Big 12 season thread ('24-'25)

[ISUnorth]

Big game for Baylor Sunday at TCU after KSU just fell in Boulder to Colorado. Think the Lee-less Wildcats and the short roster Frogs are going to start picking up some losses now. Big opportunity for the Bears to grab a piece of 1st place after sort of being overlooked after they fell out of the Top 25 early. Will be interesting to see if any of the Big 12 will even host come March.

 

[CajunHusk94]

Hannah Gusters is no longer listed on the UCF Knights roster. Not that it will make a difference today versus Iowa State but Audi Crooks vs Gusters might have at least been something interesting in what looks to be an unwatchable contest.

Gusters was the a highly rated post in 2020 but went from Baylor to LSU to Oklahoma State to UCF to who knows where now. Hope she was at least able to finish with a degree. I know nothing about all of the moving but it's sort of sad she couldn't make a better go of it for whatever the reasons.

Gusters seems to get into a situation everywhere she goes.

 

[CajunHusk94]

Kind of reminds me of the highly rated post from a few years earlier, name is escaping me right now. I think she predicted she was gonna average like 30/20 as a freshman. Started out at Texas, didn't work out there, left quickly, I think went to Middle Tennessee after that, then...nothing?

Rellah Boothe

 

[ISUnorth]

Woof. UCF is only dressed seven players for the game versus Iowa State. And no Kaitlin Peterson and her 20 pts/game. Is she hurt, sick or another roster defection? Halftime of this scrimmage and it's 47-27.

Not sure I'm going to watch the 2nd half of this. It's like a NC cupcake blowout. There's no basketball joy in watching something like this.

 

[packwrap]

Well WVU falls at Arizona, seems no one wants to seize the day in the Big12.

 

[nwhoopfan]

seems no one wants to size the day in the Big12.

Big game on Sunday w/ Baylor visiting TCU.

 

[azfan]

2 points - Adia's salary is 1.2 not 1.6; there was an article in the local paper stating that the writer thinks she will need to take a pay cut if she wants to stay. NOT because of poor performance, but because Arizona just doesn't have much money to spend. The suggestion was to offer the difference in incentives.

Also, only the Men's Tennis coach has had his salary addressed at Arizona - he got a bump up considering they are somewhere around #6 in the country. Softball and Baseball are among the coaches (as well as Adia) who are at the time where extensions are generally offered.

If Arizona can't get to 20 wins, they do not deserve to be in the tourney; lets see who they beat and who they lose to through the end of the season.

Yes.... The fiscal mismanagement which is reflective across all higher ed was particularly manifest in the dirty t and while the former president did step down as a result of the fiscal and monetary incompetence and lack of transparency I do believe he retained his salary as a member of the faculty.

So yes there is a reason why the kitties don't have money to spend both in and out of athletics.

I believe Barnes compensation is partially from the University as you indicate and partially from sources outside the direct control of the athletic department.

That being the case like all universities belt tightening is in order and given the past inattention to best practices in management of state resources I'm not surprised at all that the bureaucrats in kitty land are scurrying around to find nickels and dimes in the cushions.

 

[ISUnorth]

ESPN has Iowa State as long shots in Manhattan tomorrow night versus the Lee-less Jayhawks. ISU has not been good away from home, save for the two games in Arizona. KSU has the best three shooting and best three point defense in the league which sort of matches up well for them vs ISU's poor three point defense and pedestrian shooting from three this season. Still, ISU plays well versus KSU, 8-2 in last ten games and 2-0 last year. So, I am going with 65% KSU lean, not 92% since ISU just seems to play well versus KSU. Cyclone will need a big games from Crooks and Brown.

On ESPN. In a year of pretty slim pickings for good Big 12 TV matchups this one might be worth a look see for non-fans of either school.

 

[azfan]

5:30 MST Sun Devil rebuild continues on the road at Oklahoma State. For all fans of mismatch ESPN Plus is the place to view.

 

[nwhoopfan]

5:30 MST Sun Devil rebuild continues on the road at Oklahoma State. For all fans of mismatch ESPN Plus is the place to view.

