MID-WEEK RECAP

When the story of this season is written, if KU fails to extend its string of conference championships to eight, we just might look back at Monday night as the reason. No, KU didn’t play on Monday. Nevertheless, the Jayhawks lost ground to Mizzou, courtesy of Missouri’s own version of Freeman Johns, III.

Tom Penders tweeted, after Myck Kabongo’s hand was grabbed by Matt Pressey while attempting a fairly easy game winning shot: “Texas gets fouled but no call on last play as Mizzou player grabs left arm on baseline shot by UT! Ref swallowed whistle is a cop in MO.” He later identified this individual as Gerry Pollard, while again mentioning his home state. And yet a third time: “Rick Barnes was livid at the end of the game when ex Mizzou Cop, Gerry Pollard swallowed (sic) his whistle.”

When challenged by a Mizzou fan, Penders responded: “Refs were fair most of the game but there is no excuse 4 Gerry Pollard to swallow his whistle on the last play.”

Photographic evidence shows that, at least on this occasion, Penders was correct.

Not sure if $ signs were somehow involved. Still, it would be humorous for UT to be the victim of its own F.J. III moment but for the fact that KU was the REAL victim. Texas is on the Road to Nowhere this season, anyway. The Jayhawks, on the other hand, now must make up this game elsewhere—as in Manhattan or Stillwater, venues where Mizzou was not bailed out by Mr. Johns—err, Pollard.

Not that it would make a difference in most years when the Hawks are head and shoulders above their primary competitors. Although they might well be the best team in the conference again this year, their margin for error is such that a little kindness from strangers would be greatly appreciated.

The Jayhawks’ best opportunity to take their fate into their own hands starts Saturday at Mizzou. Win in Columbia and complete the sweep in Lawrence, and Mizzou can go its merry way into the oblivion of the Southeast Conference without ever having won a Big 12 championship in any worthwhile activity.

As for Baylor, no help there either. A&M did everything but beat the Bears. Incredibly, however, while looking like the better-coached team for all but a few of the game’s 2,400 seconds, they threw up a wild, desperation shot with ten seconds remaining–plenty of time to find the type of high percentage shot that had brought it to within one shot of victory–thus ending any hope of making the Bears sic.

In sum, Mizzou picked up big half a game over both KU and Baylor with its W in Austin. Baylor treaded water with its projected victory in College Station, as did KU over Oklahoma in Lawrence, Iowa St over K-State in Ames (in another game decided in large part by questionable Big 12 officiating), and Okie St in its win in Lubbock.

THE TIERS

Tier 1: Baylor, KU, Mizzou

Tier 2: Iowa St, K-State, Texas

Tier 3: Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M

Tier 4: Texas Tech

REAL BIG 12 STANDINGS

2-2-12

1. 15-3

Mizzou (7-2) Projected L’s: at KU
At Risk games: N/A

2. 14.5-3.5

KU (8-1) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at Baylor
At Risk games: at K-State

3. 14-4

Baylor (7-2) Projected L’s: at Mizzou
At Risk games: at UT, at ISU

4. 10.5-7.5

Iowa St (6-3) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at K-State, at Mizzou

At Risk games: at OU, at Okie St, vs. Baylor

5. 9-9

Texas (3-6) Projected L’s: at KU
At Risk games: at A&M, at OU, at Okie St, vs. Baylor

6. 9-9

K-State (4-5) Projected L’s: at Texas, at Baylor, at Mizzou
At Risk games: vs. KU, at A&M

7. 6.5-11.5

Oklahoma (3-6) Projected L’s: vs. Mizzou, at ISU, at Baylor,
at Texas

At Risk games: vs. ISU, at Tech, vs. Texas

8. 6-12

Okie St (4-5) Projected L’s: vs. Baylor, at KU,
at Mizzou, at OU, vs. KU, at K-State

At Risk games: vs. ISU, vs. Texas

9. 4.5-13.5

Texas A&M (3-6) Projected L’s: at K-State, at ISU, vs.
Mizzou, vs. KU, at Okie St, at OU

At Risk games: vs. UT, at Tech, vs. K-State

10 1-17

Texas Tech (0-9) Projected L’s: at Texas, at K-State, at KU,
At ISU, vs. Texas, at Baylor, vs. Mizzou

At Risk games: vs. OU, vs. A&M

ON THE TUBE

SATURDAY

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

Can Okie St take out its second contender at Home? It certainly isn’t doing anything productive on the Road in any town not called Lubbock.

Texas A&M at K-State ***1/2: (3:00p.m.—Big 12 Network) (Projected W: K-State)

A must win game for K-State. And not one that is automatic the way A&M has been playing recently.

Iowa St at Oklahoma***1/2: (5:00p.m.—ESPN2) (At-risk game)

How important is Hilton Coliseum to ISU? As important, for example, as Royce White? We might well know by the end of this game.

Texas Tech at Texas*: (6:00p.m.—LHN) (Projected W: Texas)

Good news for Texas. This game will not be decided on the game’s final possession.

KU at Mizzou *****: (8:00p.m.—ESPN) (Projected W: MU)

Bill Self has a history of success against gimmick teams like Mizzou. This game, however, presents two unique challenges: First, it is in Columbia, where lesser Mizzou teams have found ways to upset better KU teams than this one. This Mizzou team is, in fact, comfortably unbeaten at Home.

