This was the season Dibbini guaranteed a Big Twelve Champhonship when he first took that job. Something tells me that won’t happen and Kansas State will finish second bottom behind Iowa State. Minatta has kept Iowa State at the basement and will continue to do so. West Virginia have a winning program and they are always going to be in the mix. Would love to see Kansas win it. Good coach and they are enjoyable to watch.
WEEK SIX Standings Team Pts. W L D Oklahoma State 6 2 0 0 West Virginia 6 2 0 0 Texas 3 1 0 0 Texas Tech 3 1 1 0 Kansas 3 1 1 0 Oklahoma 3 1 1 0 TCU 1 0 1 1 Iowa State 1 0 1 1 Baylor 0 0 1 0 Kansas State 0 0 2 0 Scores Sept. 21 TCU 2, Iowa State 2 (2OT) (15) Oklahoma State 3, Kansas State 1 West Virginia 2, (22) Texas Tech 0 (11) Texas 2, Baylor 1 (OT) (24) Kansas 2, Oklahoma 1 (2OT) Sept. 23 (22) Texas Tech 3, Iowa State 0 (15) Oklahoma State 2, (24) Kansas 1 Oklahoma 1, Kansas State 0 West Virginia 2, TCU 0 Players of the Week (Sept. 25) Offensive: Marlo Zoller, Oklahoma State Defensive: Easther Mayi Kith, West Virginia Freshman: Mackenzie McFarland, Texas National Honors (Sept. 25) None RPI (via NCAA.com) – through Sept. 23 10. Texas 12. Oklahoma State 15. Baylor 17. Kansas 23. West Virginia 29. TCU 53. Texas Tech 66. Oklahoma 113. Kansas State 137. Iowa State Rankings (Sept. 24/25) United Soccer Coaches (Sept. 25) 8. Texas 13. Oklahoma State Top Drawer Soccer (Sept. 24) 6. Texas 17. Oklahoma State Soccer America (Sept. 25) 6. Texas 12. Oklahoma State 23. West Virginia United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region (Sept. 25) 1. Texas 2. Oklahoma State 3. West Virginia 4. Texas Tech 5. Kansas 6. TCU 7. Baylor 10. Oklahoma Records Texas 9-0-1 Oklahoma State 10-1 Texas Tech 9-2 TCU 7-2-2 Kansas 7-2-2 West Virginia 6-2-3 Baylor 7-4 Oklahoma 5-5-1 Kansas State 4-5-2 Iowa State 2-8-2 Week Seven Games Sept. 28 Kansas State at West Virginia TCU at Baylor (8) Texas at (13) Oklahoma State Texas Tech at Oklahoma Sept. 29 Iowa State at Kansas Sept. 30 (8) Texas at TCU Baylor at Texas Tech (13) Oklahoma State at Oklahoma
It was an exciting opening weekend in the Big 12, and one that nearly changed the dynamic of the conference title race. Oklahoma State and West Virginia jumped to the front of the pack, with the Cowgirls sweeping the Kansas schools and the Mountaineers dumping both Texas Tech and TCU on the road. WVU had to be ready right away if they are going to contend, and they were up to the task. This was the West Virginia everyone expected at the start of the year. OSU was in control of the Kansas State match but had a fight on their hands with Kansas. The Cowgirls took advantage of some miscues in the second half to claim the points against a Jayhawk side that controlled the first half. Texas escaped disaster in the opening weekend, coming back to beat Baylor in overtime. The Bears had chances to end the game in regulation, but couldn't put a second goal in. These teams only played once this last weekend. Kansas took a hit in the title race by losing to Oklahoma State, but they're not out of things by any means. They fought hard on Friday night to come back and beat OU in overtime. Texas Tech and Oklahoma both did what could be expected - beat a bad team, lose to a good one. These teams look to be mid-table sides, and both got mid-table results. TCU did not escape disaster, losing to West Virginia and somehow garnering only a draw with Iowa State at home. The Horned Frogs question is answered; unless things get weird, they'll be a spoiler, not a title contender. Kansas State is sitting alone in last place, thanks to Iowa State picking up that miracle point in Fort Worth. KSU had chances against Oklahoma and plenty of time to get something done (OU scored in the first minute to win) and couldn't do it, which doesn't bode well. This week's schedule has some great matchups - TCU/Baylor will be a fight, and Texas Tech/Oklahoma will be important for mid-table placings down the line. The Sunday games should all be entertaining as well. But the unquestioned "game of the week" is Texas at Oklahoma State. This is a key match in the race for the conference title, and will be the Longhorns' first true road game since their draw with North Carolina. On the flip side, this is OSU's first home game after a four-game road trip.
