Texas Tech-Kansas highlights Big 12 weekend slate

By AP
Published

A look at things to watch this week in the Big 12:

GAME OF THE WEEKEND: Texas Tech plays at No. 3 Kansas Saturday in the Big 12's marquee matchup. The Red Raiders, who dominated Iowa State on the road for 30 minutes before collapsing last weekend, showed the league they just might be for real in upsetting seventh-ranked West Virginia 77-76 in OT on Tuesday. The Jayhawks got lucky when Svi Mykhailiuk knocked down the game-winning layup to beat Kansas State on Tuesday despite not dribbling within the 3-point line. Expect Kansas to be raring to go Saturday - though Tech is an experienced group that might not be intimidated by Phog Allen Fieldhouse.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Mountaineers will look to bounce back against TCU at home on Saturday. The Horned Frogs rallied to beat Oklahoma at home 60-57 on Tuesday. The Sooners are 6-7 heading into the weekend, just nine months after making the Final Four. They'll play at K-State. Texas, which has struggled as much as Oklahoma, will play at Iowa State on Saturday. Baylor, ranked second in the country, will host Oklahoma State.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Oklahoma State's Juwan Evans leads the league with 19.8 points per game, followed by Kansas's Frank Mason III (19.5) and Oklahoma's Jordan Woodward. But Baylor's Johnathan Motley (16.3 points, 9.1 rebounds per game) has been the best overall threat so far. Mason is shooting 51 percent on 3s, while Iowa State point guard Monte Morris has a league-best assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.6-to-1. Mason and Morris are tied for the league lead with 5.8 assists per game.

PLAYER TO WATCH: K-State senior Wesley Iwundu had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals against Kansas. Iwundu has already attempted a career-high 36 3s and has hit 36 percent of them while cutting down on turnovers and increasing his free throws to 78 percent.

ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE: Baylor (13-1, 2-0 Big 12) is ranked second in the country behind unbeaten Connecticut, which beat the Bears 72-61 in November. Oklahoma and Texas also started 2-0 in league play. The Sooners might even push Baylor for the league crown if 6-foot-9 freshman center Nancy Mulkey keeps improving. She blocked 13 shots in her first two Big 12 games while shooting 71.4 percent from the field.

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Complied by AP Sports Writer Luke Meredith.