Second, Mizzou is not just a gimmick team this year. Whether attributable to Frank Haith, experience, or a convergence of the fates, Mizzou has a smart, good shooting team that plays better as a unit than their talent would suggest—better by far than any Mizzou team in recent memory (as in those coached by Mike Anderson and Quin Snyder.)

Still, Mizzou is not overpowering. They are the epitome of a finesse team. if both teams stay out of foul trouble, the Hawks will prevail if they dominate inside on both ends of the floor, taking a minimum of three pointers and forcing Mizzou to take a maximum. Mizzou has a plethora of good shooters, but not good enough to carry it for 40 minutes against a team that is more physical, better coached, and has heard of defense. Especially at crunch time.

Then again, there is always the Home Court thing, which is kinda important in the REAL world. . .

–Mark

WEEKEND RECAP

Two major surprises this Saturday. The first involved Lonnie Kruger, completing a sweep of his alma mater in Manhattan. Coached Steven Pledger into scoring 30 points en route to a 63-60 victory. K-State, having dropped 1 and ½ games in the REAL Standings directly attributable to the Sooners, is now fighting for its post-season life with a projected league record of 9-9.

The other surprise was in Ames. No, not KU falling to Iowa St. Anyone who didn’t see that as a REAL possibility going in was not paying attention. In the most recent version of the REAL Standings, it was noted that it would be helpful if Royce White would duplicate his foul trouble vs. Mizzou and limit his PT to 27 minutes. No such luck. He played 36.

The surprise came from press row when Fran Fraschilla (or Fra-Fra as his close friends call him) stated that the game he was covering reminded him of Wednesday night’s game between Mizzou and Okie St. His reasoning? KU had controlled much of the game, yet was in danger of losing it in the game’s final moments.

Dare I dub this statement Fran-tasmagorical? If Fran thought KU was in control of this game for more than a matter of seconds, when the score was 47-41, he was confusing the game in this dimension with one from a parallel universe visible only to him. For a good 38 of the game’s 40 minutes, the Jayhawks were scrambling just to hang around. They not only never controlled the game, they were frequently out of control on offense and unable to control rebounds—particularly those on missed Iowa St three pointers.

At least Fra-Fra was attempting to talk about the game he was covering, unlike—well, you know. . .

In short, the Jayhawks’ shortcomings were on full display while the mental toughness, sheer effort, and basketball IQ needed to pull out close games on the Road took the day off.

However, as one wise Jayhawk fan noted after the game: We weren’t going 18-0 anyway. This is almost certainly true. Too little margin for error for a team that gets nothing from its bench, especially when one of its two superstars has less than a superstar kind of day.

Nor are the Hawks going 17-1. But neither will anyone else. There is not a complete team in the conference, or, even, the country. The question is whether the Hawks will show up in enough of their remaining games to actually achieve their projected 14-15 W’s; if so, that might be enough, based on the deficiencies of their primary rivals, for another league crown.

In other words, no time to panic, just as it was not time for Mizzou to panic last Wednesday. There will be plenty of time to panic after the first Home loss by either team, if and when that happens. And, as a subjective matter, I can see Mizzou having trouble protecting its Home “turf” against both Iowa St and Baylor, which could be decisive unless either KU or Mizzou sweeps the other.

Speaking of Mizzou, they won as projected (vs. Tech), as did A&M (over Okie St in College Station) and Baylor (over Texas in Waco).

THE TIERS

Tier 1: Baylor, KU, Mizzou

Tier 2: Iowa St, K-State, Texas

Tier 3: Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M

Tier 4: Texas Tech

REAL BIG 12 STANDINGS

1-26-12

1. 14.5-3.5

KU (7-1) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at Baylor
At Risk games: at K-State

Mizzou (6-2) Projected L’s: at KU
At Risk games: at UT

3. 14-4

Baylor (6-2) Projected L’s: at Mizzou
At Risk games: at UT, at ISU

4. 10.5-7.5

Iowa St (5-3) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at K-State, at Mizzou

At Risk games: at OU, at Okie St, vs. Baylor

5. 9.5-8.5

Texas (3-5) Projected L’s: at KU
At Risk games: vs. Mizzou, at A&M, at OU, at Okie St, vs. Baylor

6. 9-9

K-State (4-4) Projected L’s: at ISU, at Texas, at Baylor, at Mizzou
At Risk games: vs. KU, at A&M

7. 6.5-11.5

Oklahoma (3-5) Projected L’s: at KU, vs. Mizzou, at ISU, at Baylor,
at Texas

At Risk games: vs. ISU, at Tech, vs. Texas

8. 5.5-12.5

Okie St (3-5) Projected L’s: vs. Baylor, at KU,
at Mizzou, at OU, vs. KU, at K-State

At Risk games: vs. ISU, at Tech, vs. Texas

9. 4.5-13.5

Texas A&M (3-5) Projected L’s: vs. Baylor, at K-State, at ISU, vs.
Mizzou, vs. KU, at Okie St, at OU

At Risk games: vs. UT, at Tech, vs. K-State

10 1.5-16.5

Texas Tech (0-8) Projected L’s: at Texas, at K-State, at KU,
At ISU, vs. Texas, at Baylor, vs. Mizzou

At Risk games: vs. Okie St, vs. OU, vs. A&M

ON THE TUBE

MONDAY

Mizzou at Texas****: (8:00p.m.—ESPN) (At-risk game)

Texas just might have more fans in Kansas Monday night than in the Lone Star State.