I agree that Kansas are still going to be in the reckoning for top spot or at least top three. TCU- I think this will be a struggle this conference season. Although admittedly I have only seen one game. Kansas State- Dibbini has stated when he first got the job he would win the conference in 2018. This guy has a reputation of being an idiot but he in my opinion should be held to this standard this fall. Iowa state aren’t going to get anything done.
I can't rip on Dibbini too much if he said that - it would have been stupid, yes, but the guy's trying to do 20 years' worth of catch-up. He would have needed something to sell, which now he actually has with K-State's facility plan. They're still in it, but Kansas is going to be the wild card in the title race. Conference play is what usually trips up the Jayhawks' seasons. Couple that with West Virginia seeming to find their form, and a typical KU team might not do better than fourth.
Well, this was an upside-down weekend in the Big 12. West Virginia is in the driver's seat again after two big upsets on Sunday.
WEEK SEVEN Standings Team Pts. W L D West Virginia 9 3 0 0 Oklahoma State 7 2 1 1 Oklahoma 7 2 1 1 Kansas 6 2 1 0 Baylor 6 2 1 0 Texas 4 1 1 1 Texas Tech 4 1 2 1 TCU 4 1 2 1 Iowa State 1 0 2 1 Kansas State 0 0 3 0 Scores Sept. 28 West Virginia 4, Kansas State 0 Baylor 1, TCU 0 (8) Texas 1, (13) Oklahoma State 1 (2OT) Texas Tech 0, Oklahoma 0 (2OT) Sept. 29 Kansas 1, Iowa State 0 Sept. 30 TCU 1, (8) Texas 0 Baylor 2, Texas Tech 0 Oklahoma 2, (13) Oklahoma State 1 Players of the Week (Oct. 2) Offensive: Jackie Crowther, Baylor Defensive: Jennifer Wandt, Baylor Freshman: Alina Stahl, West Virginia National Honors (Oct. 2) Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week – Sarah King, Baylor RPI (via NCAA.com) – through Sept. 30 9. Baylor 10. Texas 16. Oklahoma State 19. West Virginia 24. TCU 25. Kansas 56. Oklahoma 63. Texas Tech 114. Kansas State 141. Iowa State Rankings (Oct. 1/2/3) United Soccer Coaches (Oct. 2) 13. Texas 16. West Virginia 21. Oklahoma State 24. Baylor Top Drawer Soccer (Oct. 1) 11. Texas 23. Oklahoma State Soccer America (Oct. 2) 13. Texas 18. West Virginia 24. Oklahoma State Hero Sports (Oct. 3) 10. Texas 12. West Virginia 14. Oklahoma State 22. Baylor United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region (Oct. 2) 1. West Virginia 2. Texas 3. Baylor 4. Oklahoma State 5. Kansas 6. TCU 7. Texas Tech 8. Oklahoma Records Texas 9-1-2 Oklahoma State 10-2-1 Kansas 8-2-2 Texas Tech 9-3-1 West Virginia 7-2-3 TCU 8-3-2 Baylor 9-4 Oklahoma 6-5-2 Kansas State 4-6-2 Iowa State 2-9-2 Week Eight Games Oct. 5 (24) Baylor at (16) West Virginia Texas Tech at (21) Oklahoma State Kansas at Kansas State (13) Texas at Iowa State TCU at Oklahoma Oct. 7 (13) Texas at (16) West Virginia (24) Baylor at Iowa State
Last weekend was a game-changer in the Big 12 race. West Virginia is in complete control of the title chase heading into their games this weekend thanks to two big upsets on Sunday. The game of the week happened Friday night, with Texas traveling to Oklahoma State. Texas has not won in Stillwater since 2002, but has not lost there since 2009. This game ended up as another one in that string, with a highly physical, borderline out-of-control game. Oklahoma State had a game-winner waved off with around one minute remaining after a questionable foul call in the box, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Both teams then lost Sunday, with Texas losing its first game of the year to TCU and Oklahoma State losing to an Oklahoma side they had already beaten earlier in the year. West Virginia, meanwhile, picked up its third conference win and has yet to allow a goal, and now the conference is wide open behind the Mountaineers. The UT and OSU losses have opened the door for Baylor and Kansas to get back in the title chase if WVU drops points. That, of course, will be the challenge. What could have shaped up very favorably for Oklahoma State now shifts to the Mountaineers; they have Baylor and Texas this weekend in Morgantown, and two wins should pretty much end the title chase. WVU still has to make its Oklahoma trip, but they get Kansas at home. Oklahoma is tied for second on points right now, but I don't expect that to last. Other than OSU, they haven't played any of the contenders yet.
