THE BIG 12 BASKETBALL WHIP-AROUND…
Let’s talk about Texas Tech. Every game that passes seems to pull back the slingshot further and further. This week, the Red Raiders sent West Virginia out of Lubbock with a loss (we all know what the Mountaineers did to Texas) and competed with Kansas until the final seconds. So, here they sit, tied with the Longhorns, Horned Frogs, and Sooners at 4-4 in conference, but I don’t believe they’ll be there for much longer. When the path eases up, look for Chris Beard to let go of the slingshot and Texas Tech to join Kansas, Baylor and West Virginia as the best teams in the conference.
Elsewhere across the conference:
--Texas won both games this week, which is a step in the right direction, but it’ll take a win next week to grab any attention from the big 12 leaders. That’ll be a tall task with the Jayhawks and Red Raiders next on the schedule.
--The drop off from Kansas/Baylor to the rest of the Big 12 grows, as West Virginia lost in Lubbock. Will they be the only two battling for the conference title?
--If they weren’t already, Iowa State’s loss in Austin certifies their “bottom of the barrel” status.
--TCU has lost three in a row. They desperately need a win in Stillwater on Wednesday as they face the Cowboys (who have yet to win a conference game). If the Horned Frogs drop that one, their season will continue a toilet bowl spin.
--Oklahoma is in a similar place to Texas. 4-4 in the Big 12, and facing two of the better teams in the conference this week. Can they keep forward momentum by beating West Virginia and/or Texas Tech? I would certainly take notice if they did.
This upcoming week feels like one that will separate the men from the boys. The teams gasping for air are going to have to prove why they deserve it.
BIG 12 CONFERENCE STANDINGS:
1. Baylor Bears (8-0, 19-1)
2. Kansas Jayhawks (7-1, 18-3)
3. West Virginia Mountaineers (5-3, 17-4)
4. Oklahoma Sooners (4-4, 14-7)
5. Texas Longhorns (4-4, 14-7)
6. TCU Horned Frogs (4-4, 13-8)
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-4, 13-8)
8. Iowa State Cyclones (2-6, 9-12)
9. Kansas State Wildcats (2-6, 9-12)
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (0-8, 10-11)
Blake’s Big 12 Basketball Player of the Week:
Jahmi’us Ramsey of Texas Tech is the winner this week. 47 total points and shot 10-16 from beyond the arc against stern competition in West Virginia and Kansas.
Statistic of the Week:
The Longhorns are drawing very few fouls. Since the start of conference play, Texas has only attempted 86 free throws. That is an absurdly low number. For context, Iowa State has the next lowest with 121 attempted. To make it even worse, the Longhorns have only made 55 of those attempts, which is third worst in the Big 12.
Big 12 Games to look forward to this week:
-- Oklahoma @ Texas Tech (2/4/2020, 8:00 p.m., ESPN2)
-- West Virginia @ Oklahoma (2/8/2020, 1:00 p.m., ESPNU)
-- Texas Tech @ Texas (2/8/2020, 3:00 p.m., ESPN2)
BURNT ORANGE BEYOND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS…
A weekly drive down the road less traveled, beyond the three major men’s sports.
(Photo via UT T&F twitter)
--Huge week for No. 2 Men’s Track and Field at the Razorback Invitational this week! They score 79 team points to win the overall title over Oregon. The win was cliched by the impressive Longhorn 4x400 team (Jon Maas, Jonathan Jones, Micaiah Harris and Moyo Oyebamiji). Texas was dominant across the board. O’Brien Wasome made his season debut at the triple jump – and won the event. Tripp Pipperi threw over a meter past the field in the shot put. Jonathan Jones improved upon last weeks time and won the 400m with a 46.04. Micaiah Harris broke his own world-leading 200m time with 20.49.
--No. 4 Women’s Track and Field also had a solid week, scoring a third overall. Kennedy Simon snatched the fastest time in the NCAA this year with a 52.20 in the 400m. Julien Alfred took the 60m-dash once again for her fifth win in six races this season.
