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The top stories from around the Big 12 Conference courtesy of the Oklahoman, 247Sports and ESPN.
Each morning Longhorns Wire scours the web for the top Big 12 headlines from around the conference. Today’s stories are courtesy of the Oklahoman, 247Sports and ESPN.
Continue reading “Sunday Big 12 morning rush: Headlines from around the conference”
Iowa State Cyclones 2020 Preview: previewing, predicting, and looking ahead with what you need to know
Photo Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State Cyclones 2020 Preview: previewing, predicting, and looking ahead with what you need to know
Photo Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State Cyclones 2020 Preview: previewing, predicting, and looking ahead with what you need to know
Photo Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State Cyclones 2020 Preview: previewing, predicting, and looking ahead with what you need to know
Photo Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors were linked to Iowa State sophomore point guard Tyrese Haliburton, a potential target in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The Golden State Warriors were linked to Iowa State sophomore point guard Tyrese Haliburton, a potential target in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Haliburton is a fantastic basketball player who ranks No. 8 overall on our big board at Rookie Wire. He is one of the most NBA-ready 3-and-D prospects in the class, as he shot 41.9% from 3-point range and his steal percentage (3.8%) ranked second-best among high-major underclassmen.
Connor Letourneau reported that Golden State would consider selecting the Iowa State standout guard if their lottery pick ends up between No. 2 and No. 5 overall (via SF Chronicle):
“He’s an elite passer who takes sound shots and can play off the ball when necessary. On defense, Haliburton has the length and athleticism to defend multiple positions. I’ve been told that he has emerged as the No. 1 point guard on the Warriors’ board — yes, above LaMelo Ball and Killian Hayes.”
First, it is worth addressing the main reason why Haliburton would be a good fit for Golden State.
Simply, he makes open shots, which is a fundamental aspect of how the offense succeeds for the Warriors. Haliburton was 20-for-37 (54.1%) on unguarded 3-pointers last season.
He averaged 1.58 points per possession when taking unguarded catch-and-shoot opportunities, per Synergy, which ranked 95th percentile in the NCAA.
It is hard to find a point forward with a 6-foot-5 frame and 6-foot-8 wingspan who can shoot better than Haliburton. He stretches the floor, which is exactly where Golden State has revolutionized basketball.
The Warriors have always believed in selecting the best player available regardless of position, like selecting Stephen Curry when Monta Ellis was still on their roster. But the reality is that Curry is not fading into the sunset any time soon and the idea of him being replaced by Haliburton in the first unit is too preposterous to even utter. Letourneau continued:
“Though he wouldn’t project to supplant Curry as the starting point guard anytime soon, he could slide in as the primary ball-handler for the second unit immediately. Think of him as Shaun Livingston before the knee injury.”
His assist-to-usage rate shows he can be an elite distributor without needing the offense to run through him. This suggests he would be a great choice for a team with a high-usage two-guard, making him potentially compatible with the Phoenix Suns alongside Devin Booker.
Haliburton projects as an immediately viable starter for most teams, though his role would look different for the Warriors if relegated to the second unit.
Golden State would need bench scoring and unlike Hayes and Ball, that is not where Haliburton shines. Hayes ranked fifth-best for isolation scoring (2.3 ppg) in the EuroCup while Ball ranked second-best in isolation scoring (2.8 ppg) among all players in the Australian NBL.
Haliburton has struggled to create his own shot and scored only 0.6 ppg in isolation, per Synergy, If he is not in the starting lineup, his low-usage rate will become less attractive and one-on-one scoring would instead be more valuable.
Haliburton, meanwhile, was just 11-for-45 (24.4%) on 3-pointers taken off the dribble during his sophomore season.
It is simply not in his nature to take jumpers off the bounce, hitting just two of these attempts during his entire freshman campaign. Compare that once again to Hayes, who led all participants in points scored off dribble jumpers during the FIBA U17 World Cup.
If the front office for the Warriors truly believed Haliburton would make sense for their roster, recent history suggests they would not hesitate to select him even though he plays the same position as their superstar point guard in Stephen Curry.