Oklahoma St. did manage to lose to Houston. They were getting blown out by more than 20 before a late rally. That was on the road though. Lost to Kansas too. So, there is actually some possibility in this universe Okie St. could manage to stub their toe against the Devils.

 

[azfan]

Oklahoma St. did manage to lose to Houston. They were getting blown out by more than 20 before a late rally. That was on the road though. Lost to Kansas too. So, there is actually some possibility in this universe Okie St. could manage to stub their toe against the Devils.

Close to .000000000000001 per cent.

Devils jump out to a 4-0 lead. Think dePaul had a 6-0 lead over the Huskies earlier and I fully expect this game to follow the trajectory of that one.

In a bizarre world in which this happens Oklahoma State's women's basketball program would be shaken to its very core. The nice coach from Delaware, 2021 CAA Coach of the Year's squad is one and six on the road and has lost six games in a row. Road victory last year was against mighty Maryland Eastern by seven points.

The foundation of the rebuild for the Sun devils is a consistent, determined refusal to defend the three line.

Heard, Huard, Gray and Asi are really looking forward to this matchup and I suppose if the coach for some inexplicable reason benched all four, all four fouled out in the first 5 minutes, all four took an 0ferr from three land then the Sun devils could stay within 15..

I suspect I will be one of three people watching the game on ESPN Plus. I do have my Sun Devil t-shirt and hat on so I will be representing as the losing streak is extended to 7.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The announcers are going heavy with the praise for Coach Adair and the job she's doing at Arizona St. @azfan has to be loving this. It really is amazing how they feel compelled to do that with downtrodden programs.

 

[azfan]

The announcers are going heavy with the praise for Coach Adair and the job she's doing at Arizona St. @azfan has to be loving this. It really is amazing how they feel compelled to do that with downtrodden programs.

Oy ...., if this is a rebuild I'd love to see their view of urban renewal.

Each loss is reflective of a new and shining example of mediocrity.

This one - the two technicals.

Hard to understand how you can engage in taunting when you're getting severely destroyed but again the nice coach from Delaware and 2021 CAA coach of the year has a vision for this program. Tonight demonstrated another step in the journey to that vision.

Loss seven in a row and run the road record to 1-8.

That third consecutive season of 20 losses is coming closer.... The two games remaining against the kitties one in the dirty t and the other Mullet arena the hockey arena in Tempe will be the capstone for Natasha Adair's season.

One would wonder what the probability Adair will be granted a fourth 20 loss season opportunity? I will say at $625,000 a year she is a bargain compared to the coach in the dirty t whose contract amount as we now know is only $1.2 million per year.

February begins with a home contest against the Cougars....of BYU. Devils are a dog going into the game anyone with any sense will give the points. BYU has yet to win a road game in 2025.......but this could well be numero uno

 

[catsfan11]

Huge bounce back win for the Cats last night, especially against an ISU team that has really had our number recently. The offense was much smoother than it was in that disaster in Boulder and I thought our defensive pressure made life really tough for the Cyclone guards. Impressive OT performance after a complete collapse in the last 3 minutes of regulation.

For ISU, Crooks and Brown were very good, but they just didn't get enough from anyone else. Looking from the outside, that appears to be the story of the season in Ames.

 

[ISUnorth]

Huge bounce back win for the Cats last night, especially against an ISU team that has really had our number recently. The offense was much smoother than it was in that disaster in Boulder and I thought our defensive pressure made life really tough for the Cyclone guards. Impressive OT performance after a complete collapse in the last 3 minutes of regulation.

For ISU, Crooks and Brown were very good, but they just didn't get enough from anyone else. Looking from the outside, that appears to be the story of the season in Ames.

Your team had a great game plan in doubling on the ball and focusing on the guards and not doubling Crooks all of the time. That was a style specific to who they were playing and was really well done considering that isn't you guys usual style. The momentum really shifted after the "..collapse in the last three minutes". You would maybe think ISU had the momentum but than your Jayhawks had their own big run and just buried the Cyclones in OT.

