The Big 12 men’s basketball teams continued the 11th round of league action on Tuesday, with four games played across the country.
Tuesday’s game results included:
No. 5 Houston 72, Oklahoma State 63
No. 13 Texas Tech 73, Baylor 59
Kansas State 71, Arizona State 70
No. 20 Arizona 85, BYU 74
The Big 12’s 11th round of league action concludes on Wednesday with three more games.
Here are five takeaways from the latest day of men’s basketball action.
Best Game
Arizona was (finally) ranked as it went into Provo to face BYU. The Cougars entered the game coming off a significant win over UCF, one that got them into the NCAA Tournament field in Bracketology.
Inside the sold-out Marriott Center — and that place is loud — this game was tight for the first 20 minutes, tied 41-41 at the break. It had all the making of a late-night shooting.
It was … to a point. But then Arizona went on a 13-2 run in a 3:12 span to take an 80-68 lead with 3:59 left in the game.
While BYU is one of the better 3-point shooting teams in the conference, that ability does, at times, betray them. The well went dry. In fact, the Cougars went almost seven minutes late in the game without a field goal and didn’t hit a second-half 3-pointer until Egor Demin’s trey at the buzzer.
When that happens, the Cougars aren’t beating anyone. Arizona pulled away and retained its share of the Big 12 lead with Houston.
Best Performances
So, Houston forward J’Wan Roberts is ok. He finished with a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) after turning his ankle on Saturday against Texas Tech.
Speaking of Texas Tech, Chance McMillan hit five 3-pointers to finish with 19 points and help the Red Raiders beat Baylor.
Kansas State’s David N’Guessan finished with 22 points and eight rebounds in the victory over Arizona State. Strangely, his foul late in the contest ended up saving a much-needed victory (see below).
Arizona big man Henri Veesaar came off the bench to score 17 points and grab six rebounds as a key part of the Wildcats’ win over BYU.
Most-Needed Win
Strangely, it was Texas Tech. The Red Raiders were coming off an enormous high after beating Houston. It wasn’t just the win, but it was all the drama that happened during the win with the ejections of JT Toppin and coach Grant McCasland.
Tech moved up nine spots in the AP Top 25 and was hosting an undermanned Baylor, coming off an emotional win against Kansas. It was the classic let-down game scenario.
Tech handled it with aplomb, controlling the game, building a 10-point halftime lead, and maintaining it – even as Baylor tried to storm back.
The key? Just eight Red Raider turnovers and holding Baylor to 34% shooting.
Baylor coach Scott Drew walked away thoroughly impressed.
Worst Loss
My goodness the final sequence in Tempe. Kansas State’s Dug McDaniel missed a 3-pointer with a one-point lead and Arizona State rebounded. B.J. Freeman got the ball out and ASU headed the other way, but no one for Kansas State gave up on the play. Coleman Hawkins stole the ball from behind the dribbler and everyone sold out for it on the floor.
The ball squeezed out to Sun Devils freshman Jayden Quaintance, who went in for a dunk and was fouled by K-State’s David N’Guessan with three seconds left.
Quaintance shot two free throws with the Sun Devils down only one. He missed both and Kansas State ran out the clock.
Heartbreaking. Quaintance was 1-for-6 from the line and is 51% for the season. ASU just needed one to probably force overtime.
The Sun Devils keep hanging around the bubble in the NCAA Tournament, but at some point they have to slide off. That loss might have done it.
Updated Bracketology
We’re starting to get down to teams running out of runway to prove their credentials are worth an invitation to March Madness. Here is ESPN’s latest Bracketology:
No. 2 Iowa State (dropped a seed line)
No. 2 Houston
No. 3 Kansas
No. 4 Texas Tech (moved up a seed line)
No. 5 Arizona
No. 8 Baylor (moved up a seed line)
No. 9 West Virginia
No. 11 BYU (First Four game)
This is how big the BYU win over UCF turned out to be. The Cougars are in the field now and one of the last four in. UCF is the first team out of the field. Arizona State was the third team out.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