TUESDAY

Okie St at Texas Tech **: (7:00p.m.—Big 12 Network) (At-risk game)

If Tech doesn’t win this game, when will they?

K-State at Iowa St****: (8:00p.m.—Fox Sports) (Projected W: ISU)

Iowa St might be known for Hilton Magic, but after two losses to Oklahoma, K-State is the team that needs to pull a W out of its—uhh–hat.

WEDNESDAY

Baylor at A&M***1/2: (8:00p.m.—ESPN2) (Projected W: Baylor)

The Tier 3 teams are becoming downright feisty at Home. The REAL Standings template projects this as a Baylor W, but the Fighting Calipari-Lites are certainly capable of dropping this game and falling further behind KU and Mizzou,

Oklahoma at KU ***: (8:00p.m.—ESPNU) (Projected W: KU)

Reportedly, Lonnie was the Darrell Sproles of his day. He wanted to go to KU, but was not recruited by the Jayhawks. At least Ted Owens had a good reason for overlooking the all-state guard from Silver Lake: He already had the more highly rated Tom Kivisto lined up to be his PG from ’72-’74.

Lonnie went on to become two time Big 8 POY in 1973 and ‘74 as K-State won back to back conference championships. Made everyone around him better. He was like having a coach on the floor. Jack Hartman with a jump shot.

Meanwhile, Kivisto led the Hawks to the 1974 conference championship and Final Four. Probably a fair trade.

Imagine, however, the ripple effect that might have been: Larry-Roy-Lonnie? Larry-Lonnie-? Kruger Field at Memorial Stadium?

Here’s hoping Jayhawk fans aren’t yearning to change history around 10 o’clock Wednesday night.

–Mark

           
  MIDWEEK RECAP

I came across a retweet this afternoon from a KU fan rejoicing in the “fact” that KU has a two game lead over Mizzou.

Were that this were true in the REAL world. In the REAL world, the Jayhawks are in first place, but by a tenuous half game margin over its arch-rival for more than 100 years and for a few more weeks. This due to the fact that Mizzou has Ames, Waco, Manhattan, and–yes–Stillwater in its past. All places the Jayhawks have yet to visit.

Meanwhile, KU has only Norman, Austin, and Lubbock in its rear view mirror.

Of course, the Jayhawks, as competitors, would prefer zero losses and a daunting schedule to two losses and a softer road out ahead. But a loss in Ames this Saturday, and all bets are off. We will then have a flat-footed tie atop the REAL Standings.

in the meantime, KU enjoys a 1/2 game lead in the REAL Big 12 Standings, thanks to 49 points from two Okie St freshmen in the Cowboys’ 79-72 victory over Mizzou. And Mizzou can take scant comfort in the fact that this was a Road loss, because the team that wins the Big 12 title would be expected to beat Okie St wherever the two teams play.

The saving grace for Mizzou is that Okie St has some impressive young talent and a senior later in Page Keeton, the late Dean at the University of Texas School of Law. All right, this guy only seems that old.

At any rate, if Okie St has come of age, that game could be a test for the Hawks.

Aside from the Stillwater Surprise, the other Midweek contests went as projected: KU outlasted A&M; Texas took down Iowa St in Austin, in the game that nobody saw, either in person or on TV; Baylor downed OU in Norman; and K-State happily accepted its working-bye in Lubbock.

                       
                                                          THE TIERS

           
Tier 1:  Baylor, KU, Mizzou
 
Tier 2:  Iowa St, K-State, Texas
 
Tier 3:  Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M 

Tier 4: Texas Tech

 
                             REAL BIG 12 STANDINGS

1-26-12
 
     
1.     15-3

KU      (7-0)                Projected L’s:  at Mizzou, at Baylor
                                   At Risk games: at ISU, at K-State

2. 14.5-3.5

Mizzou (5-2)              Projected L’s:  at KU
                                 At Risk games: at UT

3. 14-4

Baylor (5-2)               Projected L’s:  at Mizzou
                                  At Risk games: at UT, at ISU

 
4. 10-8

K-State (4-3)              Projected L’s:  at ISU, at Texas, at Baylor, at Mizzou
                                   At Risk games: vs. KU, at A&M

Iowa St (4-3)              Projected L’s:  at Baylor, at K-State, at Mizzou

                                 At Risk games: vs. KU, at OU, at Okie St, vs. Baylor

6. 9.5-8.5

Texas (3-4)                Projected L’s:  at Baylor, at KU
At Risk games: vs. Mizzou, at A&M, at OU, at Okie St, vs. Baylor

7. 5.5-12.5

Oklahoma (2-5)        Projected L’s:  at K-State, at
KU, vs. Mizzou, at ISU, at Baylor, at Texas

At Risk games: vs. ISU, at Tech, vs. Texas

Okie St (3-4)              Projected L’s: at A&M,  vs. Baylor, at KU,
at Mizzou, at OU, vs. KU, at K-State

