- Maybe Kansas State and Colorado were simply being nostalgic for their former conference--the 58-56 Colorado victory was reminiscent of a score from the old Big Eight. Yesterday was the last time that the two former Big Eight foes will face each other in the regular season, at least as conference opponents.
- Speaking of KSU-CU, the ending of last night's game meant far more than just a win for Colorado. The long three-point shot by Rodney McGruder, with 1.1 second remaining, seemingly lifted the Wildcats to another late win, and Colorado to another late, three-point shot loss. The overturned on-court decision (the ball clearly was still in McGruder's hands as time expired) meant that Colorado improved to 16-10 and 5-6 in the league, thus staying in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth. It also meant that Kansas State is now seated very firmly on the tournament bubble with 16-9 and 4-6 records. The remaining schedule isn't easy for KSU--Monday against Kansas at home, followed by Oklahoma, at Nebraska, Missouri, at Texas, and Iowa State. If the Cats go 3-3 during that stretch, then win a game in the Big 12 tournament, they should eke into the tourney. Colorado goes to Kansas on Saturday, followed by games at Texas Tech, Texas at home, at Iowa State, and then Nebraska in the final home game. The key games for the Buffs are the two road games, then holding serve against NU at home.
- Injuries are plaguing the Kansas Jayhawks but in the past two games various members of the bench have stepped up and provided quality minutes. Against Missouri, Travis Releford and Mario Little played key roles. Against Iowa State, little-used Jeff Withey played nine minutes and went 3-3 from the field, 2-2 from the free throw line, grabbed two rebounds and had two blocked shots.
- Baylor plays an odd non-conference game on Tuesday night--Wayland Baptist travels to Waco for the unusually scheduled non-league contest.
- Four teams are fighting it out for the final two spots in the conference's top four which ensures a first round bye in the Big 12 postseason tournament. After Texas and Kansas, Texas A&m sits with a 6-4 record followed by Baylor, 6-5; Missouri, 5-5; and Colorado, 5-6.
- Who, if anyone, will beat Texas? The best remaining options, if you are a Kansas fan, are on Saturday when the Longhorns travel to Nebraska, or the final game of the season, on March 5, when Texas travels to Baylor.
- Tad Boyle deserves conference coach-of-the-year recognition at Colorado. The Buffs figured to be better, what with the return of Alec Burks and Cory Higgins, but few thought they'd be contending for a Big 12 postseason tourney bye, much less the NCAA Tournament.
- The latest RPI update for conference contenders: Kansas, #1; Texas, #8; Missouri, #29; Texas A&M, #30; Kansas State, #34; Oklahoma State, #44; Baylor, #68; Nebraska, #93; and Colorado, #97. What's hurting the Buffs are two non-conference games which aren't counting, given the lower division foes, and a strength-of-schedule which is ranked 83rd. Kansas State, on the other hand, has a S-O-S ranked 16th. Baylor's S-O-S is 77th.
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