It goes without saying that the biggest game of the year took place Monday Night. No, not because it matched two of the three Tier One teams. Nor because KU came away the victor. But because it was the first time one of the three REAL contenders lost at Home. AND because it was to another contender—meaning KU picked up a full game in the REAL Standings at the same time that the Sooners dropped a full game, Because 1+1 equals 2, the Hawks now lead OU by two full RS games.

Provided REAL Standings form holds in all other respects, the Sooners’ only chance of grabbing a share of the conference title is to beat Mizzou on the Road (thus picking up a full RS game) and hope that Mizzou beats the KU on the Road (dropping the Hawks a full RS game).

In other words, Oklahoma is NOT OK, whereas everything is up to date in the Kansas city of Lawrence.

Mizzou, although trailing OU by a half game in the REAL Standings, actually has a more likely path to a share of the conference championship, as well as the top seed in the Post-Season tournament. The Tigers can make up its two game deficit to KU in 40 minutes on Sunday, without having to hope for any help from anyone. Of course, Mizzou, even in that unlikely event, still have to take out OU at Home (not a sure thing despite being a Projected W) and A&M on the Road (an at-risk game against a team that appears to be on the upswing).

In fact, the other big news of the Mid-week schedule was A&M’s last second victory at Nebraska, giving A&M a full game boost in the REAL Standings.

Projected Winners, thus, had a dismal 2-2 record in the M-W games. Mizzou and UT held up their end of the bargain with the W’s they had been Projected to claim vs. k-state and Texas Tech respectively. No REAL change, then for MU and UT.

For the season, the record of Projected Winners dropped to 48-9. Again, though, the big story being that a REAL contender dropped a Home game..

.

In the two at-risk games on the schedule, the Home teams went 1-1: Okie St won at Colorado, while Iowa St held a revival of that old time Hilton religion and picked up its first extra-tierestial victory of the season (over Baylor).

Home teams are now 5-14 for the season in at-risk games.

REAL STANDINGS: 2/26/09

The Big 12 hierarchy remains unchanged:

Contenders (Tier 1): KU, MU, OU.

Competitors (Tier 2): A&M, Baylor, k-state, Nebraska, Okie St, UT

Bottom-feeders (Tier 3): Colorado, Iowa St, Tech.

1. 15-1

KU (12-1) Projected L’s: None

Losable games: None

2. 13-3

OU (11-2) Projected L’s: at Mizzou

Losable games: None

3. 12.5-3.5

MU (11-2) Projected L’s: at KU

Losable games: at A&M

4. 9-7

k-state (7-6) Projected L’s: at Okie St

Losable games: none

OSU (7-6) Projected L’s: at OU

Losable games: None

UT (8-5) Projected L’s: at Okie St, at KU

Losable games: None

7. 8-8

A&M (6-7) Projected L’s: None

Losable games: at CU, vs. Mizzou

8. 7-9

NU (6-7) Projected L’s: at k-state, at Baylor

Losable games: None

9. 6-10

Baylor (4-9) Projected L’s: at UT

Losable games: None

10. 4-12

ISU (3-10) Projected L’s: at A&M, at NU

Losable games: None

11. 2-14

Tech (2-11) Projected L’s: vs. OU, vs. KU, at Iowa St

Losable games: None

12. 1.5-14.5

CU (1-12) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at k-state

Losable games: vs. A&M

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

Weekend Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient):

SATURDAY

1. Iowa St at A&M (12:30p.m.)** (Projected W: A&M)

Iowa St is looking a little feisty. Wouldn’t pass up that hot bowling date for this one, though.

2. Oklahoma at Tech (2:30p.m.)* (Projected W: OU)

Who says the United States does not torture? I would confess to anything to get out of watching this game.

3. Colorado at Baylor (3:00p.m.)* (Projected W: Baylor)

Come to think of it, this one could be even more painful.

4. UT at Okie St (5:00p.m.)*** (Projected W: Okie St)

A must game for Okie St’s March hopes. And UT is not home free yet.

5. Nebraska at k-state (7:00 p.m.)*** (Projected W: k-state)

N-I-T.N-I-T. N-I-T.

SUNDAY

6. Mizzou at KU (1:00p.m.)********************* (Projected W: KU)

Mizzou tries to take the inside track to its first Big 12 Championship in any men’s sport—or put another way, in any sport that matters. Your job, Mr. Jayhawk, if you choose to accept it (and I know you will), is to prevent the premature arrival of the End of Days as prophesied in the Book of Revelation.

–Mark

——————————————————————————–
A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!

