2022 Preseason Conference Preview: Big XII

[Ezaco]

BIG XII CONFERENCE

 

Big names. Big expectations. Big disappointment. The Big XII.

 

:baylor:BAYLOR BEARS

I'm going to get in trouble no matter what I write here - and I deserve it. But I'm going to say it anyway: Baylor is decent. There are aspects to their game I like: Willie Flowers is a great shooter, Thomas Mcdonald can get a bucket from anywhere on the court, and there's additional under the basket options as well. Crashing the boards I'm not sure there's a team I've previewed yet that's better than the Bears. Defensively, though, there's a lot to be desired. If Baylor can keep up production and simply outscore their opponents they have a legitimate shot at making some noise, because they're not making any stops.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 32

 

:iowastate: IOWA STATE CYCLONES

On the other other hand... There's not much to like here. Warren Turnbow is the lone scoring bright spot for an otherwise unfortunate roster. Defensively the Cyclones aren't great to observe either, aside from their two hulking centers Jimmy Thomas and Just Wright. But in just looking over the entire Cyclones roster, it's difficult to see where they're going to be successful at all, in scoring, rebounding, or defense. It's just going to be a really long and really tough season there.

 

Season prediction: Misses NCAA Tournament

 

:ku1923: KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Kansas and Baylor are very similar teams... they're very tough to like, and they're very tough to dislike. The roster is nice: Jimmie Coleman, Joseph Wingard, and Kevin Johnson are amazing scorers from almost anywhere on the court. Kansas's ball movement is also excellent. Where the Jayhawks are going to succeed is outside of the paint - there's a few options down low but not many - and the ability to sink buckets because crashing the boards is no specialty for them. Defensively the Jayhawks are poised to succeed for the most part, especially if they can rely on the anchoring 7-footer Simon Woods, who is only a redshirt sophomore.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament -Sweet 16

 

:kansasstate: KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

I just don't like it. Skills-wise the Wildcats are completely all over the board, as guys who are good (really good, even) in one thing are absolutely atrocious on the other end. There is no consistency, and that is probably the Wildcats' downfall - consistency. They will be nice, they will make some upsets. But they will not have the consistency to compete with the rest of their league. Richard Shoemaker is a 7 foot monster who's senior season will, unfortunately, be wasted Joseph Pigeon is another 7 footer (Kansas State has three!) with a really nice game, and as a sophomore there's plenty of time for him to continue to develop as a scorer. But for this year there's simply not enough consistent talent for Kansas State to be successful.

 

Season Prediction: Misses NCAA Tournament

 

:oklahoma:OKLAHOMA SOONERS

The Sooners are a sneakily dangerous team. That might have something to do with the fact that they have five seven-footers, plus another two standing at 6'11". With all that length the Sooners are absolute beasts in the paint, with no shortage of scoring options under the basket, a menace on the boards, and a pretty solid defensive corps. The Sooners' problem comes when they have to step outside the paint, where their only real option is Cuong Huang - an unfortunate defensive liability. For the best success the Sooners are going to have to have someone to step up behind the arc and complement the big men down low. If they can find it they are an absolutely dangerous team.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament - Round of 32

:oklahomastate: OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

So this is going to hurt some feelings... but the Pokes are kind of the little brother to Oklahoma above. I know, but no really it's true! Four players at 6'10" and above, with another two at 6'9". Defensively the Cowboys are good - not great. Rebounding is a good time - not great. John Liu is a prolific shooter, but the main strength for the Cowboys is... under the paint. Oklahoma State isn't going to dominate down there, but they're going to make it a very difficult time en route to learning and gearing up for a scary run next season.

 

Season prediction: Bubble team

 

:tcu: TCU HORNED FROGS

As good under the basket as Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have been... TCU might be even better. Not as big or long, nevertheless there are some absolute monster down there, who can not just score at will but also grab a rebound and defend very well as well. Beyond the arc the Horned Frogs have a few options in Soren Manger and George Stricklen, neither of whom will hamper the team too badly in some other area, but that shot is their only job. But the real standout? The five star freshmen Lawrence Munoz, who's an early contender for Freshmen of the Year, and maybe even conference player of the year. Yikes.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament- Round of 32

 

:texas: TEXAS LONGHORNS

We're settling into a theme in the Big XII - great under the basket play, complemented by good defense. Texas not only fulfills this theme, but goes a step beyond and adds some complementary pieces who can also shoot it beyond the arc. Erwin Mitchell is a great shooter, and with Nicholas Porter and Steven Campbell alongside there's no shortage of options for the Longhorns to dominate. The key for them will be proper rotations to get the right players on the court at the right time to maximize their potential - of which there is a lot.

 

Season prediction: NCAA Tournament - Sweet 16

 

:texastech: TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Now unfortunately for the Red Raiders they can't do this as well. Defensively they have some ways to go, but they're no slouch. On the boards they will be competitive, but not exactly where you'd hope to be. Under the basket shooting the Red Raiders are just as good as anyone in their league, but stepping outside of the paint the options dry up quickly. It's all a formula for a frustrating final season for Ronald Alansari who will headline a team with a simple tagline... not enough.

 

Season prediction: Bubble team

 

:westvirginia: WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Heading all the way to the east, we're going to finish off with a pretty underwhelming West Virginia team. A swiss cheese defense who can't rebound very well, the Mountaineers can do well scoring underneath but not much else. Moving the ball will be difficult, and once they step beyond the paint there's a lack of scoring options yet against. Francie Bowie is going to have an unfortunate final season in Morgantown as he leads this team to a disappointing conclusion.

 

Season prediction: Misses NCAA Tournament

[Ezaco]

Pick to win conference: Kansas

[Vivid]

AYBLOR!!!!

[Ezaco]

Baylor might be the fourth best team in the Big XII... but I did not forget them this time.