Big 12 season thread ('24-'25)

[KnightBridgeAZ]

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.


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I'm sure I don't know what its going to take, but at the moment it seems to be that the top 3 are not really well differentiated. In the abstract I currently like WV and Utah a bit more than Ok State, but again, not sure they are strongly differentiated, either.

In the end, I think I care more about who wins the tourney than the regular season this year. I'm not convinced that the 2 winners will be the same this year.

 

[ISUnorth]

I'm sure I don't know what its going to take, but at the moment it seems to be that the top 3 are not really well differentiated. In the abstract I currently like WV and Utah a bit more than Ok State, but again, not sure they are strongly differentiated, either.

In the end, I think I care more about who wins the tourney than the regular season this year. I'm not convinced that the 2 winners will be the same this year.

Iowa State fans have a cult like devotion to the Big 12 tournament dating back to the Big 8 days. Maybe that's related to the popularity of the HS tournaments in Iowa or the fact we never win the regular season top spot but have a couple tournament titles as consolation prizes. I am an outlier in that respect, I never put much stock in the tournament, really any of them. Exception being the Big Ten the last couple of seasons. Maybe because I live so close to Mpls Target Center I did tune in for some of those games and there were a few really good games.

Don't disagree that the overall champ might not be the tourney champ. TCU and KSU have the best records and look to be the best teams but they aren't set up roster wise to win three games in three days. That would be a LOT of minutes for Van Lith, Prince, Sundell etc. And KSU would be crazy to play Lee too many minutes prior to March Madness if they indeed get her back (and I hope she is back).

 

[azfan]

ISU hitting threes and taking care of business against Cincinnati. Graphic at the end of the quarter indicated that Bill Fennelly's team had 200 plus threes for the last 21 seasons and with 189 going into this game looks like it'll be 22 consecutive seasons hitting threes

I guess he's known as the dean due to his 30 years at ISU and 22 appearances at the big dance

I think I posted elsewhere he's making $850,000 a year but is not the highest paid coach in the Big 12. Financial discipline at Ames?

Perhaps he could benefit by switching agents?

 

[azfan]

Tech breaks the streak...leading Utah 17-15 at the end of the first quarter. This is the first time all year the Red Raiders have led at the end of the first quarter. That's kind of an unbelievable streak but they are looking pretty good at least in the first quarter.

 

[azfan]

Hummmm. 8-8 at the end of the first in battle for first place. While both teams are 9 and 1 in the conference I'm not buying great defense although the defenses really good. Teams have combined for more turnovers than made buckets. Neither of offense seems to be in a position to overcome or adapt to the pressure. Prince certainly is not quick but so far the cats haven't been able to get past her presence. The much anticipated Sundell - Van Lith dual has yet to materialize

 

[azfan]

5 minutes to tip in Boulder as the kitties confront a Colorado team short handed due to injury. The question is will Frida Foreman play and if not do the Buffaloes have enough to take out the team from the dirty t.

Inquiring minds want to know which Cunningham shows up tonight. The 19 minute 4 foul version or the steady presence in the paint version.

 

[azfan]

5 minutes to tip in Boulder as the kitties confront a Colorado team short handed due to injury. The question is will Frida Foreman play and if not do the Buffaloes have enough to take out the team from the dirty t.

Inquiring minds want to know which Cunningham shows up tonight. The 19 minute 4 foul version or the steady presence in the paint version.

@KnightBridgeAZ has got to be enjoying the atmosphere in Boulder.

Looks like two foul Cunningham 2 minutes into the game showed up. The announcers had an interesting stat that said the kitties are 13 and oh when they score the first basket in a game and they did score the first basket in Boulder so perhaps they will be really successful without Cunningham on the floor tonight.

After Beh takes her second three she's getting an earful from the assistant coach on the sideline LOL

I knew that Barnrs' husband was her assistant but the announcers just indicated the same for JR Payne. interesting I'm wondering how many wbb coaches have their husband as number one assistant.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Sundell ain't losing this game. They are going iso and she's scoring on whoever is guarding her every possession.

Somebody forgot to tell K State they were supposed to start losing with Lee out injured.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Utah with a narrow win against Texas Tech and West Virginia drilled Kansas.

 

[jdote33]

Sundell ain't losing this game. They are going iso and she's scoring on whoever is guarding her every possession.

Somebody forgot to tell K State they were supposed to start losing with Lee out injured.

Sooo impressed by Sundell. Always loved her game. But I tune in late and they are just running straight isos and she's bullying Hailey Van Lith. She has a wirey frame but she was legit their best post offense.

 

[nwhoopfan]

59-50 Kansas St. 27 for Sundell.

TCU big 3 Prince/Van Lith/Conner held to 14/11/9. Frogs went ice cold down the stretch.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Sooo impressed by Sundell. Always loved her game. But I tune in late and they are just running straight isos and she's bullying Hailey Van Lith. She has a wirey frame but she was legit their best post offense.

She had a couple against Emma-Nnopu as well, who had 4 fouls so couldn't do much, but is bigger than Van Lith.

