Leap Frogging the Competition

Players of the Week

RJ Nembhard and Kevin Samuel, TCU

Nembhard and Samuel were the driving forces behind TCU defeating previously unbeaten Oklahoma State 77-76. The junior duo combined to score 39 points, including scoring the final nine points to close out the nail-biter. They played their best basketball in the closing minutes, as Samuel blocked a shot with 20 seconds left to set up the game winning jumper by Nembhard. The Horned Frogs played well but needed their best players to step up in the final minutes to close out their first Big 12 clash. Nembhard and Samuel were dominant throughout the game, as Samuel has seven blocks, and they combined to shoot an extremely efficient 16-27. In addition, Nembhard went 3-5 on three-point shots, tying all of the Cowboy’s team who went 3-17 from deep.

Who’s Hot

West Virginia had only one game this week, but it was a challenging one, taking on unbeaten No. 19 Richmond. Through their first seven games, this 87-71 win was by far their best victory. Not only did they defeat a ranked team, but they completely outplayed them. Their hot shooting and intensity essentially ended the game by halftime. Normally, the Mountaineers rely on their powerful frontcourt to lead them to wins. However, against the Spiders, it was 6’2 guard McBride who led the way with 20 points on 9-11 shooting while shooting 2-2 from behind the arc. The guard also compiled five assists and three steals. McBride has become a key piece for West Virginia, as he is tenth in the conference in points per game, while shooting better than 45% from the field. McBride put all of that scoring promise together in an important win over Richmond.

The Big 12 Conference

The whole conference has had an outstanding opening to the season. There are five ranked teams, with the lowest being No. 14 Texas Tech. The Big 12 also has three teams ranked in the top eight, with Baylor, Kansas and West Virginia all looking like they have a serious shot to win the title. Only the Big 10 has a similar claim to the strongest conference in the country, but that has more to do with depth than great teams, with a significant drop-off after Michigan State and Iowa. Plus, eight teams in the conference have a winning percentage of .750 or better, and seven teams have one or zero losses. They have great teams at the top and have depth throughout the league. Iowa State and Kansas State have been horrendous, but the conference as a whole has been fantastic. So many of the conference games should be electric, emphasized by the Texas Tech versus Kansas game that went down to the wire.

Who’s Not

It may not seem fair to chastise a freshman who is leading the conference in scoring at 18.3 points per game. Expectations are sky high for Cunningham as he will likely be a top 5 pick next year, and his performance against TCU did not meet the standard of a superstar. He contributed 18 points but did so by shooting just 6-18 from the field, 0-3 from three-point range and 5-8 from the free-throw line. Besides his inefficient outing, he missed the potential game winning shot. Cunningham forced a contested jumped over two Horned Frog defenders as time expired. Everyone knew Cunningham was going to take the last shot, and not every final shot will go in, but it was disappointing to see a lack of awareness at the most crucial venture of the game. He had open teammates or could have gotten to the basket with the potential to shoot free throws. After a terrible first half, he showed great perseverance by playing markedly better in the second half. Even still, for a player with immense expectations and potential, this was a low point in his short collegiate career.

Iowa State Cyclones

The Cyclones have had a frustrating start to this season. They won their first game, beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but things have quickly gone downhill from there. They have lost three straight games, to South Dakota State, Iowa and Kansas State. The Iowa loss is understandable, but they were obliterated by them, 105-77. Unacceptable however, is losing to the Wildcats by nine at home. Kansas State lost to division II school Fort Hays State, Drake and UNLV. They were just 2-4 on the season with wins over small school opponents. They looked to be headed directly to the bottom of the conference, but they still beat the Cyclones. The only spark for Iowa State is Rasir Bolton, who had 19 points and seven assists in the loss and is fifth in the conference in points per game. The Cyclones have to play No. 8 West Virginia on Saturday, where their season could start to spin out of control.

Top 5 Jerseys in the Big 12

5. Texas Away, Burnt Orange

There are few colors more easily associated with a college than burnt orange and Texas. Their away uniforms are burnt orange, with white numbers and lettering, and have Texas and all caps above the number. It’s a great color; it’s a wonderful font. They may not be the most exciting jerseys in the league, but they are classic for a reason.

4. Oklahoma State Home, White

While their black away jerseys and alternate orange jerseys have their appeal, no Cowboy’s jersey is better than the home white ones. These jerseys are crisp; they have orange and black cursive lettering spelling Cowboys, and an orange number. Even without much color, the unique font helps make these jerseys pop.

3. Texas Tech Away, Black

Texas Tech’s black uniforms are amazing. The black background with white lettering gives great juxtaposition of color, while the blend of white and red down the shorts transitions smoothly and highlights all of the team’s colors. The red and white rim around the bottom of the shorts gives the jersey extra color, giving an even better look.

2. West Virginia Away, Blue

As enticing as the bright yellow jerseys are, they lack much else besides the color. On the other hand, the dark blue jerseys have a nice mix of color scheme and lettering. The yellow all-caps West Virginia runs across the chest, with the number underneath. The two colors flow nicely together, and it completes a really nice, simple jersey.

Baylor Alternate, Gray

The best team in the Big 12 also has the best jerseys. The mix of light gray with black and neon green lettering is perfect. Every color stands out, and the font is clear and bold. Baylor is written across the top with a BU logo on the shorts. The layout is similar to the other uniforms, but the color palette stands well above the rest. A spectacular jersey for a spectacular team.