However, given the draft needs of Golden State, their high lottery pick would be better spent for: a viable starting big man (e.g. Onyeka Okongwu or James Wisman), an athletic forward who could eventually replace Draymond Green (e.g. Patrick Williams or Obi Toppin) or one of the guards mentioned above that can provide bench scoring (e.g. Hayes and Ball).
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CBS writer Ben Kercheval recently broke down the Big 12’s schedule.
Can anyone dethrone Oklahoma?
The coronavirus currently has sports on hold, but if the 2020 football season will be played, Oklahoma will be looking to win their sixth straight Big 12 championship.
CBS writer Ben Kercheval recently broke down the Big 12’s schedule, and yet again has Oklahoma on top with an 11-1 record, their sole loss being against Texas.
Kercheval cited the losses of WR Jadon Haselwood to injury and Trey Sermon transferring, but is giving the Sooners the benefit of the doubt when it comes ro restocking offensively.
“It’s been five seasons since OU has lost more than one conference game.” He said. “Among playoff contenders, only Clemson and Ohio State can say that. Are the Sooners due for an extra loss? Perhaps, but they should be favored in every game this year.”
He projected Texas, Oklahoma State and Iowa State to go 9-3.
Oklahoma is currently set to reopen in-person classes in the upcoming fall semester.
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Analyzing the 2020 Big 12 Tournament odds and futures, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.
The 2020 Big 12 Conference Tournament kicks off Wednesday at Sprint Center in Kansas City. The tournament features two matchups Wednesday, and four battles Thursday. The Kansas Jayhawks secured the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, and a handful of teams are in good shape for at-large bids whether they win the tourney or not, while others need a deep run. Below, we look at the futures odds to win the Big 12 tournament.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, March 11 at 10:45 a.m. ET.
Regular-season record: (28-3, 17-1 Big 12)
The Jayhawks enter the tourney as the hottest team in the conference, winners of 16 in a row. They’re also a very impressive 7-2 ATS across their past nine outings, so remember that as you bet single games through the postseason. Kansas is likely to land as one of the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament barring an absolute disaster in their first game in this tournament.
Get some action on this event or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.
Kansas will be challenged by Baylor, a team they split with during the regular season. They won in Waco against the Bears 64-61 Feb. 22, so if they match up in the Final, expect to sweat out every minute. They’ll have a pro-Jayhawks crowd filling the seats in Kansas City, so that adds to their chances.
The FAVORITE IS WORTH A BET AT +105, as the Jayhawks are on a tear right now.
Regular-season record: (26-4, 15-3 Big 12)
The Bears looked like they were a slam-dunk No. 1 seed for most of the season, but they faltered down the stretch, going 2-3 straight up and 1-4 against the spread, losing to Kansas, at TCU and at West Virginia in the final month. As such, they’re not nearly as strong of a play as the favored Jayhawks. In fact, it’s Kansas, and then the drop-off is precipitous.
If you pick two teams to play, BAYLOR IS WORTH A SMALL-UNIT BET AT +315, but they’re playing their worst ball of the season.
Regular-season record: (21-10, 9-9 Big 12)
The Mountaineers humbled Baylor 76-63 in the regular-season finale March 7, bouncing back after a late three-game skid, and a 1-6 SU stretch between Feb. 8-29. Their late-season swoon really makes this a wide-open tourney, especially if Kansas somehow stumbles. Still, the Mountaineers were really bad down the stretch, and they played .500 ball in the conference. There’s not much value at this price. AVOID.
Regular-season record: (18-13, 9-9 Big 12)
The Red Raiders gave Kansas a scare in the regular-season finale, but they dropped each of their past four to go from an NCAA Tournament certainly to a bubble team in need of some quality wins. They got hot last season en route to their first-ever Final Four. Can they do it again? A four-game skid to close out the season suggests otherwise. AVOID.
Regular-season record: (19-12, 9-9 Big 12)
The Sooners might be the best value on the entire board. Some talking heads have them projected as a 9-seed for the NCAA Tournament, but they will likely breathe easier on Selection Sunday with a win or two in this tournament. Like Baylor, Texas Tech and West Virginia, the Sooner had their issues down the stretch. They lost three in a row from Feb. 15-22, although two of those losses were to Baylor and Kansas, so there’s no shame in that.
