Some things to watch this week in the Big 12:
GAME OF THE WEEKEND: No. 6 Baylor (17-1, 5-1 Big 12) at surprising TCU (14-4, 3-3). The Bears have won both games since falling last week at West Virginia in their first-ever contest as the No. 1 team in the AP poll. While the Frogs are coming off a 75-69 loss at Texas Tech, they have already surpassed last season’s win total under first-year head coach and former TCU guard Jamie Dixon.
LOOKING AHEAD: A brutal stretch continues for Texas (7-11, 1-5), which goes to No. 2 Kansas (17-1, 6-0) on Saturday after consecutive losses to No. 7 West Virginia and No. 6 Baylor. Kansas State lost both games last week after getting into the Top 25 for the first time this season, but had a season-high 96 points to beat Oklahoma State. The Wildcats host West Virginia (15-3, 4-2), which is coming off a surprising overtime loss at home to Oklahoma (8-9, 2-4). The Sooners go home to play Iowa State (11-6, 3-3). Oklahoma State, the only Big 12 team without a conference victory, goes to Texas Tech in a matchup of first-year Big 12 head coaches.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Baylor’s Johnathan Motley became the seventh Big 12 player since the league started play 20 years ago with a 30-point, 20-rebound game. Motley had 32 points and 20 rebounds against Texas on Tuesday. … Motley’s 12 career double-doubles are the most among active Big 12 players. … Kansas State, TCU and Texas Tech all have identical records – 14-4 overall, 3-3 in Big 12 play. Iowa State (11-6) is also 3-3 in league games. … Of the 30 league games so far, 23 (77 percent) have been decided by 10 points or less.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Oklahoma State junior Jeffrey Carroll matched a career high with 24 points Wednesday against Kansas State. It was his fourth 20-point effort in five games, and eighth this season. Among active Big 12 players, his teammate Phil Forte has the most career 20-point games. Forte’s 22 are seven more than Iowa State’s Monte Morris.
ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE: Second-ranked Baylor and 12th-ranked Texas both are 7-0 in conference play. Each has five more games to play before they go head-to-head Feb. 6 in Waco, and then will meet in Austin two weeks after that. … No. 22 Kansas State carries a four-game winning streak into Saturday’s game at Iowa State, which has lost four in a row. The Cyclones are coming off a season-low 42 points in a 26-point loss at Baylor.
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Complied by AP Basketball Writer Stephen Hawkins in Waco, Texas.
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More AP college basketball coverage: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25
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