Oread Observations: The Big 12 title is within reach
At one point or another this season, it felt like many, if not most, teams in the Big 12 had a shot at winning a share of the conference title. The Texas Longhorns have been regarded highly all year, the Baylor Bears have looked as good as anybody when at their best, then programs including the Kansas State Wildcats, TCU Horned Frogs and Iowa State Cyclones have all been in the mix at one point or another.
But with just three games left in the Big 12 schedule, look who once again has the best chance to take home the conference championship.
The Kansas Jayhawks have reclaimed their common home atop the table, and with a relatively favorable remaining schedule they will likely bring another trophy home to Lawrence once Big 12 play wraps up, whether they claim the championship outright or share the honor.
Sure, there’s still a daunting road trip to Austin to face Texas in the regular-season finale, the team currently tied with Kansas in the Big 12 standings, but take a look at who the Jayhawks and Longhorns have to play prior to that meeting.
KU will host a West Virginia Mountaineers squad that has lost three of its last four games on Saturday, then it will finish the home slate with the Texas Tech Red Raiders Tuesday next week. Tech’s been red-hot lately, but has been in the basement of the Big 12 all year. Plus, Senior Night history tells us Kansas is in a great spot for that game.
Texas, meanwhile, gets a pair of challenging road games in the next few days. The Longhorns will visit Baylor this weekend, which is undeniable talented although potentially sliding, then they'll play the always-dangerous Horned Frogs in Fort Worth next Wednesday.
Nothing is given in the Big 12, but if you allowed anyone to pick their ideal schedule for the final stretch of the season, you’d have far more votes for KU’s games than those for Texas.
It’s probably a stretch to draw too many comparisons between this year’s Jayhawks and last year’s. That team won a national championship, in case you forgot, accomplishing one of the most difficult team feats in all of sports. But this year’s group is showing a toughness, grit and competitiveness that matches the championship roster. Bill Self has said as much.
It doesn’t feel like that long ago that Kansas was essentially Jalen Wilson and the Pips, needing the soon-to-be All-American to go ballistic constantly just to stay afloat offensively. There weren’t enough other starters making plays. Dajuan Harris was struggling and it slowed things down for the whole team. The bench was a complete non-factor.
And yet, here we are. Wilson is still playing well, but doesn’t have to do everything. Harris and Kevin McCullar have been sensational in recent games, with Gradey Dick’s scoring and K.J. Adams’ steady arsenal in the post showing up as consistent weapons. The bench unit might not be great, but it’s serviceable and that’s enough for now.
This is what Kansas is. A modern factory of superstars with a Hall of Fame coach that eventually just figures it out. That’s not supposed to be an over-the-top embellishment and fervent homer take. It’s just the truth. What part of that can be argued right now?
Obviously, the season is nowhere close to done and we all know, especially when it comes to a blue blood program, all that matters is postseason success. That’s what the team cares about, that’s what stakeholders in the program care about.
But as the end of Big 12 play nears and the NCAA tournament begins shortly, this Jayhawks team is in as good of a position as ever to make yet another run at a championship.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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