Remaining Schedules for Top Big XII teams after 2019-02-16

Copied and updated from my previous post. - HE

REMAINING SCHEDULES for BIG XII LEADER and all Three 2nd PLACE TEAMS
thru SATURDAY 2019-02-16
All Top 4 teams are color coded and underlined.

With ISU's win in Manhattan on Saturday, 9-3 KSU now has 3 losses to 4 losses for 9-4 KU, 9-4 Texas Tech and 8-4 ISU. KU and Tech have 5 games left and KSU and ISU have 6. And after Monday FEB 25 both KSU and ISU will have played 3 games in the next 9 days to finally catch up with the rest of the conference in terms of games played, so their remaining exposure is greater.

KSTATE (9-3) 3 Home / 3 Road
FEB 18 (MON) AT WEST VIRGINIA
FEB 23 (SAT) VS OKLAHOMA STATE
FEB 25 (MON) AT KANSAS
MAR 2 (SAT) VS BAYLOR
MAR 4 (MON) AT TCU
MAR 9 (SAT) VS OKLAHOMA

After winning the Texas road game, losing at home against ISU on Saturday has to be a big pysch deflator for the Wildcats. With road games at Kansas and TCU there is a good chance they lose at least one more game the rest of the way (they better! )... but after losing in Bramlage for a second time this year they are going to have to lock down home court advantage to realistically have a shot at the title all to themselves (preferably for them) or a share again. Having said all that, they still have the lead and are in the driver's seat. For their next game I am hoping against hope the depleted Mountaineers can get enough energy from that mountain air to take down the Cats. Hopefully Dean Wade will be back for KSU, as we wouldn't want to give their fans an excuse if they do lose. And this next week is when they finally catch up with the other teams in terms of games played this year.

KANSAS (9-4) 2 Home / 3 Road
FEB 23 (SAT) AT TEXAS TECH
FEB 25 (MON) VS KANSAS STATE
MAR 2 (SAT) AT OKLAHOMA STATE
MAR 5 (TUE) AT OKLAHOMA
MAR 9 (SAT) VS BAYLOR

KANSAS continues to hold serve in AFH, and continuing to do so which would give KSU at least 1 more loss. But first KU must exert its shaky road legs again, this time against fellow contender Texas Tech, a game KState and ISU and their fans will be watching with great interest. The long break until Saturday's game hopefully will allow the return of KU defensive wizard Marcus Garrett to the lineup against TT, and I'm looking torward to it. Then there is the always treacherous OSU road game and OU in Norman before ending the season hosting Baylor on Senior Night. If KU wins out, it is guaranteed at least a tie with KState -- and perhaps Iowa State if they should win out as well. But once again KU controls its destiny, and that is a nice feeling for now.

TEXAS TECH (9-4) 3 Home / 2 Road
FEB 23 (SAT) VS KANSAS
FEB 27 (WED) VS OKLAHOMA STATE
MAR 2 (SAT) AT TCU
MAR 4 (MON) VS TEXAS
MAR 9 (SAT) AT IOWA STATE

I still think TT will probably lose 2 more games this year, but with just two road games left they have a leg up on the other top 4 teams who all have three road games left. Both at TCU and ISU are winnable but questionable games, especially since by winning out ISU can have at least a tie for the conference title if KState loses one more game. But Tech will have to beat visiting Kansas to give themselves a realistic shot for at least a share of the title. If they win out they have a chance to at least tie KState for the crown if someone else can defeat the Cats just one more time.

IOWA STATE (8-4) 3 Home / 3 Road
FEB 19 (TUE) VS BAYLOR
FEB 23 (SAT) AT TCU
FEB 25 (MON) VS OKLAHOMA
MAR 2 (SAT) AT TEXAS
MAR 6 (WED) AT WEST VIRGINIA
MAR 9 (SAT) VS TEXAS TECH

Saturday's road win against KSU was a huge boost for the Cyclones, who haven't always traveled well in the past. Next up they welcome the not-a-pushover Baylor Bears to the not-so-friendly confines of Hilton Coliseum. If the ESPN talking heads had their info right during the KU game today, Baylor is second only to KU as historically being the toughest road team in the Big XII. Of course this is now, and BU is 3-3 on the road so far this year, so ISU should win it . I had been anticipating they would finish 1-3 in the last 4 road games, but I never figured the one would be @KSU. I'll update that to 1-2 on the road the rest of the way, giving them at least 6 losses this season and probably short of the conference title again this year. But if the Manhattan game is any indication, they could win out and have a chance to at least tie KState and/or Kansas for the title. Depending on what happens in the next 3 weeks, the season final hosting Texas Tech looks like it could be a title influencing contest.

Hope you have a great weekend and week leading up to the next KU game!

ROCK CHALK!