Should also mention Texas is not at full strength right now - two of their players got called into the Canadian National Team for World Cup qualifying.
WEEK EIGHT Standings Team Pts. W L D Baylor 12 4 1 0 West Virginia 12 4 1 0 Kansas 9 3 1 0 Texas 7 2 2 1 Oklahoma State 7 2 2 1 Texas Tech 7 2 2 1 TCU 7 2 2 1 Oklahoma 7 2 2 1 Iowa State 1 0 4 1 Kansas State 0 0 4 0 Scores Oct. 5 (24) Baylor 1, (16) West Virginia 0 (OT) Texas Tech 1, (21) Oklahoma State 0 Kansas 2, Kansas State 0 (13) Texas 2, Iowa State 1 TCU 1, Oklahoma 0 (2OT) Oct. 7 (16) West Virginia 2, (13) Texas 1 (24) Baylor 2, Iowa State 1 (2OT) Players of the Week (Oct. 9) Offensive: Bianca St. Georges, West Virginia Defensive: Marissa Zucchetto, Texas Tech Freshman: Jordan Brewster, West Virginia National Honors (Oct. 9) None RPI (via NCAA.com) – through Oct. 7 8. Baylor 15. Texas 16. West Virginia 23. Oklahoma State 24. Kansas 28. TCU 43. Texas Tech 51. Oklahoma 112. Kansas State 140. Iowa State Rankings (Oct. 8/9/10) United Soccer Coaches (Oct. 9) 14. Baylor 18. West Virginia 20. Texas Top Drawer Soccer (Oct. 8) 15. Texas 21. Baylor 23. Oklahoma State 25. Kansas Soccer America (Oct. 9) 18. Baylor 19. West Virginia 20. Texas Hero Sports (Oct. 10) 14. West Virginia 19. Texas 21. Baylor 22. Oklahoma State 23. Kansas United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region (Oct. 9) 1. Baylor 2. West Virginia 3. Texas 4. Kansas 5. TCU 6. Texas Tech 7. Oklahoma State 8. Oklahoma Records Texas 10-2-2 Kansas 9-2-2 Oklahoma State 10-3-1 Texas Tech 10-3-1 Baylor 11-4 TCU 9-3-2 West Virginia 8-3-3 Oklahoma 6-6-2 Kansas State 4-7-2 Iowa State 2-11-2 Week Nine Games Oct. 12 Texas Tech at Kansas State Oklahoma State at (14) Baylor (18) West Virginia at Iowa State TCU at Kansas Oklahoma at (20) Texas Oct. 14 TCU at Kansas State Texas Tech at Kansas
Well, the pattern of a title contender failing to seize an opportunity continues. In their seventh season, West Virginia finally lost a home match in Big 12 play and now Baylor is in complete control of the title chase. The Bears only have home games remaining, and will beat opponents up in all of them - Baylor is again one of the nation's biggest offenders in committing fouls. Kansas is still hanging around, three points back but with a game in hand. They still have both WVU and Baylor to play, so they are not out of things by any means. Then comes the logjam. The next five teams are all sitting on seven points with identical 2-2-1 records. This will sort itself out some, but it shows the strength of the mid-table teams (and the weaknesses two of the better teams are currently facing). Texas is hanging on, but it's clear they are not the same team without their Canadians. Getting those players back from National Team duty will be a boon for the Longhorns, though it's probably too late to save any conference title hopes. Oklahoma State is slumping, in large part because the injury bug has come to Stillwater. After three players went down in the Texas match, two more went down against Texas Tech, including the team's co-leading scorer. One of the two goalkeepers OSU has been rotating is also out, and the Cowgirls could very well end up with a four-match losing streak before Iowa State comes to town. Iowa State and Kansas State are still terrible.