Iowa State probably will have a better shot at TCU on Sunday. TCU is a good defense team but with them playing everybody 40 minutes a game they can't go all out pressure on our vulnerable guard. TCU has enough issues with late game fatigue, and maybe fouls, with their really short bench and can't realistically go at ISU the way KSU did. Going to probably be more straight up half court defense and post to post battle with Crooks and Prince.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Back and forth battle between Utah and Arizona. Just a friendly former Pac 12 opponents grudge match on a Friday night. Utes survive a melt down spanning Q3 and Q4 with a ton of turnovers and inability to deal w/ full court press, manage to regain lead at the end. If Arizona had completed the comeback they would've been tied in the conference standings. As is UA falls to 5-5 and Utes looking fairly good at 7-3, 5th place and 1/2 game back of 4th place Baylor.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Kind of interesting Saturday on tap. Oklahoma St. @ West Virginia in an important game for 2 teams fighting to stay near the top. And then not one, but two "somebody has to win" games: Houston @ UCF and BYU @ Arizona St.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Back and forth battle between Utah and Arizona. Just a friendly former Pac 12 opponents grudge match on a Friday night. Utes survive a melt down spanning Q3 and Q4 with a ton of turnovers and inability to deal w/ full court press, manage to regain lead at the end. If Arizona had completed the comeback they would've been tied in the conference standings. As is UA falls to 5-5 and Utes looking fairly good at 7-3, 5th place and 1/2 game back of 4th place Baylor.

We were there, our annual 2 game road trip. Colorado next week, huge detour to avoid storms is making it a 2 day trip.

Utah is impressive in that every player is aggressively ready to shoot the ball but for one. On Arizona, we have a mix of players that never shoot the ball, players that will shoot and are either on and game changing or off and not accomplishing, and players that will shoot when the play is run for them. Only Williams (tonight) was just aggressive shooting and it showed in her scoring. And Utah pressed on fast breaks, Arizona almost always pulls it out, even when a good shot is there.

I know @azfan wants to put it all on game coaching, or scheming, but it isn't that. It is the fundamental weakness in the team, which is still very young. I got tired of hearing "we're young", until I looked at the roster. Yes, Arizona is truly all underclassmen, with only 2 Jr and up actually playing any significant minutes.

 

[azfan]

On bafflement, losing, and low bars I'!! Be heading over to Mullet arena for the 6:30 tip of ASU against BYU to watch dueling losing streaks and view one lousy team finally get a win.

The Devils are dogs in this game at home although BYU has been a terrible road. And ASU is a terrible home team. This is a formula for a truly horrible game. But since I'm down in the valley I might as well make every effort to get another look at the rebuild taking place in downtown Tempe. It can be a hoot and a holler to watch the keystone cops defense that Adair has implemented which involves a combination of determined refusal to guard the three line, ignore anything in the paint, and implement a fouling approach that's a combination of hacks and technicals.

That said I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a ASU victory 41-40 with ASU accumulating more fouls than points and more turnovers than assists.

 

[ISUnorth]

In a break from Arizona talk, what will it take to win the Big 12? Nobody is going to do a Baylor 18-0 and 17-1 seems pretty unlikely as KSU and TCU are not going to run the board the next nine games. Will 14-4 get a shared piece of the title? Seems 15-3 will win it outright.

KSU is Lee-less and TCU is playing their core five a million minutes a game which might open the door for Baylor to step up. Really seems down to the current top three. Baylor has ISU and WVU at Waco (big diff playing WVU at home) and KSU and Colorado on the road (mile high Boulder isn't an easy roadie). TCU has ISU, KSU, Baylor all on the road and WVU at home. KSU has at ISU and WVU and home for home for Baylor. Including games at ISU as tough only because even if not a top team ISU is very tough at home.

Standings after the only game that mattered in the standings for the top half, OSU losing at WVU.

 

[12au]

In the Cowgirls' 54-37 loss in Morgantown today they had only 2 assists :0

 

[12au]

Looks like all five Houston starters played all 40 today.

I'm impressed they didn't forfeit. I think they've had some insane injury volume lately.

 

[azfan]

Last night watching the agony of the rebuild in Tempe, a loss by 10 to a Cougar team that is remarkably unathletic it's clear that a change needs to be made in Tempe. But then again it was clear this time last year. As it was just as clear this time the year before.

