Tonight’s game pitting the Kansas Jayhawks against the Baylor Bears is not just a game between two of the top programs in the country this year. It’s also further proof of why the Big 12 basketball race is the “most fascinating in the country.” With Missouri alongside these two top ranked programs, the Big 12 has turned into an incredible three team race with the Jayhawks, Bears and Tigers able to play with anyone on any night. And if they weren’t beating up on each other this time of year, all three might be at the top in the NCAA tournament next month.
Cindy Boren writes, “Kansas has won at least a share of the regular season conference championship each of the past seven seasons. But the strong play of Baylor and Missouri has put the chances of another Jayhawks’ title in peril. Frank Haith, a strong contender for national coach of the year honors, led the Tigers to a win over Kansas on Saturday night. And Kansas has no time to relax; it travels to Waco, Texas, to play Baylor on Wednesday. What makes this race even more fascinating is that all three teams are in contention for No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament.”
Missouri is currently a half game up in the standings at 9-2 over Baylor and KU who are both tied at 8-2. Tonight’s game will go a long way toward positioning at the top.