A SMALL-UNIT PLAY TO WIN THE BIG 12 AT +1600 IS A GREAT VALUE. Their defense ranks 36th in the country with a 39.9 defensive field-goal percentage. They’re also 20th in the nation in free-throw percentage at 76.6.
Regular-season record: (19-12, 9-9 Big 12)
The Longhorns looked to be rolling into the postseason, winning and covering five in a row from Feb. 19-March 3; however, they were smashed 81-59 at home by a mediocre Oklahoma State team, casting doubt on their viability and landing them right back on the bubble in need of two wins to realistically have a shot at the NCAA Tournament, if not an overall win. Confidence is low, as they were swept by Baylor, swept by Kansas and went 1-1 against Texas Tech and West Virginia. AVOID.
Regular-season record: (16-15, 7-11 Big 12)
The Horned Frogs were a thorn in people’s sides down the stretch, and they even beat Baylor Feb. 29 by a 75-72 count in Fort Worth. They were 2-4 SU/3-3 ATS in their final six games, and they lost two games to Kansas by a total of 23 points, showing they have nothing for the top seed. They also had an ugly 46-point loss at Texas Tech Feb. 10 which sticks out like a sore thumb. AVOID.
Regular-season record: (17-14, 7-11 Big 12)
The Cowboys finished with three wins to close out the regular season, hotter than any lower seed. In a wide-open Big 12, they have just as good of a chance as any to run to the Final, but can they beat Kansas? They lost by 15 and 25 to the Jayhawks, and were swept by Baylor by a total of 15 points. They were also pounded by West Virginia in two games by an average of 16 points. AVOID.
Regular-season record: (10-21, 3-15 Big 12)
K-State lost 10 straight games from Feb. 1 to March 4 before winning the final against Iowa State. Nothing to see here. AVOID.
Regular-season record: (12-19, 5-13 Big 12)
The Cyclones dropped 10 of their final 13 contests, and they were 1-5 ATS in their final six, so remember that for their first-round matchup. I-State lost two games to Kansas by a total of 46 points, two to Baylor by a total of 27, etc. No chance the Cyclones find any magic. AVOID.
Want some action on this tournament? Place a bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
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The Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament will begin on Wednesday evening for the men. The latest Vegas odds on who will get the automatic bid.
The Phillips 66 Big 12 men’s basketball tournament officially tips off on Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm CST with the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Iowa State Cyclones in the first round. That game will be followed with the Kansas State Wildcats and Texas Christian Horned Frogs. Each winner will move on to the quarterfinals to take on Kansas and Baylor.
The winner of the tournament will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Here is how BetMGM see it shaking out. No shock on who Vegas has the top team heading into the Big 12 tournament that will conclude on Saturday March 14th at 5:00 PM CST. The game will air on ESPN.
Tournament Odds:
(Odds via BetMGM. Access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated 3/10 at 7:00 a.m. CST. )
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Analyzing Monday’s Iowa State Cyclones at Kansas Jayhawks sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.
The Iowa State Cyclones (11-14) head to Allen Fieldhouse to play the Kansas Jayhawks (22-3) at 9 p.m. ET. We analyze the Iowa State-Kansas odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.
Get some action on this college basketball matchup or others by placing a legal sports bet at BetMGM! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Jayhawks 80, Iowa State 69
FORGET ABOUT A MONEYLINE WAGER in Iowa State-Kansas. Since 2015, Kansas (-2500) has the best home record (71-5) and the best record against Big XII conference opponent (75-19). The Jayhawks are also 66-5 as home favorites with a 14.5-point average margin of victory.
Iowa State (+1100) already took a 26-point whooping at home to Kansas Jan. 8, and the Jayhawks’ only home loss this season came to the No. 1 Baylor Bears by a 67-55 count Jan. 11.
TAKE IOWA STATE +16.5 (-115) at Kansas. Kansas hasn’t consistently met bookmakers’ expectations at home against bad teams this season. The Jayhawks are 3-7 against the spread against teams below .500.
Iowa State is a bad team, who has to be flying high off the beating it put on Texas Saturday. The Cyclones are 8-2 ATS over the last 10 meetings and the road team is 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings. There’s a good chance Kansas is looking ahead to its Saturday game against Baylor and could sleep on a Cyclones team it crushed in the season’s first meeting.
