Big 12 B-Ball News

[swilsonsp4]

In a very physical game, UH hung in to beat KS, 65-59, at home on Senior Night. The Cougars had 17 offensive rebounds and forced 20 turnovers, but shot miserably. The Jayhawks now are 10-9 in B12 play.

[swilsonsp4]

I was curious as to how close the typical B12 game is (in terms of final scores). I put together an Excel page and found the following concerning the 160 conference games played this season:

23 (14.38%) ended with the teams within 3 points;
89 (55.63%) ended with a difference of at least 10 points;

Road teams won 59 games (36.88%), with a mean margin of 10.07 (home teams won with a mean margin of 12.87);
The mean scoring difference in all games was skewed towards home teams at +4.41 (essentially a "home court advantage");

14 of the 16 teams lost at least one game by 16+; 7 of those lost by 30+ at least once. (The worst was KU's 51-point blowout of UCF). UC's worst was the 28-point loss at BYU. The two teams that had no large losses? UH (1-point to TT) and TT (8-points to UH).

[sedz]

I was curious as to how close the typical B12 game is (in terms of final scores). I put together an Excel page and found the following concerning the 160 conference games played this season:

23 (14.38%) ended with the teams within 3 points;
89 (55.63%) ended with a difference of at least 10 points;

Road teams won 59 games (36.88%), with a mean margin of 10.07 (home teams won with a mean margin of 12.87);
The mean scoring difference in all games was skewed towards home teams at +4.41 (essentially a "home court advantage");

14 of the 16 teams lost at least one game by 16+; 7 of those lost by 30+ at least once. (The worst was KU's 51-point blowout of UCF). UC's worst was the 28-point loss at BYU. The two teams that had no large losses? UH (1-point to TT) and TT (8-points to UH).

Nice analysis. I wonder how these numbers compare to other conferences, especially road performance.

[swilsonsp4]

Nice analysis. I wonder how these numbers compare to other conferences, especially road performance.

I looked at both the B1G & SEC for about half the season. Games were slightly tighter in the B1G & dramatically so in the SEC. The standard deviation in the SEC was just over 10, but 13.8 in the B13. Also, fewer road teams won. I'm out & don't have access to my data, so I can't clarify further.

[GoBearcats31]

Jizzle James = All-Big 12 Honorable Mention https://gobearcats.com/news/2025/3/1...e-mention.aspx

[sedz]

Here are my B12 awards based on conference BPM (min 20 mpg).

First Team
Henri Veesaar (Arizona)
JT Toppin (Texas Tech)
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Joshua Jefferson (Iowa St)
Richie Saunders (BYU)

Second Team
Javon Small (West Virginia)
LJ Cryer (Houston)
Emanuel Sharp (Houston)
Bangot Dak (Colorado)
Milos Uzan (Houston)

Third Team
Hunter Dickinson (Kansas)
Marchelus Avery (Oklahoma St)
Norchad Omier (Baylor)
Tobe Awaka (Arizona)
Elijah Hawkins (Texas Tech)

All Defense
Joshua Jefferson (Iowa St)
Joseph Tugler (Houston)
Sencire Harris (West Virginia)
Bangot Dak (Colorado)
Nate Heise (Iowa St)

[swilsonsp4]

I took the time to finish off the B1G and SEC scoring differentials and added the ACC, which has the highest proportion of double-digit wins. That is distorted by the results of Duke and Miami games. The Blue Devils won 17 times in their 20 games by two digits (some by big margins), while Miami lost by two figures 14 times.

Stat Measured	ACC	B12	B1G	SEC
Road Win %	37.22	36.22	43.33	40.28
Rd Win Margin Mean	12.09	10.07	8.71	7.95
Hm Win Margin Mean	12.12	12.87	12.51	13.53
% of Margins < 4	16.11	14.38	18.89	17.36
% of Margins > 9	57.78*	55.63	44.44	50.00
Overall Mean	2.22	4.41	3.32	3.60
Standard Deviation	14.37	13.82	13.26	12.65

*Of the 142 ACC games in which neither Duke nor The U played, the % of two-digit margins would be 52.82.

It’s clear that the B1G was the most competitive this season, at least in terms of highest proportion of one-score games to fewest double-digit margins.

[sedz]

Interesting stuff, swilsonsp4 . Our conference (outside of Houston) is not quite as top heavy as the SEC and their handful of teams good enough to beat anybody on the road (but by small margins). And as you point out, we don't have terrible teams like Miami or BC who lost multiple home games by 26 points. That 43% road win in the B1G is surprising. For all the complaining those teams do about travel, they perform better on the road than other conference.

[swilsonsp4]

Okie State, the sole B12 entry in the NIT, just took down $MU in Dallas, 85-83. The Cowboys move on to the 3rd round after disproving the Mustangs' and the ACC's value once again.

[GoBearcats31]

WVU Coliseum will now be known as Hope Coliseum -- Pete Thamel said the naming rights deal is expected to be worth more than $20 million

https://wvusports.com/news/2025/9/25...-coliseum.aspx

[swilsonsp4]

Here's CJ Moore's stab at a preseason ranking of the B12 basketball teams ($). He doesn't think much of the Bearcats. I also don't think he got the starting lineup right.

Big 12 men’s basketball preseason rankings: Houston, Arizona and a crowded top 5 - The Athletic

[red_n_black_attack]

Here's CJ Moore's stab at a preseason ranking of the B12 basketball teams ($). He doesn't think much of the Bearcats. I also don't think he got the starting lineup right.

Big 12 men’s basketball preseason rankings: Houston, Arizona and a crowded top 5 - The Athletic

Agreed. I think at least two of the listed starters will be different come November. I can't really argue that his ranking is wrong given how loaded the rest of the conference is, though I think we will finish 6th-8th place at worst. Hopefully much higher.

[GoBearcats31]

Big XII Media Day in KC is next week - Thiam, Thomas, Kriisa will be attending with Coach Miller

[GoBearcats31]

Preseason Poll

1. Houston (14) - 224
2. BYU (1) - 204
3. Texas Tech - 200
4. Arizona (1) - 179
5. Iowa State - 170
6. Kansas - 163
7. Baylor - 137
8. Cincinnati - 120
9. K-State - 117
10. TCU - 90
11. West Virginia - 79
12. Oklahoma State - 77
13. Utah - 50
14. UCF - 39
15. Colorado - 37
16. Arizona State - 34

https://big12sports.com/news/2025/10/16/houston-tabbed-as-big-12-mens-basketball-favorite-ttus-toppin-named-preseason-player-of-the-year.aspx

[GoBearcats31]

Big XII Media Day in KC is next week - Thiam, Thomas, Kriisa will be attending with Coach Miller

Big 12 Media Day is today