Those who were afraid of playing Oklahoma straight up for the inside track in the conference race without a safety net got their wish. With an assist from UT and a well-timed concussion meted out by Dexter Pittman that did not even result in a foul, the Jayhawks grabbed a share of the conference lead in the newspaper—and, more importantly, in the REAL–Standings.

If the three remaining meaningful games go as projected (i.e., OU over KU in Norman, Mizzou over OU in Columbia, and KU over Mizzou in Lawrence) the Hawks will claim a share of their fifth consecutive Big 12 title, as well as their umpteenth ANY conference championship.

And why shouldn’t those three games go as Projected? This Saturday, Projected Winners (KU, Mizzou and Okie St) were 3-0. Their record for the season improved to 46-7.

Might as well not even play the games. Right?

Well, maybe play it out for the entertainment value. Plus, who knows: Who is to say KU can’t hand OU to its second straight setback Monday night. And with Blake Griffin back in the lineup, I would give the Sooners a fighting chance in Columbia, projection or no.

In the weekend’s three at-risk games, the Home teams were 1-2 (the 1 courtesy of the aforementioned concussion) and are now 5-14 for the season.

Although I have long contended that the REAL Standings are not predictions, taking the money line all season on Projected Winners and visiting teams in at-risk games would have resulted in a 60-12 record.

REAL STANDINGS: 2/22/09

The Big 12 hierarchy again remains unchanged. Three teams have separated themselves from the six-pack in the middle at each end:

Contenders (Tier 1): KU, MU, OU.

Competitors (Tier 2): A&M, Baylor, k-state, Nebraska, Okie St, UT

Bottom-feeders (Tier 3): Colorado, Iowa St, Tech.

1. 14-2

KU (11-1) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: None

OU (11-1) Projected L’s: at Mizzou
Losable games: None

3. 12.5-3.5

MU (10-2) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: at A&M

4. 9-7

k-state (7-5) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at Okie St
Losable games: none

UT (7-5) Projected L’s: at Okie St, at KU
Losable games: None

6. 8.5-7.5

OSU (6-6) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: at CU

7. 8-8

NU (6-6) Projected L’s: at k-state, at Baylor
Losable games: None

8. 7-9

A&M (5-7) Projected L: at NU
Losable games: at CU, vs. Mizzou

9. 6.5-9.5

Baylor (4-8) Projected L’s: at UT
Losable games: at Iowa St

10. 3.5-12.5

ISU (2-10) Projected L’s: at A&M, at NU
Losable games: vs. Baylor

11. 2-14

Tech (2-10) Projected L’s: at UT, vs. OU, vs. KU, at Iowa St
Losable games: None

CU (1-11) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at k-state
Losable games: vs. Okie St, vs. A&M

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

Midweek Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient):

MONDAY

1. KU at OU (8:30p.m.)****************************** (Projected W: OU)

Biggest game played by a Big 12 team since April 7, 2008. Brings back memories of ’88. Let’s hope these memories are as pleasant.

TUESDAY

2. Baylor at Iowa St (8:00p.m.)** (Toss-up)

Iowa St’s chance to separate itself from Colorado and Tech. They won’t get a better chance, what with Baylor playing like the least of the mid-level teams.

3. A&M at Nebraska (8:30p.m.)*** (Projected W: NU)

Could actually be an entertaining game between two teams trying to impress the NIT.

WEDNESDAY
4. k-state at Mizzou (8:00p.m.)**** (Projected W: Mizzou)

K-state won by 16 in Manhattan. How many points is Paige Arena worth?

5. Okie St at Colorado (8:30 p.m.)** (Toss-up)

A Must-Win game for the Cowboys if they want to remain on the bubble.

Of course, it’s a must win for Colorado, if they want to ensure winning two conference games.

6. Tech at Texas (8:30p.m.)* (Projected W: UT)

A REAL Stat-Padder for UT.

–Mark

A REAL Snoozer.

Or, should I say, the calm before the storm.

A&M at Home over UT as projected. KU at Home over Iowa St as projected. Nebraska at Home over Colorado as projected. No excitement there. No gain, no pain, for the winners.

In the only mid-week at-risk game, Okie St took out Tech. Who didn’t see that coming, even in Lubbock? A half game pickup in the RS for the Cowboys, for what that’s worth.

For the season, Projected Winners are now 43-7: that’s 86% for k-state fans.

Home at-risk teams are now 4-12.

REAL STANDINGS: 2/19/09

The Big 12 hierarchy remains unchanged:

Contenders (Tier 1): KU, MU, OU.