                                   At Risk games: vs. ISU, at Tech, vs. Texas

 
9. 4.5-13.5
                                  
Texas A&M (2-5)      Projected L’s:  vs. Baylor, at K-State, at ISU, vs.
Mizzou, vs. KU, at Okie St, at OU

                                   At Risk games: vs. UT, at Tech, vs. K-State

10  1.5-16.5
 
Texas Tech (0-7)         Projected L’s:  at Mizzou, at Texas, at K-State, at KU,
At ISU, vs. Texas, at Baylor, vs. Mizzou
                               
                                    At Risk games: vs. Okie St, vs. OU, vs. A&M
 
 
                                               ON THE TUBE

SATURDAY
 
           Texas at Baylor****: (Noon—CBS) (Projected W: Baylor)

Texas is desperate for a nice Road W to strengthen its case for inclusion in the Big Dance. The Fighting Calipari-Lites, however, are despert themselves; they can ill afford another loss at Home. Well worth watching. For an hour, anyway.

           Texas Tech at Mizzou *: (12:30p.m.—Big 12 Network) (Projected W: Mizzou)

Projected W for Mizzou? Don’t we have something stronger than “Projected”? “Guaranteed” might not be too strong in this case.

KU at Iowa St****: (1:00p.m.—ESPN) (At-risk Game)

KU’s first opportunity to cut into Mizzou’s “venues already won in” advantage. Now if Royce White will just cooperate by getting into foul trouble and playing only 27 minutes

           Oklahoma St at A&M***: (3:00p.m.—Big 12 Network) (Projected W: A&M)

Okie St’s opportunity to validate its W over Mizzou.
 
Oklahoma at K-State***: (6:00p.m.—Fox Sports) (Projected W: K-State)

Lonnie tries to go Home again.

 –Mark
           

MIDWEEK RECAP

It is not that KU’s stomp of Baylor Monday night changed anything: it was a projected W, meaning that neither the Jayhawks nor the Fighting Calipari-Lites gained any ground in the REAL Standings–or lost any. Baylor, in fact, retains its half game edge over the Hawks and Mizzou. The importance of the game was that the status quo was not disturbed—as it would have been had Baylor walked out of Allen Fieldhouse still undefeated.

A Baylor W would have placed everyone else in the conference in dire straits. A win in Lawrence, and where do they lose? At least often enough to allow KU, Mizzou, or anyone else back into the race? With W’s in both Manhattan and Lawrence, the rest of the conference race would have approached being a foregone conclusion.

As it is, barring unlikely events, Baylor gets its chance to negate Monday’s loss on February 8, when it hosts the Jayhawks in Waco. One word of advice to the Bears, however: Defense. Look into it if you want a REAListic chance of avoiding the patented Jayhawk Sweep.

In a game between the teams ranked 21 and 26 by KenPom, K-state tried desperately to give Texas a post-holiday in Manhattan by missing six free throws in the final minute of a close game. Somehow, Texas avoided unwrapping that present and left Manhattan with its customary loss. It was even suggested in Tweetdom that, at this point, “K-State could beat Texas in a competition of who has the better Longhorn mascot.”

Both teams appeared ready, subjectively, for a demotion form the lofty heights of Tier One, to the less prestigious residence in Bubbledom. However, I will wait until the the third-way point of the season on Saturday before reassessing their quality. Especially since UT has done nothing objectively yet to justify its removal from Tier One. Losses at K-State and Mizzou–even Iowa St–are not necessarily fatal to a championship run. (Although relying too much on freshmen and not having a legitimate big man might be.)

In games which involved minimal sound and fury and also signified nothing, Mizzou defeated A&M in Columbia, and OU squeezed by Tech in Norman, both as projected. In a contest that contained a level of excitement, Hilton worked its magic as Iowa St erased a 66-60 deficit in the final two minutes to escape Okie St 71-68–as projected..

In short, zero change in the REAL Standings

THE TIERS

Pending Saturday’s games:

Tier 1: Baylor, KU, K-State, Mizzou, Texas

Tier 2: Iowa St, Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M

Tier 3: Texas Tech

REAL BIG 12 STANDINGS

1-19-12

1. 13-5

Baylor (4-1) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at Texas
At Risk games: at OU, at A&M, at Okie St, at ISU

2. 12.5-5.5

KU (5-0) Projected L’s: at UT, at Mizzou, at Baylor, at K-State
At Risk games: at ISU, at A&M, at Okie St

Mizzou (4-1) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at Texas, at KU
At Risk games: at Okie St, at OU, at A&M

4. 11.5-6.5

Texas (2-3) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at KU
At Risk games: at A&M, at OU, at Okie St

5. 10.5-7.5

K-State (2-3) Projected L’s: at Texas, at Baylor, at Mizzou
At Risk games: at Okie St, at ISU, at A&M

6. 8-10

Iowa St (3-2) Projected L’s: at Texas, at OU, at Okie St,
at Baylor, at K-State, at Mizzou

At Risk games: at Tech, vs. KU, vs. K-State, vs.
Baylor

7. 7-11

Okie St (2-3) Projected L’s: at A&M, at KU,
at Mizzou, at OU, at K-State

At Risk games: vs. K-State, vs. Mizzou, at Tech, vs.
Baylor, vs. Texas, vs. KU

Oklahoma (2-3) Projected L’s: at A&M, at K-State, at
KU, at ISU, at Baylor, at Texas

