Big 12 season thread ('24-'25)

[azfan]

Believe it or not Arizona has hit more 3's than TCU today. That and a career high 30 from Skylar Jones weren't enough.

Not close enough at all

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Not close enough at all

We didn't go, but watched most of it on TV. Wife a bit under the weather and didn't really expect anything different than what we got.

Arizona has very talented players, and though the team is actually "young" as constantly stated in everything I read, the truth is Cunningham, Jones and of course Williams played a lot their freshman year. The problem is they are not a well constructed whole, when a player is out (injured or subbed) it is difficult to field a lineup without players out of position.

Jones is very interesting, a bit over emotional, but our only truly aggressive player. Swann and Cunningham are also always willing to shoot, when in position to do so, but that's it. Rolf and Dew "never shoot" (bit of an exaggeration, but . . .) and most of the rest don't aggressively look to take a shot. Paris is the enigma, when she's on she shoots, but often she just doesn't.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Big showdown tomorrow, Oklahoma St. @ Utah, both teams fighting to stay close to the league leaders. Which OSU shows up?

 

[azfan]

Big showdown tomorrow, Oklahoma St. @ Utah, both teams fighting to stay close to the league leaders. Which OSU shows up?

It may not matter. The Utes are an outstanding home team and have the longest winning streak in the Big 12 and are favored in this matchup.

At this point the race appears to be between TCU and Baylor for the top spot going into the tournament. Realistically these matchups in the final stretch of the season are more about matchups in the big dance.

 

[nwhoopfan]

It may not matter. The Utes are an outstanding home team and have the longest winning streak in the Big 12 and are favored in this matchup.

At this point the race appears to be between TCU and Baylor for the top spot going into the tournament. Realistically these matchups in the final stretch of the season are more about matchups in the big dance.

Commentators have mentioned a couple times this is the first ever meeting between Utah and Oklahoma St. Kinda hard to believe.

Also a reunion between Magassa and Toure. Both French, played together a couple years at Rhode Island.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I should've bet you on this game @azfan . Oklahoma St. about to pull off the win. Ugly game, tons of fouls, both teams had a hard time getting any rhythm.

edit--68-64 final

Again, how did Oklahoma St. lose to Houston, Kansas and BYU? It's simply unfathomable.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Jada Williams is back for Arizona tonight, so thankfully that recent injury wasn't serious.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Arizona jumped out to a huge lead early, BYU battled back in Q3, then it went back and forth a bit in Q4 but Arizona was mostly in control. 65-57 final.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Madison Conner has set the single season record for made 3's at TCU 2 years in a row now. I think she's leading the country in made 3's currently, went over the century mark tonight. TCU less than impressive, let Arizona St. hang around til a barrage from Conner late stretched the lead out. 82-66 final.

 

[nwhoopfan]

@azfan please tell me Arizona St. is not actually playing at Mullet Arena. That's sure what it sounds like the commentator keeps saying.

Okay, it's Mullett. Unfortunately sounds just like the infamous hair style.

 

[azfan]

@azfan please tell me Arizona St. is not actually playing at Mullet Arena. That's sure what it sounds like the commentator keeps saying.

Okay, it's Mullett. Unfortunately sounds just like the infamous hair style.

The ASU hockey arena.... Appropriate for the way the Sun Devils "play" defense.

 

[azfan]

Women’s college basketball bubble watch: Will Arizona miss the tournament? Is Nebraska in?

A conference by conference look at which teams are fighting for NCAA Tournament spots.

www.nytimes.com

Spotlight on: Arizona​

The Wildcats are hanging on by a thread and likely could be off the bubble entirely by next week’s Bracket Watch.

Arizona is resilient and has some quality wins, but I anticipate Arizona missing out on an NCAA Tournament invitation.

Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona are both stellar mid-majors, but losing to both early in the season is pretty damning for a bubble team’s resume. That would be more salvageable if the Wildcats weren’t on the receiving end of so many double-digit losses to the top end of the Big 12. It’s difficult to balance out the NET and the eye test.

After losses to TCU and Oklahoma State last week, the Wildcats are out of statement game opportunities in Big 12 play. Barring an unexpected run to the Big 12 tournament final, Arizona is out.

 

[12au]

There might still be a roadmap for Arizona to make NCAA tournament. Creme had them in Next 4 Out on Feb 18, before the BYU win.

Their next three: @ Houston, Texas Tech, @ Arizona State

They'll be favored in each. If they win out, they'll likely be the 8 seed. So then they play the winner of the 9 vs 16 (likely Colorado). Colorado may have some players back by then, but if Arizona wins that their record will be 20-12.

And then they'll play the 1 seed, which I doubt would hurt their standing if they lose (and could help if they win).

Surviving the bubble is also about avoid slipping up (There are always teams above you who lose some).

 

[azfan]

There might still be a roadmap for Arizona to make NCAA tournament. Creme had them in Next 4 Out on Feb 18, before the BYU win.