BYU took advantage of the nice coach from Delaware and her commitment to not defending the three line nor the paint. After an 0 for three land first quarter BYU who was probably so amazed that they were wide open all the time finally started draining threes. Throughout the game they completely took the Sun Devil's lunch money in the lane. The reported attendance was 2500 which is as credible as Richard Nixon's claims about....... Well almost everything.

Anyway the ratio of blue Cougar jerseys to sheepish maroon and gold wearers was five to one which puts 2000 Cougar fans in Desert Financial Arena. Not surprising. Just as I suppose it's not surprising that the very nice coach from Delaware is still pulling down $630,000 committing coaching malpractice.

More spectator agony is Texas Tech visiting Colorado. Colorado only has seven players suited up with four injured including Frida Foreman so if this holds the kitties have a better than average chance of winning that game on Wednesday.

So the announcers gave an amazing statistic for Texas Tech. They have never won the first quarter this season. That's incredible as I thought it would be impossible to find a more inept offense than what Natasha Adair has installed in Tempe. That streak continues as Colorado down four players and with only two on the bench wins the first quarter in a riveting manner 14-10.

So I'm thinking about the very nice coach and 2021 CAA coach of the year and her $630,000 salary. We all know the success that JR Payne has had over the last 4 years and I believe she's been in the sweet 16 the last two. Before signing her contract extension last year she was making $450,000 a year. Side note Adia Barnes of the UofA has the greatest agent who ever lived. Anyway they renegotiated her salary and it's unfortunate that JR Payne didn't have Barnes' agent as she's now making $700,000 a year. Oy

Let me repeat and underscore that in the 2023-24 season Natasha Adair made 50% more than JR Payne? This defies belief although it shouldn't given what we know about the ability of higher education to mismanage finances and athletic departments to misspending coaching pay.

Perhaps this disconnect between salaries and performance offers a hint about the financial disaster that has been unfolding in higher ed over the last 20 years.

Thinking about the dirty t and the kitties and the Buffaloes in Boulder however it's still to my way of thinking breathtaking that Payne now earns 40% less than the coach down in the dirty t and yet has 40% greater success. I'd like to get the name of Barnes's agent to renegotiate my retirement.

Adia Barnes has the greatest agent who ever lived.

Colorado not challenged by a very short bench and the absence of Frida Foremann leading a Texas Tech team that reminds me so much of the Sun Devils by 12 points midway through the second quarter.



Tune in February 5th as the $1.2 million dollar coach leads her team into Boulder against the $700,000 coach and team.

Barnes the 10th highest paid coach in women's basketball and the highest paid coach in the Big 12.

Would anyone in their right mind put her in the top 25 coaches currently leading a team?

March 2024 data

Women's Basketball Head Coach Salaries - USA TODAY

Ever wondered who the highest paid coach in men's basketball is? Find out today with USA TODAY's complete salary data.

sportsdata.usatoday.com

Adia Barnes has the greatest agent who ever lived.

 

[ISUnorth]

If you were told prior to the TCU game at Iowa State that the Cyclones Crooks and Brown would combine for 60 points and Prince would foul out with 0 points and one rebound and that Conner, the best three point shooter in the league, would only attempt one and make none, who do you pick as the winning team?

Well, the Frogs by 13 of course. ISU took two big TCU factors out of the game and still got schooled at home.

Taylor Bigby hit 5 threes for TCU and Van Lith scored 28 and had 8 assists. And Deasia Merrill did a pretty decent job of playing in Prince's spot ( 8 rebounds) while she rode the bench.

 

[catsfan11]

K-State played their best game in a while today, destroying KU in Lawrence. The 91-64 final score was actually pretty flattering for KU. K-State really took their foot off the gas after getting up 80-41 early in the 4th. Great balance all around for the cats with 8 players today that had at least 7 points. Overall, a ridiculous shooting day at 15-23 from 3!

Bit of a weird stat line for KU. Their leading scorer on the day, Copeland, had 17. All of which came in the 4th quarter when the game was well out of reach.

Now the biggest game of the year on Wednesday with TCU coming to Manhattan. I honestly do not know what to expect from that game. Can the K-State defense turn TCU over and can the combined forces of Taylor, Lester, and Maupin make life difficult for Prince? Should be a good one.