:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4417739/20121201_jla_sf6_248.0.jpg)
Sorry I didn’t get this up yesterday, I was traveling back from Green Bay where I watched a great game against the Packers and Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
Top Matchups in the Big 12 This Week
Texas (5-2) vs UCLA (5-3) | (Saturday, Dec. 8) This should be an entertaining game to watch on Saturday that is being played at a neutral site in Houston at Reliant Stadium. The Big 12 will get to see the #1 rated high school recruit Shabazz Muhammad in action, he picked UCLA over schools like Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke. He is averaging 16 points per game along with 3 other UCLA players scoring double figures for the Bruins this season. They have lost three games; two to really good teams Georgetown and San Diego State, and a 2 point heartbreaker to Cal Poly. UT had tripped up in the Maui Invitational and was humiliated by a loss to Chaminade, followed by a loss to USC. Longhorns have been on a 3 game win streak as of late and will take on #15 Georgetown (5-1) tonight in the Madison Square Garden, which I expect them to lose. Keep an eye on that game because UCLA only lost to Georgetown by 8 points a few games ago. I think the UCLA versus UT game will be a competitive game against two teams that were picked to do better early in the season then they have and still have potential to do well in their conferences. UCLA should finish off Texas by the end of the game and hand the Longhorns another loss. Predicted Winner - UCLA
#9 Kansas (6-1) vs Colorado (6-1) | (Saturday, Dec. 8) One of the reasons I’m picking this game as a top matchup for the week is that Colorado is a team that has beat Baylor. They lost their last game to Wyoming or else they would be undefeated and still be in the top 25. I know Colorado gave Baylor trouble with their defense holding Baylor stars Pierre Jackson to 12 points and Isaiah Austin to 8 points, but I don’t think they will be able to hold Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey from getting their averages. They have 4 guys on the Buffaloes roster that averages over 11 points per game. Kansas is coming into the game after a slip up to Michigan State early in the season, and has been looking good ever since. KU also has 4 players averaging double figures in scoring. I think this game might be close for a half, but Kansas should pull away in the second half and show how deep their team is. But it may be interesting to see how good a team that beat Baylor by 2 points does against Kansas. Predicted Winner - Kansas
Big 12 Player of the Week
Starters for Baylor in the UK game | Baylor starters Cory Jefferson (29 minutes), Isaiah Austin (36 minutes), Brady Heslip (36 minutes), AJ Walton (34 minutes), and Pierre Jackson (39 minutes) all scored in double figures to beat Kentucky in Rupp Arena and end a 55-game win streak on the UK home court. This was such a great upset that I don’t think the Kentucky fans knew what hit them. Baylor has had it’s up and downs already in the season, but there is no denying beating UK on their home court will be a signature win to be proud of. It took all the starters to do it, and they all deserve a pat on the back for their accomplishment last week.