College Basketball Conference Preview #29 - Big 12 Conference

The 2023-24 College Basketball Season will be one to remember for each team in the Big 12 Conference. Look for Kansas to set the pace and finish in 1st place in the Conference. The Jayhawks are looking to make the Final Four in 2024 for the 3rd time in the past seven seasons. Kansas brings back three starters and will be led by senior guards Dajuan Harris Jr. and Kevin McCullar Jr. The Jayhawks also bring back junior forward KJ Adams Jr. - the final returning starter - along with senior center Hunter Dickinson (Michigan transfer) and senior guard Nicolas Timberlake (Towson transfer). Houston brings back two starters in senior guard Jamal Shead and senior forward J'Wan Roberts. Head Coach Kelvin Sampson did well in the Transfer Portal as the Cougars added senior guards LJ Cryer (Baylor transfer), Damian Dunn (Temple transfer), and Mylik Wilson (Texas Tech transfer). Look for sophomore guards Emanuel Sharp and Terrance Arceneaux - both returning reserves - to provide additional scoring for the Cougars. I predict Houston to finish in 2nd place in the final Conference Standings. Baylor only returns one starter from their 2022-23 team in senior forward Jalen Bridges. The Bears will also rely on sophomore guard Langston Love and senior forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua - both returning reserves. Expect contributions from senior guard RayJ Dennis (Toledo transfer) and junior guard Jayden Nunn (VCU transfer) as well. Head Coach Scott Drew will have Baylor back at the top of the Conference soon but their fans need to remain patient this season. I predict the Bears to finish in 3rd place this season. Texas will challenge Kansas, Houston, and Baylor for the Big 12 Conference Title and will need a huge season from junior guard Tyrese Hunter to win the Big 12 Conference Tournament. The Longhorns bring back three starters in senior forward Dylan Disu, sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell and the aforementioned Hunter. All three players could easily wind up being 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Team All Big 12 Players this season. They will get help from senior forward Brock Cunningham and sophomore forward Alex Anamekwe - both returning reserves. Look for senior guard Max Abmas (Oral Roberts transfer), senior forward Kadin Shedrick (Virginia transfer), and sophomore guard Chendall Weaver (UT Arlington transfer) to provide additional scoring and rebounding for the Longhorns this season. I predict Texas to finish in 4th place in the final Conference Standings. TCU looks to cause problems in the Big 12 Conference in 2023-24 but it won't be easy. The Horned Frogs bring back two starters in senior forwards Emanuel Miller and Chuck O'Bannon Jr. Look for several returning reserves including senior guard Micah Peavy and junior forward JaKobe Coles to play bigger roles this season for the Horned Frogs. TCU also added senior guard Jameer Nelson Jr. (Delaware transfer), senior forward Essam Mostafa (Coastal Carolina transfer), and sophomore center Ernest Udeh Jr. (Kansas transfer) via the Transfer Portal to provide the Horned Frogs with additional scoring. Head Coach Jamie Dixon has the team headed in the right direction as he enters his 8th season at the helm. I predict TCU to finish in 5th place this season. Iowa State hopes to climb the Conference Standings even further after a 5th place finish in 2022-23. The Cyclones only return one starter in sophomore guard Tamin Lipsey. Look for several transfers to play important roles - most notably senior guard Curtis Jones (Buffalo transfer) and sophomore guard Jackson Paveletzke (Wofford transfer). Senior forwards Tre King and Robert Jones - both returning reserves - along with junior guard Keshon Gilbert (UNLV transfer) - will have to have big seasons if the Cyclones hope to finish in the top half of the final Big 12 Conference Standings. I predict Iowa State to finish in 6th place this season. Kansas State hopes to remain among the Conference elite even while losing two 1st Team All Big 12 Players. The Wildcats return three starters and will be led by senior forwards Nae'Qwan Tomlin and David N'Guessan. Kansas State will need several returning reserves to play big roles - most notably sophomore guard Dorian Finister along with junior forward Cam Carter - the final returning starter. They will get assistance from several transfers including junior forward Arthur Kaluma (Creighton transfer) and senior guards Tyler Perry (North Texas transfer) and Ques Glover (BYU transfer). I predict Kansas State to finish in 7th place in the final Conference Standings.