The OVER 143.5 (+125) is the only play here for the total. The vig on the Under (-154) is too high and there are too many arguments for taking a plus-money Over. The Cyclones have a 13-11-1 Over/Under record thus far on the season and they have the highest percentage of Overs (53-37-2) in conference games since 2015. Furthermore, Iowa State ranks 239th in opponent field goal percentage, 311th in opponent 3-point % and 255th in opponent points per game, so the Jayhawks should have offensive success.
Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
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The Texas Longhorns couldn’t overcome 19 turnovers a shooting just 26% from the field as they fell to Iowa State 69-51.
The Texas Longhorns were looking for the sweep but unfortunately sloppy play and poor shooting doomed their attempt to wrap up the season series with Iowa State. The Cyclones duo of Ashley Joens and Kristin Scott were too much for Texas as they combined for 43 points. Outside of Charli Collier, the Longhorns didn’t have a consistent secondary scorer.
Early on for the Texas Longhorns it was very sloppy with six turnovers in the first quarter. Despite them matching their turnovers totals in their last matchup with the Cyclones in one quarter, the Longhorns kept the game close. Charli Collier with was big on the boards with five rebounds to go with her team-high six points in the opening quarter. Celeste Taylor was an absolute pest with three steals in the quarter.
The Longhorns struggled to score in the second quarter, at one point went on a five-minute scoring drought as the Cyclones went on a run. A 9-2 run by Iowa State increased their lead to 11 with 2:47 left in the half. Collier did her best to keep the Longhorns in the game. She finished the half with 13 points and six rebounds. Collier’s three-pointer at the buzzer closed out the quarter to get Texas within nine.
3️⃣for @CharliC_14 at the buzzer!#AllForTexas | #HookEm pic.twitter.com/duhh6NlpWX
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) February 13, 2020
The Longhorns struggles continued into the third quarter, Texas couldn’t get on the board until Sug Sutton’s first basket with 4:09 left in the quarter. After threatening to grow the lead to 20, the Longhorns put some pressure on the Cyclones ball handlers. After being held scoreless in the first six minutes, Texas scored 10 points over the final four minutes.
Iowa State was able to build the lead back up due to the number of fouls committed by Texas. The conference’s second leading free throw team showed why they are so good at the charity stripe. Much like the end of the half, it ended with a Longhorn nailing a three to end the half. This time Joyner Holmes found Joanne Allen-Taylor in the corner as time expired. Texas still trailed 50-34.
In the final quarter, Ashley Joens was able to get a quick bucket for the Cyclones. They would go over four minutes between made field goals but the Longhorns were unable to take advantage with only five points in that stretch. Despite the defense forcing a season-high in turnovers, there was nothing to show for it.
Collier finished the game with a double-double but she couldn’t carry the team to a win. Texas finished shooting just 26.9 percent from the field and 5-31 from behind the arc. Texas looks to get back on the winning track against Kansas on Saturday.
The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team hosts Iowa State on Wednesday night. Here is how to watch, listen and stream the game.
The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball return to the court at the Frank Erwin Center Wednesday night to host the Iowa State Cyclones. These two teams met back on January 6th that finished in a 81-75 win for Texas. The Longhorns have won six of their last seven games with the only loss coming at the hands of the second-ranked Baylor Bears.
The Cyclones have also lost to the Bears recently and are 2-2 in their last four games. They come into this game on a two-game win streak after beating Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in back-to-back games. The Cyclones failed to defend homecourt in the last matchup with Texas and will be looking to return the favor.
Dating back to the beginning of the 2017-18 season, Texas has owned the series going 5-2. The Longhorns will need to find a way to slow down the Big 12’s top scorer Ashley Joens, who averages 21.3 points per game. Joens is also a top five rebounder at 10.5 (4th) per game.
Offense and Defense Rankings
Date: 2/12/2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. CST
Location: Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas
Watch: Longhorn’s Network
Listen: TexasSports.com/audio —Austin 104.9FM, 99.3FM, 98.5FM, 1260AM; Dallas 1080AM; El Paso 600AM; Houston 790AM; San Antonio 1200AM — Spanish: Austin 105.3FM; Dallas 990AM, 99.9FM
Stream: Watch ESPN