Competitors (Tier 2): A&M, Baylor, k-state, Nebraska, Okie St, UT

Bottom-feeders (Tier 3): Colorado, Iowa St, Tech.

1. 14.5-1.5

OU (11-0) Projected L’s: at Mizzou
Losable games: at UT

2. 14-2

KU (10-1) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: None

3. 12.5-3.5

Mizzou (9-2) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: at A&M

4. 8.5-7.5

k-state (6-5) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at Okie St
Losable games: at ISU

OSU (5-6) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: at CU

UT (6-5) Projected L’s: at Okie St, at KU
Losable games: vs. OU

7. 8-8

NU (5-6) Projected L’s: at k-state, at Baylor
Losable games: None

8. 6.5-9.5

A&M (4-7) Projected L: at NU
Losable games: at Tech, at CU, vs. Mizzou

Baylor (4-7) Projected L’s: at Okie St, at UT
Losable games: at Iowa St

10. 4-12

ISU (2-9) Projected L’s: at A&M, at NU
Losable games: vs. k-state, vs. Baylor

11. 2.5-13.5

Tech (2-9) Projected L’s: at UT, vs. OU, vs. KU, at Iowa St
Losable games: vs. A&M

12. 2-14

CU (1-10) Projected L’s: vs. Mizzou, at Baylor, at k-state
Losable games: vs. Okie St, vs. A&M

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

Saturday Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient):

1. Mizzou at Colorado (11:30a.m.)**1/2 (Projected W: Mizzou)

CU will come closer than the 700 points they lost by in Columbia. Will it be by 680 or 690?

2. Baylor at Okie St (12:30p.m.)**1/2 (Projected W: Okie St)

There is no “D” in “Team”: Not if the team is “Oklahoma State.” Or “Baylor.”

3. Nebraska at KU (3:00p.m.)*1/2 (Projected W: KU)

The Jayhawks have nothing to fear but looking ahead itself. . .
4. k-state at Iowa St (5:00p.m.)**1/2 (Toss-up)

With a player like Brackins and a nice three point attack, the Cyclones have to beat somebody not named Colorado some time. Don’t they?

5. A&M at Tech (5:00 p.m.)*1/2 (Toss-up)

A toss-up per the REAL Standings formula. By no other measure, however.

6. OU at Texas (8:00p.m.)****(Toss-up)

Doesn’t happen often. But when the Erwin Center is rockin’, it can get as loud as any arena anywhere. It will be rockin’ Saturday night against the presumptive heir to the No. 1 ranking in all the land. And believe it or not, UT’s front line can hold its own against the firm of Griffin and Griffin. The question will be guard play. Some hot shooting and cool ball handling in this frenzied environment, and OU’s No. 1 dreams will truly be at-risk. Both nationally and in the Big 12.

–Mark

With their backs up against the REAL Standings Wall, the Jayhawks pulled a half game closer to Oklahoma with their victory in an at-risk game in the Little Potato. Returned the REAL Standings to where they were one week ago, before OU picked up a half game with its at-risk victory in Waco.

The only other noteworthy game Saturday was UT’s half game pickup in its at-risk win at Colorado.

The other four games had zero effect on the REAL Standings, as Projected Winners Mizzou, OU, Okie St, and Baylor all won at Home over Nebraska, Tech, Iowa St, and A&M respectively.

For the season, Projected Winners are now 40-7.

With KU’s victory in Manhattan and UT’s in Boulder, Home at-risk teams are now 4-11. Or, should I say, Road teams one level higher than their hosts, are 11-4.

REAL STANDINGS: 2/15/09

The Big 12 hierarchy:

Contenders (Tier 1): KU, MU, OU.

Competitors (Tier 2): A&M, Baylor, k-state, Nebraska, Okie St, UT

Bottom-feeders (Tier 3): Colorado, Iowa St, Tech.

1. 14.5-1.5

OU (11-0) Projected L’s: at Mizzou
Losable games: at UT

2. 14-2

KU (9-1) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: None

3. 12.5-3.5

Mizzou (9-2) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: at A&M

4. 8.5-7.5

k-state (6-5) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at Okie St
Losable games: at ISU

UT (6-4) Projected L’s: at A&M, at Okie St, at KU
Losable games: vs. OU

6. 8-8

NU (5-5) Projected L’s: at KU, at k-state, at Baylor
Losable games: None

OSU (4-6) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: at Tech, at CU

8. 6.5-9.5

A&M (3-7) Projected L: at NU
Losable games: at Tech, at CU, vs. Mizzou

Baylor (4-7) Projected L’s: at Okie St, at UT
Losable games: at Iowa St

10. 4-12

ISU (2-8) Projected L’s: at KU, at A&M, at NU
Losable games: vs. k-state, vs. Baylor

