Two Conference Races Can End For Kansas In Waco This Weekend

Both Kansas Jayhawk basketball teams are playing in Waco, one trying to end the conference race and the other trying to keep their hopes alive.

No, that is not a typo on the schedule. Both Kansas Jayhawk basketball teams are in action on Saturday down in Waco, TX taking on the Baylor Bears. In another unexpected twist, both games are extremely consequential in the Big 12 regular season conference race.

Starting with the women, a loss to the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday dropped them into a tie for 3rd place with both the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns. Kansas plays both teams next week to end the season. Sitting 2 games behind conference leading Baylor and Iowa State in the standings, it is highly unlikely that the Jayhawks will be able to make up enough ground in three games to claim a share of the the conference title. However, they will be mathematically eliminated with a loss in this game. As I discussed with Matt Wilson of Our Daily Bears and the Between Two Bear Podcast on our preview episode today, this Baylor team has rounded into form and it will be difficult for Kansas to get the victory.

On the men's side, the Jayhawks currently have a two-game lead in the loss column on both the Baylor Bears and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. A win in this game will not guarantee that Kansas wins at least a share of the title. However, Kansas only needs two more wins, and they have two games against the TCU Horned Frogs next week in which they will be heavily favored. A win in Waco on Saturday would go a long way toward securing an outright title. 

Regardless of the results, this will be a consequential weekend for both Kansas teams. Make sure not to miss it.