WEEK NINE Standings Team Pts. W L D Baylor 15 5 1 0 West Virginia 15 5 1 0 Texas Tech 13 4 2 1 Kansas 12 4 2 0 Texas 10 3 2 1 TCU 10 3 3 1 Oklahoma State 7 2 3 1 Oklahoma 7 2 3 1 Iowa State 1 0 5 1 Kansas State 0 0 6 0 Scores Oct. 12 Texas Tech 2, Kansas State 0 (14) Baylor 1, Oklahoma State 0 (18) West Virginia 2, Iowa State 0 Kansas 2, TCU 1 (OT) (20) Texas 3, Oklahoma 2 Oct. 14 TCU 2, Kansas State 1 Texas Tech 2, Kansas 1 (OT) Players of the Week (Oct. 16) Offensive: Alexa Adams, Texas Defensive: Marissa Zucchetto, Texas Tech Freshman: Cassandra Hiatt, Texas Tech National Honors (Oct. 16) None RPI (via NCAA.com) – through Oct. 14 5. Baylor 11. Texas 18. West Virginia 23. Kansas 24. Oklahoma State 28. TCU 38. Texas Tech 61. Oklahoma 128. Kansas State 134. Iowa State Rankings (Oct. 15/16/17) United Soccer Coaches (Oct. 16) 13. Baylor 16. West Virginia 17. Texas Top Drawer Soccer (Oct. 15) 13. Texas 20. Baylor 23. West Virginia 24. Texas Tech Soccer America (Oct. 16) 15. Baylor 16. West Virginia 17. Texas Hero Sports (Oct. 17) 11. West Virginia 16. Texas 17. Baylor 21. Oklahoma State 25. Kansas United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region (Oct. 16) 1. Baylor 2. West Virginia 3. Texas 4. Texas Tech 5. Kansas 6. TCU 7. Oklahoma State 10. Oklahoma Records Texas 11-2-2 Texas Tech 12-3-1 Baylor 12-4 Kansas 10-3-2 West Virginia 9-3-3 Oklahoma State 10-4-1 TCU 10-4-2 Oklahoma 6-7-2 Kansas State 4-9-2 Iowa State 2-12-2 Week Ten Games Oct. 19 (16) West Virginia at Oklahoma State Kansas State at (13) Baylor Texas Tech at TCU Iowa State at Oklahoma Kansas at (17) Texas Oct. 21 Iowa State at Oklahoma State Kansas State at (17) Texas (16) West Virginia at Oklahoma Kansas at (13) Baylor
Only major surprise last week in the Big 12 was Texas Tech taking down Kansas in Lawrence. It puts the Red Raiders technically back in the title chase, but they'd need a lot of help. Kansas can still claim a share, but they'll likely have to win out to do so and their remaining schedule consists of the three ranked teams, all on the road. Baylor and West Virginia are out in front, with Baylor still in control of the race. A tie would seem likely, but this has not been a season where the likely outcome has been the common one. Texas and TCU are still in good shape RPI-wise, and Texas will get a big boost as the CONCACAF Women's Championship is concluding and their two Canadian stars, Julia Grosso and Emma Regan, will rejoin the team. Texas may be out of the regular-season title chase, but they'll be a threat in the conference tournament and dangerous in the NCAAs. TCU is plugging away and getting solid results. The other team that is in good shape for a tournament bid, at least RPI-wise, is Oklahoma State, but the Cowgirls are a triage unit right now. Co-leading scorer Marlo Zoller missed the Baylor game with an injury, and the other co-leading scorer, Haley Woodard, went down in that game. Defender Hannah Webb also had to be taken off the field. A season that had a lot of promise has been derailed, and it's unclear how strong the Cowgirls will be in time for the conference tournament. Oklahoma is probably outside looking in; just not enough results. But the Sooners are much improved this season over last, which I would think would ease the heat (if there is any) on Matt Potter. Iowa State and Kansas State are still terrible.
Just an FYI, based on games through 10/14, the Big Twelve was #2 in the average RPI list, behind the SEC and ahead of the ACC and Pac 12.
This is an unfair characterization of Baylor this season. I've seen a few games and they can keep the ball when they need to and have a great mix of both direct and possession play. Their freshman look terrific, and their ability to combine in the attacking third is beyond most big 12 teams. Based on their Texas game where they dominated a more talented and athletic team, I think Baylor is the most complete team in the big 12...nothing like their enforcer teams of the past.