At Risk games: vs. Baylor, vs. Mizzou,
at Tech, vs. Texas

9. 6-12

Texas A&M (1-4) Projected L’s: at KU, at K-
State, at ISU, at Okie St, at OU

At Risk games: vs.Baylor, vs. Texas, at Tech, vs. Mizzou,
vs. KU, vs. K-State

10 2-16

Texas Tech (0-5). Projected L’s: vs. K- State,
at Mizzou, at Texas, at K-State, at KU, at ISU, vs.
Texas, at Baylor, vs. Mizzou

At Risk games: vs. ISU, vs. Okie St, vs. OU, vs. A&M

ON THE TUBE

SATURDAY

K-State at Okie St**: (12:30p.m.—Big 12 Network) (At-Risk Game)
K-State has played three bad games in a row since taking out Mizzou at Home. They can’t afford another one. Going 0-2 in Oklahoma is not OK.

Mizzou at Baylor*****: (1:00p.m.—ESPN) (Projected W: Baylor)
Baylor assumes the position KU was in on Monday. Nothing to gain. Everything to lose. You would think that, with Baylor’s length, athleticism, and motivation, this would be a relatively easy game at Home. Not necessarily, if they give Mizzou’s offense as much space as they gave KU Monday. Still, one game where KU fans should pull for Scott Drew. A Mizzou win puts them in control of the REAL Standings and the conference race.

Oklahoma at A&M**: (3:00p.m.—Big 12 Network) (Projected W: A&M)
With all the talk about the strength of the Big 12 at the top, and even the middle, the fact that there are 2-4 teams that suck (depending on your personal definition of “suck”) is frequently overlooked.

KU at Texas****: (3:00p.m.—CBS) (Projected W: Texas)
UT”S opportunity to come of age and inject itself into the Big 12 race. If the Jayhawks come out flat, thinking they accomplished more than they did Monday, they could find themselves with a loss that will be difficult to make up.

Iowa St at Texas Tech***: (4:00p.m.—ESPN2) (At-risk game)
Tech is going to beat somebody in Lubbock. Iowa ST is the better team, but not so much better that it can just show up and count this one as a W.

–Mark

WEEKEND RECAP

The only game of consequence in the REAL Standings this weekend was K-State’s loss to Oklahoma in Norman. This was K-State’s second L of the week that will prove extremely difficult to make up. The conference champion is not likely to lose to Baylor at Home or to OU anywhere.

Not that K-State is a bad team. Their schedule caught up with them. After playing their first three games against the three best teams in the league, they were clearly spent emotionally and could not create any energy in front of a crowd that could not even properly be called a “crowd.” I have seen better turnout and more passion at Wal-Mart the morning after Thanksgiving. Well, I’ve heard of it.

Not to mention that OU was coldly efficient, focusing on mid-range jump shorts and seemingly making them all.

At any rate, K-State is not talented enough to go on the Road, sleepwalk for thirty minutes, and walk out with a W against a team that executes its game plan on that particular day. At least not anyplace not called Lubbock.

The Almost Game of the Week was, of course, in Lawrence. This game followed the same script as K-State/OU well into the second half, with two key differences: the margin generally gravitated to 4-7 points, as opposed to 9-11; and the Jayhawks were playing catch-up at Home. Had this game been in Ames, the Hawks would likely have given up precious ground to Baylor and Mizzou–especially the latter, MU having won already in Ames. But this particular game was, indeed, in Lawrence, and the Hawks kept their heads above water heading into Monday night’s first game of the year vs. Baylor.

As for Mizzou, the most notable aspect of its game vs. Texas was that it featured two players on my All-Conference team with 22% of the season having been played. That would be Marcus Denmon and J’Covan Brown, along with Thomas Robinson, Perry Jones, and Royce White. I would put that lineup up against North Carolina any day of the week. Might even challenge Florida St.

Meanwhile, Baylor put the rest of the conference on notice that, after its near death experience in Manhattan, it might have shifted gears, with a 41 point swamping of Okie St. Not that Okie St is to be taken seriously; but a 41 point margin over even a mediocre team is nothing to sneeze at.

Finally, A&M took out Tech, if anyone cares.

Or if they don’t.

THE TIERS

There will almost certainly be some reshuffling of the tiers next Saturday at the third-way point of the season next Saturday. K-State and Texas, in particular, will be subject to close scrutiny. In the meantime, only four games into the season, the Tiers as I see them remain:

Tier 1: Baylor, KU, K-State, Mizzou, Texas

Tier 2: Iowa St, Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M

Tier 3: Texas Tech

REAL BIG 12 STANDINGS

1-15-12

1. 13-5

Baylor (4-0) Projected L’s: at KU, at Mizzou, at Texas

At Risk games: at OU, at A&M, at Okie St, at ISU

2. 12.5-5.5

KU (4-0) Projected L’s: at UT, at Mizzou, at Baylor, at K-State

At Risk games: at ISU, at A&M, at Okie St

Mizzou (3-1) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at Texas, at KU

At Risk games: at Okie St, at OU, at A&M

4. 11.5-6.5

Texas (2-2) Projected L’s: at K-State, at Baylor, at KU

At Risk games: at A&M, at OU, at Okie St

5. 10.5-7.5

K-State (1-3) Projected L’s: at Texas, at Baylor, at Mizzou

At Risk games: at Okie St, at ISU, at A&M
6. 8-10

Iowa St (2-2) Projected L’s: at Texas, at OU, at Okie St,

at Baylor, at K-State, at Mizzou

At Risk games: at Tech, vs. KU, vs. K-State, vs.

