There's no point in fronting.
Kansas is winning the Big 12 regular-season title. That's been the case for the past 13 seasons and it isn't about to change. Coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks don't rebuild. They reload. Frank Mason III (20.9 ppg, 5.2 apg, 4.2 rpg) and Josh Jackson (16.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.7 spg) are gone to the NBA, but Kansas has replenished its talent base with the the likes of Mississippi State transfer Malik Newman (11.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.2 apg) joining reigning Big 12 Tournament MVP Devonte' Graham in the backcourt. Brothers Dedrick and K.J. Lawson, both Memphis transfers, will also bolster a lineup that includes former five-star promising freshman 6-10 big man Billy Preston.
Everyone else is playing for second place.
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Let's breaks down the league, including predictions, sleepers, big games and MVP candidates.
Big 12 predictions
1. Kansas
2. Baylor
3. West Virginia
4. Texas
5. TCU
6. Texas Tech
7. Oklahoma
8. Kansas State
9. Oklahoma State
10. Iowa State
Champion: Kansas
Despite losing its top two scorers from a 2016-17 squad that reached the Elite Eight, the Jayhawks still have an embarrassment of riches with four players (Dedrick and K.J. Lawson, Graham and Newman) who've averaged double-figures in scoring at a major conference school, and everyone has something prove. Newman, once the a five-star recruit and the No. 1 overall high school recruit in the in country, should be humbled after a freshman season at his father's alma mater that didn't go as planned in 2015-16 and hungry to prove he's still every bit the player that many had pegged as a can't miss one-and-done prospect. The Lawson Brothers will be out to show they aren't problem children after a tumultuous end to their time at Memphis. Preston could be gone after this season as well and the Jayhawks role players such as Lagerald Vick and Arizona State transfer Sam Cunliffe, who'll be eligible after the fall semester are more than serviceable. Barring injury, the Jayhawks are looking like national title contenders.
X-Factor: Mohamed Bamba
Sure. He's a true freshman. So, he hasn't made any of his immense potential kinetic, but the 6-11, 225-pound New Yorker with a ridiculous 8-0 wing span could be the most talented player in the Big 12. There's a reason the once five-star recruit is projected as top five pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The 19-year-old is the biggest signature coach Shaka Smart has secured since arriving in Austin in 2015. Already an elite shot blocker, Bamba has the capacity to become the Kristaps Porzingis type of stretch 5 that's revolutionizing the game of basketball by being able to score both with his back to the basket, knock down shots from the perimeter and create opportunities for others off the dribble. Just peep his highlights from the Longhorns exhibition in Australia.
Sleeper: Oklahoma
The Sooners finished 11-20 last season, a mark highlighted by a mid-season stretch during which they lost 14 of 16, and lose former standout guard Jordan Woodard, who led them at 14.6 points per game. However, coach Lon Kruger secured the services of five-star prospect freshman Trae Young. The 6-2, 180-pounder from Norman, Ok. is the first player McDonald's All-American from the state to sign with the school since Blake Griffin in 2007. Young averaged 42.1 points per game on 49.8 percent shooting from the field. The Sooners also return seven of their top eight scorers from 2016-17, led by sophomore guard Kameron McGusty (10.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg).
Three biggest regular season games
1. Kansas at TCU, Jan. 6: This will be the rare occasion where the hunted will be doing the hunting. Kansas won't soon forget the 85-82 loss it suffered at the hands of the Horned Frogs in last year's Big 12 tournament, and the TCU will be out to prove the upset was no fluke.
2. Oklahoma at Texas, Feb. 3: This year's basketball version of the Red River Shootout could be just as entertaining as its football counterpart typically is. Both programs are coming off embarrassing seasons and are looking to show they're much improved. Even if they don't, they'll put fort their best effort with bragging rights on the line.
3. West Virginia at Baylor, Feb. 20: This matchup between league favorites late in the Big 12 slate could go a long way in determining each team's seeding, not only in the conference but the NCAA tournament.
Player of the year hopefuls
Devonte' Graham, G, Kansas: Graham has been waiting in the wings. Now, he's ready to do this thing. The Jayhawks third-leading scorer will be an alpha male on a roster full of them. More than 65 percent of of his shots were taken from behind the 3-point line, where he connected on 38.8 percent of his attempts last season. However, when he did take it do the rack, he was extremely effective, making 70.2 percent of his field goal attempts at the rim, according to Hoop-Math.com.
Jeffrey Carroll, G/F, Oklahoma State: After averaging 17.5 points per game as a junior in 2016-17, The 6-6, 220-pounder is the Big 12's top returning scorer. His 44 percent clip from 3-point range was third in the league a season ago. Expect him to fill it up again for the Cowboys.
Mohamed Bamba, F, Texas: Bamba averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks per game while playing the best competition in the country at Westtown School (Pa.). If the scholar, who took an unofficial visit to Harvard during the recruiting process, picks up the college game as quickly as everything else, he could make a serious run Player of the Year.
Coach on the hot seat: Bruce Weber, Kansas State
The Wildcats returned to the NCAA tournament after a two-year hiatus last season, but they still haven't finished better than sixth in the Big 12 since 2013-14. After six years under Weber, KSU's administration could be looking to go in another direction.