Oklahoma hopes to finish in the top half of the Big 12 Conference but knows it will be extremely difficult. The Sooners only return one starter in sophomore guard Milos Uzan. Look for several transfers to play big roles - most notably senior guard Le'Tre Darthard (Utah Valley transfer), junior forward John Hughley IV (Pittsburgh transfer), and junior guard Javian McCollum (Siena transfer). Senior forward Sam Godwin and sophomore guard Otega Oweh - both returning reserves - should provide immediate scoring off the bench. I predict Oklahoma to finish in 8th place in the final Conference Standings. Oklahoma State welcomes back two starters in senior guards Bryce Thompson and John-Michael Wright. A pair of incoming transfers will also play key roles as the Cowboys added senior center Mike Marsh (Jacksonville transfer) and junior guard Javon Small (East Carolina transfer). Look for contributions from sophomore guard Quion Williams - the lone returning reserve - along with senior guard Jarius Hicklen (North Florida transfer). I predict Oklahoma State to finish in 9th place this season. Texas Tech only returns one starter in sophomore guard Pop Isaacs. New Head Coach Grant McCasland has the team headed in the right direction as he added several key transfers in hopes of a quick turnaround in Lubbock. Look for senior guard Kerwin Walton and sophomore forward Robert Jennings - both returning reserves - to play big roles this season. Senior guards Chance McMillian (Grand Canyon transfer) and Joe Toussaint (West Virginia transfer) along with senior forwards Devan Cambridge (Arizona State transfer) and Warren Washington (Arizona State transfer) should give the Red Raiders a spark in each Big 12 contest. I predict Texas Tech to finish in 10th place this season. BYU is looking to bounce back after an uninspiring 2022-23 season. The Cougars bring back four starters and will be led by senior guard Spencer Johnson and junior forward Fousseyni Traore. Look for several experienced returning reserves including senior forward Noah Waterman along with junior guard Trey Stewart and sophomore guard Richie Saunders to have huge seasons for the Cougars as they try stay out of the Big 12 Conference cellar. The Cougars also added junior center Aly Khalifa (Charlotte transfer) and junior guard Dawson Baker (UC Irvine transfer) and bring back junior guard Jaxson Robinson and sophomore guard Dallin Hall - the final returning starters. Head Coach Mark Pope has his work cut out for him in his 5th season at the helm but he is up for the challenge. I predict BYU to finish in 11th place this season. West Virginia doesn't return any starters and will be led by junior guards Seth Wilson and Kobe Johnson - both returning reserves. The Mountaineers promoted Assistant Josh Eilert to Head Coach in hopes he propels them to new heights this season. Look out for senior forward Jesse Edwards (Syracuse transfer) and senior guards Kerr Kriisa (Arizona transfer) and RaeQuan Battle (Montana State transfer) as well. The Mountaineers may take their lumps this season as they continue to try to climb the Big 12 Conference ladder. I predict West Virginia to finish in 12th place in the final Conference Standings. Cincinnati is in for a rebuilding year. The Bearcats bring back two starters in senior forward Ody Oguama and junior forward Viktor Lakhin. Look for sophomore guards Dan Skillings Jr. and Josh Reed along with junior guard C.J. Anthony - all returning reserves - to provide additional scoring for the Bearcats. Senior guard CJ Fredrick (Kentucky transfer), senior forward Jamille Reynolds (Temple transfer), and junior guard Simas Lukosius (Butler transfer) will all look to make an immediate impact under 3rd Head Coach Wes Miller. I predict Cincinnati to finish in 13th place this season. UCF only welcomes back one starter in junior guard Darius Johnson. Look for solid contributions from senior forward C.J. Walker and sophomore forward Thierno Sylla - both returning reserves. Senior guard Shemarri Allen (UMKC transfer), junior guard Jaylin Sellers (Ball State transfer), and senior forward Ibrahima Diallo (San Jose State transfer) will all provide additional scoring and rebounding. I predict UCF to finish in 14th place in the final Conference Standings. Regardless of which team wins the Conference Tournament it will be a great season in the Big 12 Conference. Enjoy all of the games!

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