--Karen Aston has Texas Women’s Basketball comfortably at third in the Big 12 conference. This week, they took care of business in Norman, but as expected, got pushed aside by the Baylor Bears. The Longhorns only game before the next BTBL is in Lubbock on Sunday. That's a sizable break to adjust and make strides down the heart of the Big 12 schedule.
--Tough loss for No. 1 Men’s Tennis as they fall to the No. 6 Buckeyes. Texas failed to win the doubles point, which couldn’t be made up by any of the back end matches. Yuya Ito (no. 2 ranked player in the nation) continued his dominance as he picked by the Longhorn’s only point. Spizzirri and Sigsguaard also had chances to win had play continued.
--A fantastic week for No. 7 Women’s Tennis as they defeat No. 8 NC State AND No. 22 Georgia Tech. Amazing effort in the victory over the Wolfpack as they lose the doubles point, but crush NC State in the two headline matches for the victory. Twin Longhorns Anna and Bianca Turati crushed Anna Rogers and Alana Smith (both top 40 national players).
--Expectations were met by No. 1 Men’s Swimming and Diving as they blow out Arizona and No. 13 Arizona State this week. The Women also competed and defeated Arizona State on Friday. These were not close contests…
Events upcoming, and featuring in the next edition of Beyond the Bright Lights:
Men’s Golf:
--Amer Ari Invitational (2/6-8/2020, Waikoloa Golf Club)
Women’s Golf:
--Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge (2/9/2020, Palos Verdes Estates, California)
Softball:
--Texas Classic (2/2-9/2020, Austin, Texas)
Swimming & Diving:
--Men and Women @ SMU (2/7/2020)
Track & Field:
--New Mexico Collegiate Classic (2/7-8/2020, Albequerque, New Mexico)
Rowing:
--vs. Chinese National Team (2/8/2020, Austin, Texas)
Women’s Basketball:
--@ Texas Tech (2/9/2020,1:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Men’s Tennis:
--vs. No. 18 Georgia (2/8/2020, 12:00 p.m.)
Women’s Tennis:
--ITA National Team Indoor Championship (2/7-9/2020, Chicago, Illinois)
Let’s talk about Texas Tech. Every game that passes seems to pull back the slingshot further and further. This week, the Red Raiders sent West Virginia out of Lubbock with a loss (we all know what the Mountaineers did to Texas) and competed with Kansas until the final seconds. So, here they sit, tied with the Longhorns, Horned Frogs, and Sooners at 4-4 in conference, but I don’t believe they’ll be there for much longer. When the path eases up, look for Chris Beard to let go of the slingshot and Texas Tech to join Kansas, Baylor and West Virginia as the best teams in the conference.
Elsewhere across the conference:
--Texas won both games this week, which is a step in the right direction, but it’ll take a win next week to grab any attention from the big 12 leaders. That’ll be a tall task with the Jayhawks and Red Raiders next on the schedule.
--The drop off from Kansas/Baylor to the rest of the Big 12 grows, as West Virginia lost in Lubbock. Will they be the only two battling for the conference title?
--If they weren’t already, Iowa State’s loss in Austin certifies their “bottom of the barrel” status.
--TCU has lost three in a row. They desperately need a win in Stillwater on Wednesday as they face the Cowboys (who have yet to win a conference game). If the Horned Frogs drop that one, their season will continue a toilet bowl spin.
--Oklahoma is in a similar place to Texas. 4-4 in the Big 12, and facing two of the better teams in the conference this week. Can they keep forward momentum by beating West Virginia and/or Texas Tech? I would certainly take notice if they did.
This upcoming week feels like one that will separate the men from the boys. The teams gasping for air are going to have to prove why they deserve it.
BIG 12 CONFERENCE STANDINGS:
1. Baylor Bears (8-0, 19-1)
2. Kansas Jayhawks (7-1, 18-3)
3. West Virginia Mountaineers (5-3, 17-4)
4. Oklahoma Sooners (4-4, 14-7)
5. Texas Longhorns (4-4, 14-7)
6. TCU Horned Frogs (4-4, 13-8)
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-4, 13-8)
8. Iowa State Cyclones (2-6, 9-12)
9. Kansas State Wildcats (2-6, 9-12)
10. Oklahoma State Cowboys (0-8, 10-11)
Blake’s Big 12 Basketball Player of the Week:
Jahmi’us Ramsey of Texas Tech is the winner this week. 47 total points and shot 10-16 from beyond the arc against stern competition in West Virginia and Kansas.