Their next three: @ Houston, Texas Tech, @ Arizona State

They'll be favored in each. If they win out, they'll likely be the 8 seed. So then they play the winner of the 9 vs 16 (likely Colorado). Colorado may have some players back by then, but if Arizona wins that their record will be 20-12.

And then they'll play the 1 seed, which I doubt would hurt their standing if they lose (and could help if they win).

Surviving the bubble is also about avoid slipping up (There are always teams above you who lose some).

Mark Schindler writes ( and agrees with you):

"After losses to TCU and Oklahoma State last week, the Wildcats are out of statement game opportunities in Big 12 play. Barring an unexpected run to the Big 12 tournament final, Arizona is out."

 

[azfan]

A clinic in Orlando. That is if the clinic is being led by the nice coach from Delaware and 2021 CAA coach of the year and rebuilder extraordinaire.

Well the jerseys say Texas Tech and UCF the play screams Arizona State University. This is really agony to watch.

So in the spirit of ASU basketball which is what we're seeing in Disneyworld the Red Raiders have more turnovers than made field goals. UCF has more fouls than made field goals.

Not that it matters but the score is 20 to 19 at the half with UCF slightly less horrible than Texas Tech.

 

[12au]

I noticed Ayoka Lee only played 5 minutes today in her return from injury.

They also had 11k attendance today!

 

[12au]

If TCU beats West Virginia tomorrow that eliminates West Virginia, Oklahoma State, and Utah from the title race.

One interesting scenario I found: A five-way tie for first. Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, and the winner of Wednesday's Utah-West Virginia matchup.

The tricky part is Houston beating TCU. They'll be 20-point dogs...

Sunday Feb 23

• West Virginia beats TCU
• Utah beats Cincinnati

Monday Feb 24

• Kansas State beats Baylor

Wednesday Feb 26

• Houston beats TCU
• Oklahoma State beats Cincinnati

Saturday Mar 1

• West Virginia beats Cincinnati
• Utah beats BYU

Sunday Mar 2

• Oklahoma State beats Kansas
• Iowa State beats Kansas State
• TCU beats Baylor

 

[azfan]

The tricky part is Houston beating TCU. They'll be 20-point dogs...

Sunday Feb 23

• West Virginia beats TCU
• Utah beats Cincinnati

Monday Feb 24

• Kansas State beats Baylor

Wednesday Feb 26

• Houston beats TCU
• Oklahoma State beats Cincinnati

Saturday Mar 1

• West Virginia beats Cincinnati
• Utah beats BYU

Sunday Mar 2

• Oklahoma State beats Kansas
• Iowa State beats Kansas State
• TCU beats Baylor

"Tricky"? The chances of this happening are the same as the ASU Sun Devils winning the national championship.

TCU at Baylor will be the game

 

[catsfan11]

I noticed Ayoka Lee only played 5 minutes today in her return from injury.

They also had 11k attendance today!

Finally got a game sold out! This team certainly deserves that support. They did do senior day activities, even though there is still one home game on the schedule. I have to assume it’s just much easier to do that on a Saturday rather than a Monday.

It sounded like the plan for Lee was only 10 minutes or so, just to ease into it. I’m not sure what to read into her not playing in the second half. She was effective, but didn’t look super comfortable running. Hopefully just working back into it. This K-State team is plenty good enough to blow the doors off bad/mediocre teams without her. But I think we really need her from here on.

 

[ISUnorth]

Finally got a game sold out! This team certainly deserves that support. They did do senior day activities, even though there is still one home game on the schedule. I have to assume it’s just much easier to do that on a Saturday rather than a Monday.

It sounded like the plan for Lee was only 10 minutes or so, just to ease into it. I’m not sure what to read into her not playing in the second half. She was effective, but didn’t look super comfortable running. Hopefully just working back into it. This K-State team is plenty good enough to blow the doors off bad/mediocre teams without her. But I think we really need her from here on.

So what's the buzz on Lee from the Wildcats fanbase? I see she had another "procedure" and I can't imagine she can actually be back for the NCAA's even if that was what was stated.

 

[ISUnorth]

Big 12 title is coming down to final game between TCU and Baylor. Baylor will still be without Littlepage-Buggs and maybe Bella Fontleroy who injured a shoulder in the KSU game. Hoping Fontleroy is able to play. Good schedule making by the Big 12!

KSU at ISU on Sunday was supposed to be a big game since coaches pre-season picked them to be the title favorites. Now it's just a home game for ISU to see if they can actually get a Quad 1 win before selection day. Think Cyclone will win but it will be sort of a cheap Quad 1 against a Lee-less squad that's only 6-4 in their last ten games.

 

[12au]

If West Virginia loses tonight, they're eliminated from top-4 seed contention. Utah can survive a loss with only an incredible stroke of luck:

Cincinnati beats Oklahoma State
AND
Kansas beats Oklahoma State
AND
Cincinnati beats West Virginia
AND
Utah beats BYU