-4)
One loss doesn’t define the season. The overtime defeat to Texas Tech may have been a fluke.
The Cougars responded with a nine-point win over Oklahoma State and face Colorado on Saturday.
But Monday night’s matchup against Baylor will be illuminating. If Houston struggles in that game, the remainder of the year comes under the microscope.
Other teams may be making in-season gains, essentially catching up to where Houston is at.
Texas Tech (9-2, 18-4)
Texas Tech might be the best team in the Big 12. The win on the road at Houston could be a sea change.
If the Red Raiders beat Arizona at McKale Center, there will no longer be a debate.
Seth Greenberg has put TTU in the Final Four discussion and he might be right. Beating UH on their home floor with Texas Tech’s coach and best player ejected was monumental.
Don’t be surprised if they rally through the end of the year.
Kansas (7-4, 16-6)
Credit Kansas for destroying Iowa State in Lawrence.
The win helps repair some of the broken image that only the blind fail to see. But don’t worry, the Big 12 scheduling masters are here to help Kansas even more.
The Jayhawks face Kansas State, Colorado (twice), Utah, and Oklahoma State over the next six games. A road trip to BYU is mixed in, but that’s the only tough matchup during the stretch.
Get ready for more KU propaganda from the national media, because it’s on its way.
Iowa State (7-4, 17-5)
The Cyclones are broken. Caleb Love’s three at the end of regulation in Tucson shattered the team.
Blowout losses to Kansas State and Kansas have followed, essentially knocking ISU out of contention for the Regular Season Championship.
The program still has clout with Lunardi, though. His latest projection still has Iowa State as a 3-seed.
Now, we all know that’s BS, but it shows the pull the program has among the national media.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
