After Kansas State and Iowa State played on Thursday, every Big 12 women’s basketball team has played at least nine league games, which means we’re at the midway point of the season.
Entering the weekend the conference boasts four ranked teams, seven projected NCAA Tournament teams and at least two or three other teams that are trying to make a case for March Madness.
So, as the page is turned to the second half of the Big 12 season, here are five questions about Big 12 women’s basketball at the midway point and some answers.
Which Team is the Big 12’s Best?
I’d have to say TCU. It isn’t a chasm between the Horned Frogs and the rest of the league, but they’re playing the best basketball at the moment. Only the Oklahoma State loss in Stillwater stands between them and being undefeated.
If you can’t slow down the big three — guards Hailey Van Lith and Madison Conner, along with center Sedona Prince — you don’t have much chance. TCU doesn’t have ridiculous depth, but it has enough solid play around the trio to keep defenses honest. I also think their overall team defense is better than it’s given credit for.
The key part, of course, is injuries. That’s what derailed TCU a season ago. If the big three are healthy going into March Madness, not only will the Horned Frogs be hosting an NCAA Tournament sub-regional but they’ll have a strong chance of reaching the Sweet 16 since … check notes … never.
TCU doesn’t need to win the Big 12 to do that. But doing something the Horned Frogs have never done would be icing on the cake.
How Many Big 12 NCAA Tournament Teams?
Realistically, seven. I think Charlie Crème’s Bracketology at ESPN is spot-on there. Now, Iowa State is right there on the bubble. But I think the Cyclones are strong enough to get the wins they need to slide into the tournament. But, right now, it looks a little too close than Cyclones fans would like.
The others, at the moment, are Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, West Virginia and Utah. I don’t see the six of them budging.
Who Can Burst Someone’s Bubble?
Arizona and Colorado are among the first eight teams out of the tournament, per ESPN. Arizona is No. 58 in NET with one Quad 1 win. Colorado is right behind them at No. 61 with two Quad 1 wins.
The Buffs’ credentials might be a shade better right now. But both teams are on a bit of a heater. Arizona has won three straight and Colorado just beat Kansas State.
The pair play each other next weekend and that could be pivotal to their chances. Barring a meeting in Kansas City, it will be their only head-to-head matchup.
Who Gets The Byes in Kansas City?
Remember that the top four teams get double byes to the quarterfinals and the next four teams get single byes to the second round.
No one is a lead-pipe lock for seeding yet. But here’s how I THINK the Top 8 seeds will end up:
No. 1 TCU
No. 2 Oklahoma State
No. 3 Kansas State
No. 4 Baylor
No. 5 Utah
No. 6 West Virginia
No. 7 Iowa State
No. 8 Colorado
Hit me with your best shot. Fire away.
Any Hot Seat Coaches?
Houston’s Ronald Hughey is worth keeping tabs on, and I noted this a couple of months ago. He’s never taken the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament in his first 10 seasons and it’s going to be hard to scratch out 10 wins. Houston hired a new athletic director, Eddie Nunez, in August. It’s never a good time to have this kind of season under a first-year AD. Injuries have been a big part of the problem in Houston.
But at least this Cougars have won a game, and a big one at that in upsetting Oklahoma State at home. UCF still hasn’t won a league game, so it’s worth watching Sytia Messer. The Knights have lost 10 straight. But, Messer is only in her third year in Orlando and that may be pulling the trigger too soon for the former Gary Blair and Kim Mulkey assistant.
I think if any change is made it’s far more likely to be in Houston.
Everywhere else, I see coaches on relatively safe ground.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
