Big 12 Sports Blog by Big 12 Fans

BIG 12 MEN’S BASKETBALL UPDATE (March 1, 2008): Conference Standings, Weekend Contests…

By Denton Ramsey, NCAA Sportswriter/Big 12 Fans Baylor Correspondent

WACO, Texas – With weekend match-ups on the horizon, the Big 12 Conference has a lone leader in men’s basketball standings in the Texas Longhorns (24-4, 11-2 Big 12).

However, things could change come Saturday night’s hardwood finale as Kansas (25-3, 10-3) is a mere game back of first place, Kansas State (18-9, 8-5) holds down third, while Baylor (19-8, 7-6) and Texas A&M (21-7, 7-6) aim to breakout of a deadlock for fourth.

Right behind the Bears and Aggies are four conference teams tied for sixth place, with Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech sandwiched in between the elite and cellar teams of the Big 12 with 6-7 marks.

Texas is currently on an eight-game winning streak, with Oklahoma State (won four), Nebraska (won three) and Baylor (won two) also putting streaks on the line in Saturday’s hardwood action; Colorado (lost four) and Kansas State (lost three), meanwhile, hope to end conference skids.

The regular season officials ends on Sunday, March 9, before the Big 12 Tourney tips off in preparation for March Madness postseason invites and the Big Dance…

Big 12 Standings (02.29.2008)

                                    Big 12              Overall

Texas                           11-2                 24-4

Kansas                         10-3                 25-3

Kansas State                8-5                   18-9

Texas A&M                 7-6                   21-7

Baylor                          7-6                   19-8

Nebraska                     6-7                   17-9

Oklahoma                    6-7                   18-10

Oklahoma State            6-7                   15-12

Texas Tech                   6-7                   15-12

Missouri                       5-8                   15-13

Iowa State                    4-9                   14-14

Colorado                      2-11                 10-17

Saturday Showdowns

On Saturday, March 1, the Big 12 Conference features six showdowns as the final week of the season looms just around the corner.

Those games, including television coverage and scheduled tipoff times (Central Standard Time), are as follows: Nebraska at Oklahoma State, ESPN Plus (check local listings), 12:30 p.m.; Texas A&M at Oklahoma, ESPN, 1 p.m.; Missouri at Baylor, ESPN Plus (KWTX and “The CW” in Waco), 3 p.m.; Texas at Texas Tech, CBS, 3 p.m.; Iowa State at Colorado, ESPN Classic, 4 p.m.; Kansas State at Kansas, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

KANSAS STATE-BAYLOR PREVIEW: Bears return home to battle Wildcats in Saturday showdown

By Denton Ramsey, NCAA Sportswriter/Big 12 Fans Baylor Correspondent

WACO, Texas – In about 24 hours, the Baylor Bears (17-8 overall, 5-6 Big 12) will be fighting for their postseason life when they face the Kansas State Wildcats (18-7, 8-3) on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Ferrell Center.

After dropping four straight conference contests, the Bears hope to end that skid on Saturday evening in Waco when they battle the Wildcats – a team coming off a surprising loss at Nebraska and currently sitting in third place in the highly competitive Big 12.

Saturday’s showdown between Baylor and Kansas State is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. CST, with the game scheduled to be broadcast live on FSN Southwest for local Texas viewers.

“We have been in a couple of close games this year; I am very proud of the effort of our team,” Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew said following Tuesday’s tough one-point OT loss to Oklahoma on the road. “We have had two heartbreakers and a lot of teams could fold from here on out.

“I think we are going to get on a roll; I am really proud of our team. I think we are going to bond from this and I think we are going to grow from this.”

For Baylor Bear fans, this weekend’s match-up on the Ferrell Center hardwood could make or break their NCAA postseason dreams.

With the Bears currently tied with the Texas Tech Red Raiders for sixth place, Saturday’s game against the Wildcats is a must-win if Baylor expects to make a push for a March Madness tournament seed.

The good news for the BU basketball team is that they are returning home, where they hold a 10-3 mark, and Kansas State has lost three straight road games.

Check back tomorrow for post game quotes, notes, stats and more from Saturday night’s Big 12 match-up between the Bears and Wildcats…

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com