I don't think it's unfair at all. It's who Baylor is. They are overly aggressive and physical regardless of their skill level, their opponent's skill level, or the necessity of being aggressive and physical. Coming into this weekend, Baylor was fifth-worst nationally in total fouls committed and eighth-worst nationally in fouls per game.
What is your source to pull national aggregate fouls? I browsed Baylor's box scores and dumped to a spreadsheet. Baylor has averaged 11.7 fouls per game, and their opponents 8.9...basically 3 fouls per game net. Digging in a little, it looks like Baylor doesn't foul much more than their opponents in power 5 games against stronger teams. Their power 5 fouls per game are still ~12, but stronger opponents are fouling them ~10 per game. Their only power 5 games with a substantial foul differential with their opponents were Iowa State and OK State. Throw those two outliers out and BU's power 5 fouls this season are 106 to opponents 104. They're clearly a physical, aggressive team with speed on the flanks and size up top. Just seems to me watching them play the thing that jumps out isn't that they're "beating up" opponents, but that they seem capable of dynamism through the midfield (and they aren't using internationals to do it).
Alternatively, and better yet, go here for Baylor's fouls per game and rank (there are 335 teams in total): http://stats.ncaa.org/teams/441578. This indicates that Baylor's average fouls per game is 12.56, not that far off from your number. The 12.56 is based on official box scores entered into the NCAA's scoring system and vetted by both teams involved in a game.
Glove Stinks and cpthomas answered it, though I'd been going with the 333 number rather than 335, so that would adjust Baylor's placement. It may have sounded like I was trying to put Baylor down, but it really is just part of who they are. It's been that way for years, even through coaching changes.
WEEK TEN Standings Team Pts. W L D Baylor 21 7 1 0 West Virginia 21 7 1 0 Texas 16 5 2 1 TCU 13 4 3 1 Texas Tech 13 4 3 1 Kansas 12 4 4 0 Oklahoma 10 3 4 1 Oklahoma State 7 2 5 1 Iowa State 4 1 6 1 Kansas State 0 0 8 0 Scores Oct. 19 (16) West Virginia 2, Oklahoma State 1 (13) Baylor 1, Kansas State 0 TCU 2, Texas Tech 0 Oklahoma 2, Iowa State 1 (17) Texas 2, Kansas 0 Oct. 21 Iowa State 2, Oklahoma State 0 (17) Texas 4, Kansas State 0 (16) West Virginia 4, Oklahoma 1 (13) Baylor 3, Kansas 1 Players of the Week (Oct. 23) Offensive: Hannah Abraham, West Virginia Defensive: Nicole Curry, Texas Freshman: Julia Grosso, Texas National Honors (Oct. 23) TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week – Messiah Bright, TCU – Honorable Mention RPI (via NCAA.com) – through Oct. 21 4. Baylor 9. Texas 12. West Virginia 23. TCU 30. Kansas 40. Oklahoma State 41. Texas Tech 79. Oklahoma 130. Kansas State 138. Iowa State Rankings (Oct. 22/23/24) United Soccer Coaches (Oct. 23) 10. Baylor 13. West Virginia 17. Texas Top Drawer Soccer (Oct. 22) 12. Texas 17. Baylor 19. West Virginia 25. TCU Soccer America (Oct. 23) 10. Baylor 11. West Virginia 12. Texas Hero Sports (Oct. 24) 6. West Virginia 12. Texas 15. Baylor United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region (Oct. 23) 1. Baylor 2. West Virginia 3. Texas 4. TCU 5. Texas Tech 6. Kansas 7. Oklahoma State 10. Oklahoma Records Texas 13-2-2 Baylor 14-4 West Virginia 11-3-3 Texas Tech 12-4-1 TCU 11-4-2 Kansas 10-5-2 Oklahoma State 10-6-1 Oklahoma 7-8-2 Kansas State 4-11-2 Iowa State 3-13-2 Week Eleven Games Oct. 25 Kansas at (13) West Virginia Kansas State at Iowa State TCU at Oklahoma State Oklahoma at (10) Baylor (17) Texas at Texas Tech
Another mostly-expected week, but one big surprise has kept the conference tournament field from being set. Here's how things stand going into Thursday's final night. Baylor and West Virginia remain tied atop the standings. Baylor has the easier home game against Oklahoma, but Kansas has been stumbling a bit and West Virginia should also be expected to win. If there's a tie, Baylor has the tiebreaker and would be the top seed for the conference tournament, though both teams would claim the regular season title. Texas is alone in third, but can still be caught by TCU or Texas Tech. The Longhorns only need a draw with Tech to clinch the No. 3 spot, but both TCU and Tech have a shot at it if the Longhorns lose. TCU holds the tiebreaker over any team that might create a tie with them. Kansas is one point too far