Player of the Week
Greg Brown, Texas
Freshman Greg Brown had his most impressive outing of the season against Oklahoma State. The 6’9 forward poured in 24 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to help the No.11 Longhorns defeat the Cowboys 77-74. Brown was one of the most sought after recruits in the Big 12, and subsequently was expected to be a hyped prospect for the draft. Initially, he had a shaky start to the season, averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game on just 41% shooting and 26% three-point shooting. Against Texas though, Brown may have had his breakout performance, highlighting the athleticism and shooting touch that led to his high expectations. Brown had a season-high in points, rebounds, all while contributing three blocks, and improved percentages from the field and from deep. He also added multiple great dunks, showing his bounce and rim-running ability. If Brown can build on this performance and continue to play with the same assertiveness and activity, he will regain his status as one of the prospects to watch out of the Big 12.
Who’s Hot
Kansas Jayhawks
The No.3 team in the country played like it on Wednesday, beating No.7 West Virginia 79-65. The win was certainty their best of the young season and due to great balance throughout the starting lineup. All five of the starters scored in double digits, with four of them hitting at least three three-pointers. The Mountaineers are one of the most physically imposing teams in the country, and Kansas handled the frontcourt presence wonderfully. They limited star forwards Derek Culver and Oscar Tshiebwe to 11 points on 5-14 shooting. Mitigating their presence was a key to the win, as well as Christian Braun taking over from deep. He scored 22 points, hitting six threes and leading the team with seven assists. The Jayhawks have proven that they are one of the best teams in the country, and that they are almost impossible to beat at Allen Fieldhouse.
Terrence Shannon Jr., Texas Tech
Similarly to Brown, Shannon is considered one of the best prospects in the conference, but also had a slow start to the year. The sophomore guard began the season scoring 13.3 points per game against lower-tier opponents. As Big 12 conference play has ramped up, so has Shannon’s play. Over the last two games against Kansas and Oklahoma, he has averaged 20.5 points per game, and had 10 rebounds between the two contents. His contributions show up more on the floor than on the box score, as he kept the Red Raiders close against one of the best teams in the country in Kansas. He hit multiple difficult shots as the game winded down, and almost hit a game-winner to cap off the showcase. While he should have had a better shot to win the game, the challenging look falls more on head coach Chris Beard, as he had a timeout to draw up a better look. Shannon has taken over the past two games and should continue to be the scoring punch for a dangerous Texas Tech team.
Who’s Not
Oscar Tshiebwe, West Virginia
West Virginia has had a rough week even though they went 1-1. The Mountaineers were at home and barely escaped bottom of the conference Iowa State, winning 70-65. Then, West Virginia was dominated by Kansas in the second half, losing 79-65. They were greatly outplayed in a game that could have shown the country they were truly ready to be title contenders. Instead, they were crushed by the Jayhawks, and showed no fight on the inside offensively. The guards carried the offense for large portions of the game, with Sam McNeil and Miles McBride combining for 45 of the team’s 65 points. The reason the guards needed to score so often, was the lack of offense from their star center. Tshiebwe is one of the most impactful players in the conference but scored just three points and had only five rebounds against Kansas, taking just five shots. He always makes an impact defensively but has to contribute more to other facets of the game if West Virginia has any chance of playing deep into the tournament.
Top Five Current NBA Players from the Big 12
5. Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
A five-star recruit when he chose the Cowboys, Smart has developed into one of the NBA’s best defenders. He is physical, aggressive and versatile. In addition, he has become a more confident and capable shooter, allowing for a more complete offensive game, and greater spacing for his Celtic teammates.
4. Khris Middleton, Texas A&M
Known more as the Robin to Giannis’ Batman, Middleton is still an incredible player on his own. The former Aggie standout averaged almost 21 points, over six rebounds and four assists per game last season. He is one of NBA’s best mid-range scorers and is a tenacious defender. He greatly improved almost every season and should be an All-star for years to come.
3. Trae Young, Oklahoma
He will always be linked to Luka Doncic, as he was part of the trade that allowed the Mavericks to select Doncic. Still, Young is one of the brightest young stars in the NBA, and the former Sooner can score from anywhere. With a constant green light to shoot, Young is probably the closest comparison the NBA has to MVP Steph Curry. He is a minus on defense, but his incredible range and vision wreak havoc on opposing defenses.
2. Joel Embiid, Kansas
The 7’0-foot big man from Cameroon has been plagued by injuries throughout his short career. However, when he is on the floor, he makes the most of it. Embiid has scored at least 20 points per game in every season and has averaged over 12 rebounds per game over the last three seasons. He is one of the toughest players to guard, and one of the best interior defenders in the league. At his peak, the former Jayhawk is the best center in the league.
1. Kevin Durant, Texas
Arguably the greatest scorer of all time, there is no stopping Kevin Durant. The former Longhorn is one of the best players in the league. He has averaged 27 points per game over his career, and the former MVP is impossible to guard. He can handle and shoot the ball like a point guard but has the height and athleticism to jump over any defender. Even after coming back from a devastating achilles injury, Durant looks primed to once again be a dominant force in the NBA.