Baylor

7. 7-11

Okie St (2-2) Projected L’s: at ISU, at A&M, at KU,

at Mizzou, at OU, at K-State

At Risk games: vs. K-State, vs. Mizzou, at Tech, vs.

Baylor, vs. Texas, vs. KU

Oklahoma (1-3) Projected L’s: at A&M, at K-State, at

KU, at ISU, at Baylor, at Texas

At Risk games: vs. Baylor, vs. Mizzou,

at Tech, vs. Texas

9. 6-12

Texas A&M (1-3) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at KU, at K-

State, at ISU, at Okie St, at OU

At Risk games: vs.Baylor, vs. Texas, at Tech, vs. Mizzou,

vs. KU, vs. K-State

10 2-16

Texas Tech (0-4). Projected L’s: at OU, vs. K- State,

at Mizzou, at Texas, at K-State, at KU, at ISU, vs.

Texas, at Baylor, vs. Mizzou

At Risk games: vs. ISU, vs. Okie St, vs. OU, vs. A&M

ON THE TUBE

MONDAY

Texas A&M at Mizzou*: (4:30 noon—ESPN) (Projected W: Mizzou)

How exactly does this pathetic excuse for a game honor MLK’s legacy? Other than A&M having a dream of winning in Columbia. Unfortunately for the Aggies, a dream is different from a nightmare.

Baylor at KU**********: (8:30p.m.—ESPN) (Projected W: KU)

On a four star scale, this game, in the words of the inimitable Dickie V, is a Bo Derek in her prime. A W here for Baylor, and it puts a Bear Hug on the Big 12 championship trophy. Fortunately for KU, Bill Self usually does well against the REAL Calipari, let alone his Clone.

TUESDAY

Texas Tech at Oklahoma*1/2: (7:00p.m.—Big 12 Network) (Projected W: OU)

Wake me when it’s over, Siri.

WEDNESDAY

Texas at K-State****: (8:00p.m.—ESPN2) (Projected W: K-State)

A REALly must win game for K-State. Another Home loss, and its NCAA hopes are in jeopardy.

Okie St at Iowa St***: (8:00p.m.—ESPNU) (Projected W: ISU)

Iowa St looks like it will do nothing but improve the rest of the season. If the Clones (not to be confused with Kentucky and Baylor) take care of business at Home and steal a game or two on the Road, they can look forward to being in the NCAA mix in March.

–Mark

MID-WEEK RECAP

Thanks a lot, K-State. Thanks a lot, Iowa St.

Thanks for nothing.

K-State had to work hard to let its Home game vs. Baylor get away from it, but was highly successful. To this casual observer, it appeared that K-State handed Baylor at least 20 points on a silver platter, points that required little or no effort from the Bears. As in: “Here, Baylor, I am dribbling the ball aimlessly near mid-court. Please take it as a special gift in honor of—I don’t know, something or other. Just remove it from the space directly in front of my body, at a point where you can waltz unimpeded to the basket for an uncontested dunk or layup.

“While we’re at it, please allow me to turn the ball over by shuffling my feet while holding the ball in the lane, as opposed to making a three foot pass to my teammate standing completely unguarded under the basket for an uncontested dunk to tie the score I the game’s final minute. And if it’s not too much, I hope you aren’t offended if I leave the ball exposed while driving a wide open lane for a layup that would send the game into overtime if I simply protected it. Not to mention in bounding the ball in a manner to avoid any possibility of attempting a game tying or winning shot at the buzzer. Gotta give Frank something to talk about post-game.”

Reluctantly accepting the Wildcats’ generosity, Baylor jumps into first place in the REAL Standings, claiming the first full game pickup of the season by a Tier One team. They now have a W that might not be matched by any other team having a REAListic chance at the conference championship. The pressure to win in Manhattan is now on everyone else.

To a lesser extent, Iowa St did no favors for KU or any other contender in letting Mizzou walk out of Ames with a W. With its victory, Mizzou picks up a half game in the REAL Standings and moves into a tie with the now second place Jayhawks. What’s more, although the REAL Standings are primarily objective, Mizzou, in my opinion, has a slight edge, because it will be more difficult for KU to match Mizzou’s Road win in Ames than for Mizzou to match KU’s win in Norman. Especially if Royce White doesn’t get in early foul trouble as he did Wednesday night.

Nothing of interest in the other three games. KU won, as expected and as is right, in Lubbock. The only matter of interest being the 35 point margin of victory, an impressive Road margin against even the worst of teams. Which, pretty much, is Tech. No one else will beat the Red Raiders by 35 in Lubbock. But all the contenders will beat them.

Okie St. also won as expected in the Stillwater edition of Bedlam. And, to the surprise of no one, Texas took out A&M in Austin.