back to shoot for No. 3, but can still finish as high as fourth. Oklahoma currently loses any tiebreaker, but can finish as high as the fifth seed if their goal differential with Texas Tech flips to their favor. Iowa State is terrible and has been all season. They're also likely to make the conference tournament now. Oklahoma State's injury woes caused a big losing streak, but now they're in free fall after failing to break it and picking up an inexcusable loss to the Cyclones on Sunday. OSU needs only a point to clinch the final spot, but at this point, I don't think they can get it. The only scenario that keeps the Cowgirls out of the conference tournament is a loss to TCU and an Iowa State win. Since ISU plays Kansas State, that's exactly what I expect to happen. It's just stunning how much injuries have ruined the Cowgirls. Kansas State's goal differential in Big 12 play is -17, and they are on track to post the eighth winless season (and seventh fully-defeated season) in Big 12 history. Thankfully, their misery ends Thursday. Here are the possible seeds for the Big 12 Tournament: Baylor - 1 or 2 West Virginia - 1 or 2 Texas - 3, 4, or 5 TCU - 3, 4, 5, or 6 Texas Tech - 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 Kansas - 4, 5, 6, or 7 Oklahoma - 5, 6, or 7 Oklahoma State - 8 Iowa State - 8 Tiebreakers: Baylor over West Virginia, TCU over Texas, TCU over Texas Tech, TCU over Oklahoma, Oklahoma over Oklahoma State, Iowa State over Oklahoma State. Texas Tech currently holds a tiebreaker over Oklahoma on goal differential. Texas would currently win a three-way tie with TCU and Texas Tech on goal differential (head-to-head is not applied on a three-way tie, even though TCU beat both teams). ****************************** NCAA-wise, Baylor, WVU, Texas, TCU, and Kansas are all probably good to go. Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are still on the bubble thanks to RPI, but Tech could use a good result, and I think OSU has played themselves out of the tournament no matter what. You just can't lose to a team as bad as Iowa State.
WEEK ELEVEN Standings Team Pts. W L D Baylor 24 8 1 0 West Virginia 21 7 2 0 Texas 16 5 3 1 TCU 16 5 3 1 Texas Tech 16 5 3 1 Kansas 15 5 4 0 Oklahoma 10 3 5 1 Iowa State 7 2 6 1 Oklahoma State 7 2 6 1 Kansas State 0 0 9 0 Scores Oct. 25 Kansas 2, (13) West Virginia 1 (OT) Iowa State 1, Kansas State 0 TCU 3, Oklahoma State 2 (10) Baylor 1, Oklahoma 0 Texas Tech 1, (17) Texas 0 Records Baylor 15-4 Texas 13-3-2 Texas Tech 13-4-1 TCU 12-4-2 West Virginia 11-4-3 Kansas 11-5-2 Oklahoma State 10-7-1 Oklahoma 7-9-2 Kansas State 4-12-2 Iowa State 4-13-2 Big 12 Tournament Oct. 28 (1) Baylor vs. (8) Iowa State – 11:30 AM CT (4) TCU vs. (5) Texas Tech – 2:00 PM CT (2) West Virginia vs. (7) Oklahoma – 5:30 PM CT (3) Texas vs. (6) Kansas – 8 PM CT Nov. 2 SEMIFINAL 1 – 4:30 PM CT SEMIFINAL 2 – 7 PM CT Nov. 4 FINAL – 2:30 PM CT – Fox Sports 1
Some upsets tonight in the Big 12, and exciting games all around. The drag is that a team that clearly doesn't belong will be in the conference tournament, which hurts the entire league. Kansas found a winner to hand West Virginia their second home Big 12 loss and hand the conference title to Baylor. It's Baylor's first regular season title in 20 years. But, it's a little bittersweet for the Jayhawks, as other results meant their conference position didn't improve. Texas Tech upset Texas in Lubbock, and then TCU beat Oklahoma State to forge a three-way tie. If I'm reading things correctly, that then gave Texas the number 3 spot again thanks to a superior goal differential. Basically, all TCU winning did was turn their match with Tech from a 3-6 game to a 4-5 game. As expected, Iowa State beat Kansas State. So Oklahoma State, who finally got most of their top players back tonight, will miss the Big 12 tournament for the first time since 2005. OSU ends the season on a six-game losing streak after looking like a conference title contender and a threat for a good NCAA run four weeks ago. I'm sick for the Cowgirls and embarrassed for the conference; Iowa State has the worst overall record in the league. Kansas State becomes the eighth team to go winless in Big 12 play, and the seventh to do it by losing all their games. It can't get much worse; we'll see how the Wildcats build up next year. The conference tournament begins Sunday under an odd new format; the first round will be this weekend, then a week off before the semifinals and finals.
