It’s no secret that high expectations surround Kansas every season. The Jayhawks have won 14 consecutive Big 12 regular season titles and have been a No. 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament every season since 2010.
Once again, however, Kansas will have plenty of competition in the conference. Including the Jayhawks, seven Big 12 teams made the NCAA Tournament teams in 2018, including four (Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech and West Virginia) which made the Sweet 16. Three Big 12 teams made Sporting News' updated preseason top 25.
MORE: SN preseason top 25 teams
West Virginia (Jevon Carter, Daxter Miles Jr.) and TCU (Kenrich Williams, Vladimir Brodziansky) lose key senior leaders but both teams — along with a deep Kansas State squad — have enough talent to pose a threat to the Jayhawks' historic conference run.
Sporting News will look at predictions, sleeper teams, X-factors, Player of the Year hopefuls, and more in our Big 12 Conference preview:
Big 12 Predictions
1. Kansas
2. West Virginia
3. TCU
4. Kansas State
5. Texas
6. Iowa State
7. Texas Tech
8. Baylor
9. Oklahoma
10. Oklahoma State
Big 12 champion: Kansas
The Jayhawks are the easy pick, and history would suggest it’s also the correct one. Despite losing its top three scorers in Devonte' Graham, Svi Mykhailiuk and Malik Newman, Kansas has replenished and the roster is still loaded.
Lagerald Vick and Udoka Azubuike are both returning starters, transfers Dedric Lawson and K.J. Lawson each averaged more than 12 points per game at Memphis in 2016-17, and freshmen guards Quentin Grimes and Devon Dotson were both five-star recruits. This group looks like one of Bill Self’s deeper and most talented teams ever.
Big 12 X-Factor: James Bolden
“Beetle” Bolden took a backseat last year to Carter and Miles, but West Virginia’s career leader in 3-point percentage (41.9 percent) should have an increased role as a junior. His production will be determined by whether Bolden can translate his strong shooting from the bench to the starting. He has started only three games in his first two seasons, but could emerge as a premier scorer for a team that prides itself on its defense.
Big 12 sleeper: Iowa State
The Cyclones are coming off a 13-18 season, their worst since 2002, but return five of their top six scorers, including sophomore Lindell Wigginton, an emerging star. They also add transfers Marial Shayok (Virginia), Prentiss Nixon (Colorado State) and Michael Jacobson (Nebraska), who bring extensive experience and could make an immediate impact. Despite its less-than-ideal record from last year, ISU did beat ranked conference opponents in Texas Tech, West Virginia, and Oklahoma.
POWER 5 PREVIEWS: B10 | P12 | ACC | SEC
Five biggest regular season games:
Jan. 19: Kansas @ West Virginia — A rematch of the 2018 Big 12 championship game that features arguably the two most consistent powers in the conference over the last several years.
Feb. 25: Kansas State @ Kansas — This game is always for bragging rights in the state of Kansas, but it takes on even more meaning this season. The Wildcats stack up as well against the Jayhawks as they have in several years. And because it takes place near the end of the season, this could have big implications for who wins the regular season Big 12 title.
Jan. 2: Texas @ Kansas State — This will be the first of a two-game stretch for the Longhorns that ends with a matchup against West Virginia. It will be a prime opportunity for Texas to show it belongs in the top tier of Big 12 teams.
Jan. 5: Kansas @ Iowa State — The Cyclones face a difficult challenge in their second conference game of the season, which should be a good litmus test for Iowa State going forward. A win could move them from the sleeper role to contender.
March 9: TCU @ Texas m — Both schools could be fighting for a higher seed in the conference tournament during this regular season finale.
Player of the Year hopefuls:
Lagerald Vick, G, Kansas: Vick averaged 12.1 points and 4.8 rebounds a game as a junior, and will have high expectations in his final go-around in Lawrence. The last two Big 12 players of the year — Devonte Graham and Frank Mason — were both senior guards on the Jayhawks as well.
Dedric Lawson, F, Kansas: The transfer from Memphis could the Jayhawks’ best player you've never heard of. He averaged 17.5 points and 9.6 rebounds a game in two seasons for the Tigers. He has the potential to flourish in Lawrence as a consistent double-double threat.
Sagaba Konate F, West Virginia: Konate is a defensive force who was third in the NCAA with 3.2 blocks per game last season and who earned All-Big 12 defensive team honors. His full impact doesn’t often show up in the box score, but his value to the Mountaineers is sky-high.
Lindell Wigginton, G, Iowa State: Wigginton is a potential sleeper if he can build off of his impressive freshman season in which he averaged 16.7 points a game.
MID-MAJOR PREVIEWS: AAC | A10 | WCC
Coach with something to prove: Shaka Smart, Texas
Smart came to Texas in 2015 with plenty of hype after leading VCU to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four appearance. He hasn’t produced nearly the same results in three years in Austin: The Longhorns haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game, nor have they finished better than fourth in the conference. Smart's not on the hot seat, but another middle-of-the-road season will make his seat warmer.