THE TIERS

In the last edition of the REAL Standings, A&M and OU were placed on notice that they are under consideration for demotion. With reasonable efforts in their Road losses, both avoided that fate. Meanwhile, ISU took itself out of consideration for Tier One consideration—at least for the time being. Home court losses will do that to you.

Tier 1: Baylor, KU, K-State, Mizzou, Texas

Tier 2: Iowa St, Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M

Tier 3: Texas Tech

REAL BIG 12 STANDINGS

1-8-12

1. 13-5

Baylor (3-0) Projected L’s: at KU, at Mizzou, at Texas
At Risk games: at OU, at A&M, at Okie St, at ISU

2. 12.5-5.5

KU (3-0) Projected L’s: at UT, at Mizzou, at Baylor, at K-State
At Risk games: at ISU, at A&M, at Okie St

Mizzou (2-1) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at Texas, at KU
At Risk games: at Okie St, at OU, at A&M

4. 11-7

K-State (1-2) Projected L’s: at Texas, at Baylor, at Mizzou
At Risk games: at OU, at Okie St, at ISU, at A&M

5. 11.5-6.5

Texas (2-1) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at K-State, at Baylor, at KU
At Risk games: at A&M, at OU, at Okie St

6. 8-10

Iowa St (2-1) Projected L’s: at KU, at Texas, at OU, at Okie St,
at Baylor, at K-State, at Mizzou

At Risk games: at Tech, vs. KU, vs. K-State, vs.
Baylor

7. 7-11

Okie St (2-1) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at ISU, at A&M, at KU,
at Mizzou, at OU, at K-State

At Risk games: vs. K-State, vs. Mizzou, at Tech, vs.
Baylor, vs. Texas, vs. KU

8. 6.5-11.5

Oklahoma (0-3) Projected L’s: at A&M, at K-State, at
KU, at ISU, at Baylor, at Texas

At Risk games: vs. K-State, vs. Baylor, vs. Mizzou,
at Tech, vs. Texas

9. 6-12

Texas A&M (0-3) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at KU, at K-
State, at ISU, at Okie St, at OU

At Risk games: vs.Baylor, vs. Texas, at Tech, vs. Mizzou,
vs. KU, vs. K-State

10 2-16

Texas Tech (0-3). Projected L’s: at A&M, at OU, vs. K-
State, at Mizzou, at Texas, at K-State, at KU, at ISU, vs.
Texas, at Baylor, vs. Mizzou

At Risk games: vs. ISU, vs. Okie St, vs. OU, vs. A&M

ON THE TUBE

SATURDAY

Texas at Mizzou****: (12:00 noon—ESPN2) (Projected W: Mizzou)
No one is taking Texas seriously to this point. Blair Kerkhoff, for example, noted recently that he saw the Big 12 getting four teams in the NCAA tournament. Presumably, he was omitting UT. I think they get in, but they will need a nice Road win somewhere along the way. If J’Covan Brown is ready to go and Myck Kabongo keeps maturing, they can match Mizzou’s guard play. And everyone can match Mizzou’s inside play—even stiffs like Chapman and Wangmene.

K-State at Oklahoma***: (12:30p.m.—Big 12 Network) (At-risk game)
It is probably unfair to say that K-State is out of the race just because they lost a Home game. Then again, that might be precisely the case. Regardless, they cannot afford to lose an at-risk game if they want to hang around to even the mid-point of the season.

Texas Tech at A&M*1/2: (12:30p.m.—Big 12 Network) (Projected W: A&M)
If you are aware of anything to recommend this game, let me know. Wait, it’s Billy G’s return to the program he left high and dry to take a job as a temp in Kentucky. So there is that.

Okie St at Baylor**: (2:00p.m.—ESPN2) (Projected W: Baylor)
What are the chances Okie St can take down the Calipari Lites? If not slim and none, slim and slimmer. . .

Iowa St at KU***1/2: (3:00p.m.—Big 12 Network) (Projected W: KU)
It is the best of times. It is the worst of times. The best in the sense that virtually every game is must see TV. You can’t take any game for granted—at least not vs. any team as good as, say, Davidson. It is the worst in the sense that virtually every game is must see. You can’t take any game for granted—at least not vs. any team as good as, say, Davidson. And Iowa St is at least that good. Tune in.

–Mark

SATURDAY RECAP

So what have we learned two games into the Big 12 season?

That Mizzou is overrated? Nah. We already knew that. Not that they are bad, but everyone other than the most deluded Mizzou fan knew that they were not a Top 10 team. They have serious match-up problems against certain opponents. That’s just the long and the short of it. Emphasis on “short.” They will be tough as nails at Home, and any team that takes them out in Columbia might just be the team to beat. But they will find it tough going on the Road; even if not always as tough as Saturday when they didn’t take Manhattan. Or the Bronx. Or even Staten Island. They are certainly not ready to take Berlin.

That the Road to the Big 12 title again goes through Lawrence? Nah. We knew that also. It just took the coming of age of Travis Releford as an offensive threat to erase any doubt. Not that winning at Norman will prove to be a game changer. In fact, OU looks like it might belong in the third tier, rather than the second. Any team that hopes to win the title will win there. But the first Road W of the season is always the toughest, no matter what the venue. The Hawks now have that accomplishment under their belt—a distinction they share with only Baylor and Iowa St.

