The Big 12 men’s basketball teams finished the seventh round of league action on Wednesday, with three games played in the state of Texas.
Wednesday’s game results included:
No. 7 Houston 70, Utah 36
Five Biggest Takeaways from Wednesday’s Big 12 Basketball Action
Texas was the heart of Big 12 hoops Wednesday night, with three must-watch games that shook up the standings and set the tone for the second half of conference play.
Here’s your fast-break rundown of the five biggest storylines from an action-packed night:
- Best Game: Baylor vs. Kansas State Delivers Drama
The headline clash of the night came out of Waco, where Baylor rallied from a 12-point deficit to outlast Kansas State 70–62.
The spark? Freshman phenom VJ Edgecombe, who poured in 30 points in a career night, and Jalen Celestine, who added 18 off the bench.
Coach Scott Drew’s timely switch to a zone defense in the second half disrupted Kansas State’s rhythm completely—proof that no coach in the Big 12 deploys a zone quite like Drew.
Even though Kansas State shot better and kept turnovers to just nine, Baylor was even sharper, committing only four. It was a night of high-level adjustments—and Baylor made all the right ones.
- Best Performances: Big Names, Big Plays
- L.J. Cryer (Houston): Silky smooth—13 points in just 23 minutes, knocking down 3-of-4 from deep.
- Flory Bidunga (Kansas): Quiet but commanding—10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks in a win over TCU.
- Coleman Hawkins (Kansas State): Close to a triple-double, with 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. But K-State needed more from their star.
- Most-Needed Win: Baylor Stops the Bleeding
Baylor had dropped two straight and couldn’t afford another loss—especially not to a sliding Kansas State squad.
With trips to Utah and BYU on deck, this win was critical. And while Utah just got stomped by Houston, BYU’s home court—the Marriott Center—is a nightmare for visiting teams. The Bears still have work to do.
- Worst Loss: Utah Gets Crushed by Houston
We hate to pile on… but 26 turnovers in one game? That’s what Utah coughed up against a ruthless Houston defense.
The Cougars turned pressure into points, cruising to a 70–36 demolition. Houston only had 5 turnovers. That’s the kind of gap that defines a blowout.
For Utah, this was a serious step backward.
- The Key Coog: J’Wan Roberts, Houston’s Unsung Hero
Midway through the Houston-Utah game, J’Wan Roberts turned an ankle and left the court—but returned like a warrior.
His final stat line: 11 points, 4 boards, 3 steals, 2 blocks.
He may not grab headlines like Houston’s elite guards, but Roberts is the glue holding this team together. His presence in the paint and quiet leadership could be the X-factor in Houston’s Final Four dreams.
Final Buzzer
From Edgecombe’s explosion to Houston’s defensive masterclass, the Big 12 showed once again why it’s college basketball’s deepest conference.
Next round tips off Saturday—and the stakes keep climbing. Stay tuned with Big12sportz for more bold breakdowns and ball talk.
Baylor 70, Kansas State 62
The Big 12’s eighth round of league action begins on Saturday.
Here are five takeaways from the latest day of men’s basketball action.
Best Game
The nightcap between Baylor and Kansas State featured a career performance by freshman VJ Edgecombe, who dropped 30 points and came up big down the stretch as the Bears put that loss to TCU behind them.
At one point, the Bears were down 12 points. But coach Scott Drew changed things up his zone defense and it really seemed to discombobulate the Wildcats in the second half. No Big 12 coach uses a zone more strategically than Drew.
Related: Three Takeaways From Baylor’s 70-62 Win Over Kansas State
Baylor is still short-handed. Forward Norchad Omier only had three points but grabbed 13 rebounds. Guard Jalen Celestine came off the bench for 18 points. But Edgecombe carried them.
Kansas State shot better than Baylor. The Wildcats only committed nine turnovers. Most nights, that’s a great number. But the Bears only had four. K-State’s defense didn’t create enough havoc. David N’Guessan had 13 points and 11 rebounds. And the Wildcats slip further and further behind in this Big 12 race.
Best Performances
Kansas State’s Coleman Hawkins had a balanced game — eight points, nine rebounds and seven assists. But the Wildcats need him to be more dominant.
Houston’s L.J. Cryer was efficient — 13 points in 23 minutes on 4-of-7 shooting with a trio of 3-pointers.
Kansas’ Flory Bidunga had an intriguing game — 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. The Jayhawks could use more of that.
Most-Needed Win
Baylor needed that win over Kansas State. The Bears had lost two straight and falling to Kansas State was not something they could afford. Baylor isn’t a bubble team, but it feels like one because the Bears are just middle-of-the-pack right now.
Baylor’s next two games are against Utah and BYU, but up in the Beehive State. Utah is wounded after getting drubbed by Houston. The Marriott Center is a crazy place to play, and Cougars freshman Egor Demin is a matchup problem. Baylor needs both of those games.
Worst Loss
One hates to pick on Utah. But 26 turnovers at Houston? No, that won’t do. Houston is one of the best defensive teams in the country and it’s not easy to simulate what the Cougars do. But 26 turnovers won’t cut it — especially when Houston only committed five.
This is how bad it was:
The Key Coog
In the second half of the Houston-Utah game I saw something you don’t want to see — J’Wan Roberts turning an ankle. He did it while running downcourt and went straight to the ground.
He left the floor but returned later. He finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Houston is seen by outsiders as a guard-driven team. And the Cougars have some of the best in the country. But Roberts is the glue. Last year he was somewhat of a blunt instrument in Houston’s offense. Now he’s been sharpened by offseason surgery and talent progression.
His 10.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game belie how important he is to Houston’s potential Final Four hopes. And this IS a Final Four team. But not without a healthy Roberts.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.