The Big 12 runs through Lawrence once again

I’m not really breaking any news here: The road to a Big 12 title runs through Lawrence, Kansas.

I could list all the years for emphasis but I’ll just tell you the Jayhawks claimed at least a share of the league’s regular-season title every year from 2005 to 2018, not to mention 2002 and 2003 before that. That’s fourteen straight seasons!

So when Texas Tech claimed the 2019 crown, there was some thought that the might be a changing of the guard — or at least a little more competition in the coming years.

But Kansas found itself back on top last year, and once again, I believe the Jayhawks are the top dog in the Big 12 this season. Since losing its opener to Gonzaga, Kansas has won eight in a row — it went to Lubbock and beat the Red Raiders 58-57 last Thursday before running away from No. 7 West Virginia 79-65 last night at the Phog.

And what makes this team both so fascinating and so dangerous is the fact that Bill Self really doesn’t have a definitive point guard. Marcus Garrett is the Jayhawks’ primary ballhandler but he’s not a natural for the role — it’s why former Kansas standout Keith Langford believes he’s the key to unlocking this team.

But there’s also just so much depth and talent surrounding the tandem of Garrett and Ochai Agbaji. Self has big men David McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot as well as forward Jalen Wilson and a couple of young guards in Christian Braun and Bryce Thompson. That’s not even mentioning transfer Tyon Grant-Foster and Tristan Enaruna.

Wilson has been the real revelation this year — the sophomore scored 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting with four triples against the Mountaineers, adding seven boards and four assists — but Braun led the Jayhawks with 22 points. More importantly, though, all five starters scored in double figures, and that means it’s going to be a real challenge for opponents to shut off the faucet when Kansas has the ball.

I still remain bullish on Texas, and both West Virginia and Texas Tech are deserving of their current top-15 rankings. There’s also a frisky Oklahoma State team that may boast next year’s No. 1 NBA Draft pick in Cade Cunningham.

Oh, and I’m not forgetting Baylor — they are experienced, talented and currently the No. 2 team in the country for good reason. Thanks to a COVID pause, though, the Bears didn’t get to play Gonzaga and their best win came against an Illinois team that looks shakier than when the two teams met a few weeks back.

Kansas has been the dominant program in the Big 12 for more than a decade and Bill Self’s sustained success is worth admiring. Perhaps we’ll have to revisit this conversation in a few weeks if Baylor can go to the Phog and take down the Jayhawks — the Bears did it last year and it’s more than reasonable to think they’ll do it again.

Until then, I’m all in on Kansas.

FOUR-POINT PLAY

Each Wednesday, we’ll check in with one of our podcast hosts and see what they’re up to — besides creating 🔥🔥  content for us at The Field of 68.

This week, we check in with former Syracuse standout Eric Devendorf, host of The Scorer’s Table, and see what he’s up to in his post-Orange days.

1. Who’s been your favorite guest on The Scorer’s Table and what story/memory did you most enjoy talking about with them?I have really liked all my guests, to be honest. I really had fun reminiscing with G-Mac (current Syracuse assistant coach Gerry McNamara) — he’s like my brother so that was a fun one for me.

2. I know you’re in the midst of a fundraiser. How did it come about and what do you hope to accomplish?I actually was inspired by Barstool because they were doing a big small-business giveaway in New York City on a larger scale, so it made me want to try and get something together here in Syracuse. And so far it has been great. I’m really glad we can help a lot of small businesses out.

3. You seem like a natural behind the podcast mic. Where do that comfort and energy come from?I really enjoy talking to these guys. Most of them are my friends and we have a prior relationship, so they make it easy for me. It really was me stepping outside of my comfort zone a little bit because this was the first time I have ever done something like this. But I am getting better with it each time and enjoying it more and more.

AND ONE!!

1. What’s the biggest positive you’ve seen through the first few games of this Syracuse basketball season?I really like that we have depth this year, and I like that our team has no fear we have guys who aren’t afraid to go ahead and get after it. A lot of positives you can look at on this team. If this season stays consistent I think they could do good things.

THE MIXTAPE

We’ve already had some great moments this week on The Field of 68 and there will be more coming later today. But until then, here’s what you might’ve missed:

Kentucky’s problems have been discussed plenty in recent days with the Wildcats off to a 1-5 start for the first time in forever. But our Wayne Turner hasn’t addressed UK’s biggest problem — until now. He and former Wildcat Antoine Walker got into it on the latest edition of The Burner Turner Show:

What was it like to grow up as Rick Pitino’s son? Well, don’t wonder. Just ask Richard Pitino. Or better yet, let our Tim Miles ask for you on his Inside the Mind of Miles podcast:

Luka Garza certainly looks motivated in this stellar start to his senior season. What’s got him going so good right now? He told our Jeff Goodman and Robbie Hummel on The Goodman & Hummel Basketball Podcast:

You might remember Matt Walsh and his luscious locks from his playing days with Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators. But if you want to find him in a basketball gym nowadays, you’ll have to travel halfway across the globe to New Zealand where he’s an owner of the NZ Breakers. How did he end up in Auckland? He told our Patric Young on last week’s Patric Young and the Rowdies:

SECURE THE BAG

Okay, so our Best Bets hosts, Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman, have really found their groove — well, at least one of them. Jeff is up to an impressive 68-52 mark on the season, turning in a 5-1 performance Tuesday night after a very solid 12-9 weekend showing.

Rob, on the other hand, is still hovering right around .500 for the season but has shown up with a pair of strong wins on the money line — Sunday he correctly took Rutgers as the Scarlet Knights knocked off Illinois, and Tuesday he had Central Florida as they held on to top Cincy.

Records (through Dec. 22)

Dauster: 45-47 (.489)

Goodman: 71-50 (.587)

If you haven’t already, hit that subscribe button, and please, please, please keep sharing The Field of 68 with anyone in your life who cares about college hoops. We want to keep growing and expanding our network, but we can’t do it without y’all.

Stay safe, wear your masks, have a very Merry Christmas and we’ll be back on Monday!

Mitchell is a freelance sports journalist and a producer for The Field of 68 Media Network. He’s previously written for The Dallas Morning News, Sports Illustrated and The Philadelphia Inquirer. You can follow him on Twitter at @mpgladstone13 or reach him via email at [email protected].