That Iowa St might be as good as advertised during the off season? Maybe. With their demolition of A&M in College Station, the Cyclones have now picked up 1.5 games in the REAL Standings in four days. And Royce White looks like the REAL Deal. Speaking of changing tiers, they could work their way into Tier One with games against Mizzou at Ames and KU in Lawrence coming up this week.

Meanwhile, A&M’s hold on a Tier Two position is looking shaky. Is it possible that the Aggies are worse than Tech? They did get pounded at Home by ISU the same day Tech was playing Baylor tough in Lubbock.

However, we will gather more information before precipitously changing anyone’s status this early in the game.

Did we learn anything about Baylor, with its fairly close call at Tech? Probably not. KU fans, of all people on earth, REALize that Lubbock is the Area 51 of college basketball.

And finally, what did we learn from Okie St at Texas? Nothing unless you had the LHN (who does)?

THE TIERS

As stated above, it is a little early to make any changes in a team’s status based on one Road game and one at Home. Still, A&M and OU are on notice that they are under consideration for demotion, and ISU is being carefully watched for a potential battlefield promotion.

Tier 1: Baylor, KU, K-State, Mizzou, Texas

Tier 2: Iowa St, Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M

Tier 3: Texas Tech

REAL BIG 12 STANDINGS

1-8-12

1. 12.5-5.5

KU (2-0) Projected L’s: at UT, at Mizzou, at Baylor, at K-State
At Risk games: at ISU, at A&M, at Okie St

2. 12-6

Baylor (2-0) Projected L’s: at K-State, at KU, at Mizzou, at Texas
At Risk games: at OU, at A&M, at Okie St, at ISU

K-State (1-1) Projected L’s: at Texas, at Baylor, at Mizzou
At Risk games: at OU, at Okie St, at ISU, at A&M

Mizzou (1-1) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at Texas, at KU
At Risk games: at Iowa St, at Okie St, at OU, at A&M

5. 11.5-6.5

Texas (1-1) Projected L’s: at Mizzou, at K-State, at Baylor, at KU
At Risk games: at ISU, at A&M, at OU, at Okie St

6. 8.5-9.5

Iowa St (2-0) Projected L’s: at KU, at Texas, at OU, at Okie St,
at Baylor, at K-State, at Mizzou

At Risk games: vs. Mizzou, at Tech, vs. KU, vs. K-State, vs.
Baylor

7. 7-11

Okie St (1-1) Projected L’s: at Baylor, at ISU, at A&M, at KU,
at Mizzou, at OU, at K-State

At Risk games: vs. K-State, vs. Mizzou, at Tech, vs.
Baylor, vs. Texas, vs. KU

8. 6.5-11.5

Oklahoma (0-2) Projected L’s: at Okie St, at A&M, at K-State, at
KU, at ISU, at Baylor, at Texas

At Risk games: vs. K-State, vs. Baylor, vs. Mizzou,
at Tech, vs. Texas

9. 6-12

Texas A&M (0-2) Projected L’s: at Texas, at Mizzou, at KU, at K-
State, at ISU, at Okie St, at OU

At Risk games: vs.Baylor, vs. Texas, at Tech, vs. Mizzou,
vs. KU, vs. K-State

10 2-16

Texas Tech (0-2). Projected L’s: vs. KU, at A&M, at OU, vs. K-
State, at Mizzou, at Texas, at K-State, at KU, at ISU, vs.
Texas, at Baylor, vs. Mizzou

At Risk games: vs. ISU, vs. Okie St, vs. OU, vs. A&M

ON THE TUBE

MONDAY

Oklahoma at Okie St**: (6:00p.m.—ESPNU) (Projected W: Okie St)
Two of the lamer entrants in the Bedlam series in recent years.

TUESDAY

Baylor at K-State****: (7:00p.m.—FSSW) (Projected W: K-State)
The Game of the Year to this point. The league’s highest rated team, only undefeated team, and, by most accounts, most talented squad, faces its first REAL Road challenge. Will K-State have a letdown after getting up for previously undefeated Mizzou, or just pick up where it left off and be the only L for two teams? They could hang a banner. Sell a video. . .

WEDNESDAY

Mizzou at Iowa St****: (7:00p.m.—Big 12 Network) (At-risk game)
As intriguing games go, this one tops the list. Mizzou will be out for redemption and leave nothing on the floor. A loss here, and they will return to their normal status of being but a blip on the national radar screen—kinda like its football team from now into futurity. (Well, okay, even less of a blip.) For Iowa St, this is its opportunity to send a signal that it is for REAL by taking out its second Tier One team in its first two Home games. It will be 40 minutes of high energy basketball. You might even call it forty minutes of hell—for someone.

KU at Tech**1/2: (8:00p.m.–ESPNU) (Projected W: KU)
Over/Under on attendance: 3,500. Not that it makes a difference: Better Jayhawk teams than this have lost to what might be worse Tech teams. They have lost in a frenzied atmosphere before a packed house. They have lost in mausoleum –like conditions. This game will come down to the Hawks’ summoning up the will to win from within.

A&M at Texas*1/2: (8:00p.m.—ESPN2 (Projected W: Texas)
Are the Aggies going to show up or just mail in the rest of the season?

–Mark