 

[ISUnorth]

ISU hitting threes and taking care of business against Cincinnati. Graphic at the end of the quarter indicated that Bill Fennelly's team had 200 plus threes for the last 21 seasons and with 189 going into this game looks like it'll be 22 consecutive seasons hitting threes

I guess he's known as the dean due to his 30 years at ISU and 22 appearances at the big dance

I think I posted elsewhere he's making $850,000 a year but is not the highest paid coach in the Big 12. Financial discipline at Ames?

Perhaps he could benefit by switching agents?

No need to overpay as only Arizona pays their coach more in the Big 12. Texas and OU paid more but they are in the SEC now and had more money than any of the other Big 12 teams. Plus Fennelly gets to have his son as an assistant for $175K so it's sort of family business.

 

[nwhoopfan]

BYU trying really hard to blow an 11 point lead in last 3 minutes. Refs doing their part too. UCF pressing and trapping aggressively, running over players w/ no foul calls. Other end UCF drives and throws up crazy shots, get rewarded with free throws. Refs are a weird breed of people.

And now a massive flop by UCF gets rewarded w/ another foul on BYU. These refs are AWFUL.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Another terrible call, BYU blocking out on D rebound, UCF player flops, foul on BYU. Tell me this game isn't fixed.

 

[packwrap]

I think I posted elsewhere he's making $850,000 a year but is not the highest paid coach in the Big 12. Financial discipline at Ames?

Perhaps he could benefit by switching agents?

Low cost of living in Ames. I think this is a throwback; humble guy happy where he is and more than comfortable, not pushing for every penny.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I think there have been about 20 reviews in the last 2 minutes.

BYU is (probably) going to hang on, but if I was their coach I would send a copy of the last 3 minutes of the game to the league office and ask them to explain to me any of those calls/no calls.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Colorado beat Arizona 56-47.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The question is will Frida Foreman play and if not do the Buffaloes have enough to take out the team from the dirty t.

No Formann no problem. Cats couldn't survive 3-14 shooting by Jada Williams.

 

[azfan]

No Formann no problem. Cats couldn't survive 3-14 shooting by Jada Williams.

Cunningham limited minutes... 2 fouls in 2 minutes to open the game sealed the deal.

Williams did hit three threes in the 4th quarter as the cats tried to scratch back into the game. Paris also was closed down as JR Payne had an outstanding game plan in limiting the cats guards.

Beh had a solid game but Payne just had her team prepared and they were able to overcome a short bench.

Coach Barnes was rocking an off the left shoulder black top and checked pants although her shoes seemed generic.

The announcers were quite complimentary of Coach Barnes which I think might have been reflective about the direction of the game.

A graphic at halftime showed the similarity in tenure at their respective institutions as Payne and Barnes have both been at their schools nine years with Payne with a 150 victories and Barnes 154.

Cost of living in the dirty t is certainly less than either Coast. With her husband on staff I guess she's forming a family business at McKale. Guessing Barnes earns the kittie alumni premium.

 

[catsfan11]

Really gritty win last night for K-State in a huge spot. The defense made everything difficult for TCU all night. Then Sundell completely took over that second half and TCU had no answer for her inside. She scored 23 of her 27 in the 2nd half!

Jaelyn Glenn was also big last night. She kept us in it when we struggled to score in the first half. Her defense is always great, but she has been incredibly efficient offensively as well.

Credit to Gisela Sanchez too! Not much in the box score for her, but she spent a ton of time at the 5 matched up on Prince defensively. She managed to hold her own and make things tough on her. But most importantly, Prince defending her opened up the lane and allowed Sundell room to work on the smaller TCU guards. The one time that I can remember late in the game where Prince crashed in to help, Sundell passed out and Sanchez hit an open 3. That was probably the biggest shot of the game.

I thought Mittie's game plan was excellent once again. This team has so many more ways to win a game without Lee than they did last year. It will be very interesting to see how it all meshes when she returns.

 

[jdote33]

Cunningham limited minutes... 2 fouls in 2 minutes to open the game sealed the deal.

Williams did hit three threes in the 4th quarter as the cats tried to scratch back into the game. Paris also was closed down as JR Payne had an outstanding game plan in limiting the cats guards.

Beh had a solid game but Payne just had her team prepared and they were able to overcome a short bench.

Coach Barnes was rocking an off the left shoulder black top and checked pants although her shoes seemed generic.

The announcers were quite complimentary of Coach Barnes which I think might have been reflective about the direction of the game.

A graphic at halftime showed the similarity in tenure at their respective institutions as Payne and Barnes have both been at their schools nine years with Payne with a 150 victories and Barnes 154.

Cost of living in the dirty t is certainly less than either Coast. With her husband on staff I guess she's forming a family business at McKale. Guessing Barnes earns the kittie alumni premium.

I know shooting percentages aren't everything especially on a team with limited offensive options. Deja Kelly was all conference despite shooting under 37 percent at UNC. But I always check on the Cats box scores and look to see Jada Williams numbers. She is very frequently having poor shooting nights. I've heard Barnes say she doesn't care about her shooting. As an AZ fan is it tough to watch or is there more that meets the eye.