Statistic of the Week:
The Longhorns are drawing very few fouls. Since the start of conference play, Texas has only attempted 86 free throws. That is an absurdly low number. For context, Iowa State has the next lowest with 121 attempted. To make it even worse, the Longhorns have only made 55 of those attempts, which is third worst in the Big 12.
Big 12 Games to look forward to this week:
-- Oklahoma @ Texas Tech (2/4/2020, 8:00 p.m., ESPN2)
-- West Virginia @ Oklahoma (2/8/2020, 1:00 p.m., ESPNU)
-- Texas Tech @ Texas (2/8/2020, 3:00 p.m., ESPN2)
BURNT ORANGE BEYOND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS…
A weekly drive down the road less traveled, beyond the three major men’s sports.
(Photo via UT T&F twitter)
--Huge week for No. 2 Men’s Track and Field at the Razorback Invitational this week! They score 79 team points to win the overall title over Oregon. The win was cliched by the impressive Longhorn 4x400 team (Jon Maas, Jonathan Jones, Micaiah Harris and Moyo Oyebamiji). Texas was dominant across the board. O’Brien Wasome made his season debut at the triple jump – and won the event. Tripp Pipperi threw over a meter past the field in the shot put. Jonathan Jones improved upon last weeks time and won the 400m with a 46.04. Micaiah Harris broke his own world-leading 200m time with 20.49.
--No. 4 Women’s Track and Field also had a solid week, scoring a third overall. Kennedy Simon snatched the fastest time in the NCAA this year with a 52.20 in the 400m. Julien Alfred took the 60m-dash once again for her fifth win in six races this season.
--Karen Aston has Texas Women’s Basketball comfortably at third in the Big 12 conference. This week, they took care of business in Norman, but as expected, got pushed aside by the Baylor Bears. The Longhorns only game before the next BTBL is in Lubbock on Sunday. That's a sizable break to adjust and make strides down the heart of the Big 12 schedule.
--Tough loss for No. 1 Men’s Tennis as they fall to the No. 6 Buckeyes. Texas failed to win the doubles point, which couldn’t be made up by any of the back end matches. Yuya Ito (no. 2 ranked player in the nation) continued his dominance as he picked by the Longhorn’s only point. Spizzirri and Sigsguaard also had chances to win had play continued.
--A fantastic week for No. 7 Women’s Tennis as they defeat No. 8 NC State AND No. 22 Georgia Tech. Amazing effort in the victory over the Wolfpack as they lose the doubles point, but crush NC State in the two headline matches for the victory. Twin Longhorns Anna and Bianca Turati crushed Anna Rogers and Alana Smith (both top 40 national players).
--Expectations were met by No. 1 Men’s Swimming and Diving as they blow out Arizona and No. 13 Arizona State this week. The Women also competed and defeated Arizona State on Friday. These were not close contests…
Events upcoming, and featuring in the next edition of Beyond the Bright Lights:
Men’s Golf:
--Amer Ari Invitational (2/6-8/2020, Waikoloa Golf Club)
Women’s Golf:
--Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge (2/9/2020, Palos Verdes Estates, California)
Softball:
--Texas Classic (2/2-9/2020, Austin, Texas)
Swimming & Diving:
--Men and Women @ SMU (2/7/2020)
Track & Field:
--New Mexico Collegiate Classic (2/7-8/2020, Albequerque, New Mexico)
Rowing:
--vs. Chinese National Team (2/8/2020, Austin, Texas)
Women’s Basketball:
--@ Texas Tech (2/9/2020,1:00 p.m., ESPNU)
Men’s Tennis:
--vs. No. 18 Georgia (2/8/2020, 12:00 p.m.)
Women’s Tennis:
--ITA National Team Indoor Championship (2/7-9/2020, Chicago, Illinois)
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