Welcome to Tuesday Takes, where we dive into the latest buzz from the Big 12. This week was nothing short of thrilling, with several standout moments that caught our attention.
Arizona's Path to Big 12 Glory
The Arizona Wildcats are back in the driver's seat of the Big 12 standings. After stumbling with losses to Kansas and Texas Tech, they rebounded impressively with victories over BYU and Houston.
The win against the Cougars on the road was a statement, as it's one of the toughest venues in the conference. Now, Arizona controls its destiny, holding a crucial game advantage over Houston thanks to their head-to-head victory.
While challenges remain with upcoming games against Kansas and Iowa State, it's hard not to envision Arizona clinching the Big 12 regular season title and securing a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
West Virginia's Fading Hopes
The Mountaineers were on a high after a solid road win against UCF, sitting at 7-5 in conference play with a promising NET ranking. But the landscape changed quickly with a tough loss to Utah followed by a setback against TCU. Now, sitting at .500 in the Big 12 and with their NET ranking slipping, West Virginia's tournament hopes are dwindling.
With games left against Oklahoma State, BYU, Kansas State, and UCF, the Mountaineers face an uphill battle. Winning out is likely their only shot, but confidence in their ability to do so is shaky at best.
BYU's Resilience
The news of Richie Saunders' absence had many doubting BYU's prospects, especially after a four-game losing streak. However, the Cougars have bounced back, going 3-1 in their last four outings, with the only loss coming against a strong Arizona team.
AJ Dybansta remains the heartbeat of the team, and his leadership is crucial. It was encouraging to see others like Kennard Davis and Mihailo Boskovic step up, especially when Robert Wright had an off game against Iowa State. Despite the challenges without Saunders, BYU is proving they're still a formidable force capable of competing with top teams.
Houston's Unexpected Struggles
It's surprising to see the Houston Cougars in a slump, having lost three consecutive games for the first time in nearly a decade. Their offensive woes are glaring, with the team failing to score more than 67 points in recent games. Outside of standout freshman Kingston Flemings, the Cougars are struggling to find consistent scoring options.
Reliance on jump shots hasn't paid off, as they've shot under 36% in their last two losses. This isn't a recipe for success unless their defense can compensate, which hasn't been the case.
With a current 11-4 record in Big 12 play, Houston's title hopes are dimming. However, there's still an opportunity to rebound with upcoming games against Colorado, Baylor, and Oklahoma State.
Stay tuned as the Big 12 continues to deliver electrifying basketball action.