Kansas Takes Big 12 Title, Syracuse Snaps Losing Streak
On Monday, No. 5 Kansas (22-6, 13-2) defeated Oklahoma (20-8, 9-6), 83-75 and with the win amid foul problems, grabbed its 10th straight regular season Big 12 title.
Naadir Tharpe
It was an all-around group effort as Kansas’ five starters all scored a minimum of 11 points with Naadir Tharpe leading with 19 points (12 in the game’s last six minutes) along with five assists while Wayne Selden and Andrew Wiggins both added 15 points. Joel Embiid contributed 12 points with 13 rebounds.
Tharpe said of the game via CBS Sports, “Just a great feeling. To be at home, to hear the fans and all that, it’s a beautiful feeling. It just shows the tradition of Kansas and what it means to us.”
Will this be the only conference title for the Wiggins/Embiid duo?
If so, Kansas will likely persevere and the two can walk away with bragging rights as they were part of a program that has achieved the unusual. There’s only been four other Division 1 basketball programs that have accomplished the feat of ten consecutive titles in the regular season. This includes Gonzaga (2001-2011), UNLV (1983, 1992), UCLA (1967-1979) and UConn (1951-1960), according to Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports.
The Jayhawks have three games remaining which includes Oklahoma State on Saturday, Texas Tech (March 5) and West Virginia (March 8). Vegas has Kansas at 8/1 to win the 2013-2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.
As for Oklahoma, once again it didn’t get a win against the big team. This has been par for the course this season as previous losses have also come against Michigan State, Iowa State, Kansas State and West Virginia. Oklahoma does have five players who average a minimum of 10 points a game as well as some talent on the bench. It sits in the fourth spot for the Big 12 and questions are rising on how far they’ll go in the tournament.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma still has No. 24 Texas on Saturday as well as West Virginia (March 5) and TCU (March 8).
Vegas doesn’t see a bright future for the Sooners at the Big Dance with 100/1 odds to win it all.
Tyler Ennis
In the only other Top 25 game on Monday, No. 4 Syracuse (26-2, 13-2) dodged another end-of-game bullet and defeated Maryland (15-13, 7-8), 57-55. Tyler Ennis showed up for the Orange with 20 points, followed by C.J. Fair at 17.
A much calmer Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said of the close win via the Associated Press, “We’re in a lot of these games. For the most part we’ve made good plays at the end of them, and that’s why we are where we are. We’re not overpowering too many people, I can promise you that.”
This comment came as Syracuse had a 51-39 lead with 5:45 remaining but at the 47-second mark, held a 56-55 advantage.
While the Orange can breathe a sigh of relief as its losing streak ended, they can’t rest too easily as they’ll take on conference leader No. 12 Virginia (23-5, 14-1) on Saturday at the John Paul Jones Arena.
As for Syracuse’s odds for a good postseason run, Vegas has them at 15/2 to win the Big Dance while a surging Virginia is 25/1 to get it done.
Tuesday’s Top 25 Games
No. 20 Iowa (-3, 145.5 o/u) at Minnesota: Minnesota is a bubble team and badly wants the win.
No. 1 Florida (-8, 124 o/u) at Vanderbilt: Florida has its first No. 1 ranking since its 2007 Championship year.
No. 2 Wichita State (-12, 130.5 o/u) at Bradley: Will the Shockers make history with its 30th win?
Virginia Tech at No.6 Duke (-21.5,138 o/u): Duke will seek its 32nd straight home win.
San Jose State at No.13 San Diego State (-20.5, 123 o/u): This should be a nice recovery game after the New Mexico loss for San Diego State
Indiana at No. 14 Wisconsin (-10.5, 136.5 o/u): Wisconsin is hot but Indiana is pesky.
Utah State at No.25 New Mexico (-12, 136.5 o/u): The Lobos will enter with some swagger after Saturday’s upset.