11. 3-13

Tech (2-8) Projected L’s: at UT, vs. OU, vs. KU, at Iowa St
Losable games: vs. Okie St, vs. A&M

12. 2-14

CU (1-9) Projected L’s: vs. Mizzou, at NU, at Baylor, at k-state
Losable games: vs. Okie St, vs. A&M

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

Midweek Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient):

MONDAY

1. UT at A&M (8:00p.m.)***1/2 (Projected W: A&M)

One day a year, A&M and UT fans care about basketball. No. not when the two play in Austin, where they only care when KU comes to town.

At stake? UT’s day off in OKC.

TUESDAY

2. North Carolina Central at k-state (7:00p.m.)* (Projected W: Duh. . .)

What the hell is this? Earth to k-state: It’s February!

WEDNESDAY

3. Iowa St at KU (7:00p.m.)*1/2 (Projected W: KU)

Ho-freakin’-hum.
4. Colorado at Nebraska (8:00p.m.)*1/2 (Projected W: NU)

First inclination is to say, “Ho-freakin’-hum.” But maybe not: Could be the Buffs’ last and best chance to win one outside Boulder’s City Limits.

5. Okie St at Tech (8:30p.m.)*1/2 (Toss-up)

Who wants to watch defense anyway?

–Mark

Only one midweek game of note: OU picked up a game on the rest of the field with its W over Baylor in a toss-up game at Baylor.

Absolutely no change in the REAL Standings in the other four games, as Mizzou, UT, Iowa St, and k-state all won at Home, as projected.

For the season, Projected Winners are now 36-7.

With OU’s victory in Waco, Home at-risk teams are now 4-9.

REAL STANDINGS: 2/12/09

The Big 12 hierarchy:

Contenders (Tier 1): KU, MU, OU.

Competitors (Tier 2): A&M, Baylor, k-state, Nebraska, Okie St, UT

Bottom-feeders (Tier 3): Colorado, Iowa St, Tech.

1. 14.5-1.5

OU (10-0) Projected L’s: at Mizzou
Losable games: at UT

2. 13.5-2.5

KU (8-1) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: at k-state

3. 12.5-3.5

Mizzou (8-2) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: at A&M

4. 9-7

k-state (6-4) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at Okie St
Losable games: vs. KU, at ISU

5. 8-8

NU (5-4) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at KU, at k-state, at Baylor
Losable games: None

OSU (3-6) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: at Tech, at CU

UT (5-4) Projected L’s: at A&M, at Okie St, at KU
Losable games: at CU, vs. OU

8. 6.5-9.5

A&M (3-6) Projected L: at Baylor, at NU
Losable games: at Tech, at CU, vs. Mizzou

Baylor (3-7) Projected L’s: at Okie St, at UT
Losable games: at Iowa St

10. 4-12

ISU (2-7) Projected L’s: at Okie St, at KU, at A&M, at NU
Losable games: vs. k-state, vs. Baylor

11. 3-13

Tech (2-7) Projected L’s: at OU, at UT, vs. OU, vs. KU, at Iowa St
Losable games: vs. Okie St, vs. A&M

12. 2.5-13.5

CU (1-8) Projected L’s: vs. Mizzou, at NU, at Baylor, at k-state
Losable games: vs. UT, vs. Okie St, vs. A&M

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

Saturday’s Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient):

1. UT at Colorado (Noon)** (Toss-up)

As long as Barnes continues to take my advice and start Dogus Balbay, this game, at least, should be a fairly easy W as Road games go.

2. Nebraska at Mizzou (12:30p.m.)*** (Projected W: Mizzou)

Can Mizzou avenge its loss at Lincoln. Or do the Huskers sweep?

3. Tech at Oklahoma (12:30p.m.)* (Projected W: OU)

It’s Valentine’s Day. Take your valentine to lunch. Nothing to watch here.
4. KU at k-state (2:30p.m.)**** (Toss-up)

But be Home by 2:30.

5. Iowa St at Okie St (3:00p.m.)*1/2 (Projected W: Okie St)

The Cyclones still looking for that elusive first Road Win. Not out of the question playing a team that, at times, is colder than the Eskimos at Joe’s.

6. A&M at Baylor (5:00p.m.) **1/2 (Projected W: Baylor)

Hey, Notre Dame stopped its seven game slide. Is Baylor the next underachieving team to get off the schneide?

–Mark