WEEK ELEVEN (continued) Scores Oct. 28 – Big 12 Tournament Round 1 (1) Baylor 3, (8) Iowa State 0 (5) Texas Tech 0, (4) TCU 0 (2OT) – Texas Tech wins 5-3 on penalty kicks (2) West Virginia 3, (7) Oklahoma 0 (3) Texas 0, (6) Kansas 0 (2OT) – Texas wins 3-1 on penalty kicks Records Baylor 16-4 Texas 13-3-3 Texas Tech 13-4-2 West Virginia 12-4-3 TCU 12-4-3 Kansas 11-5-3 Oklahoma State 10-7-1 Oklahoma 7-10-2 Kansas State 4-12-2 Iowa State 4-14-2 Players of the Week (Oct. 26) Offensive: Katie McClure, Kansas Defensive: Sarah Peters, Kansas Freshman: Sarah Peters, Kansas National Honors (Oct. 23) TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week Cassandra Hiatt, Texas Tech Julie James, Baylor RPI (via NCAA.com) – through Oct. 28 3. Baylor 10. Texas 14. West Virginia 20. TCU 22. Kansas 34. Texas Tech 52. Oklahoma State 92. Oklahoma 137. Iowa State 161. Kansas State Rankings United Soccer Coaches (Oct. 30) 9. Baylor 14. West Virginia 18. Texas Top Drawer Soccer (Oct. 29) 10. Texas 17. Baylor 21. West Virginia Soccer America (Oct. 30) 7. Baylor 17. West Virginia 18. Texas Tech 19. Texas Hero Sports (Nov. 2) 7. West Virginia 10. Baylor 14. Texas 23. TCU United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region (Oct. 30) 1. Baylor 2. West Virginia 3. Texas 4. Texas Tech 5. TCU 6. Kansas 9. Oklahoma State Big 12 Tournament Nov. 2 (1) Baylor vs. (5) Texas Tech – 4:30 PM CT (2) West Virginia vs. (3) Texas – 7 PM CT Nov. 4 FINAL – 2:30 PM CT – Fox Sports 1 2018 Big 12 Honors Offensive Player of the Year: Cyera Hintzen, Texas Defensive Player of the Year: Bianca St. Georges, West Virginia Freshmen of the Year: Messiah Bright, TCU and Julia Grosso, Texas Coach of the Year: Paul Jobson, Baylor First Team GK-Rylee Foster, West Virginia D-Bianca St. Georges, West Virginia (unanimous selection) D-Easther Mayi Kith, West Virginia D-Sarah King, Baylor MF-Haley Berg, Texas MF-Julie James, Baylor MF-Yazmeen Ryan, TCU F-Cyera Hintzen, Texas F-Grace Hagan, Kansas F-Sh’Nia Gordon, West Virginia U-Kaylee Dao, Oklahoma Second Team GK-Jennifer Wandt, Baylor D-Vanessa Flores, West Virginia D-Jordan Brewster, West Virginia D-Kim Rodriguez, Oklahoma State MF-Julia Grosso, Texas MF-Karitas Tomasdottir, TCU MF-Grace Cutler, West Virginia F-Katie McClure, Kansas F-Camryn Wendlandt, Baylor F-Messiah Bright, TCU U-Paige Welch, Oklahoma All-Freshman Team GK-Sarah Peters, Kansas D-Cassandra Hiatt, Texas Tech D/F-Jordan Brewster, West Virginia D/F-Kayley Ables, Baylor MF-Taylor Moon, Baylor MF-Julia Grosso, Texas (unanimous selection) MF-Addison Clark, West Virginia MF-Grace Yochum, Oklahoma State F-Messiah Bright, TCU (unanimous selection) F-Maddy Warren, TCU F-Mackenzie McFarland, Texas