Previewing Saturday’s slate of Big 12 hoops games

By Anthony Slater – Aslater@opubco.com - @anthonyVslater

Here is Saturday’s slate of Big 12 hoops games:

Iowa State at Oklahoma (12:30 p.m. on Big 12 Network)  - On nationally televised Big Monday, Iowa State had its arena packed and the defending Big 12 champs on the ropes, up four with less than a minute remaining. But a frantic comeback, aided by some questionable officiating, gave Kansas the overtime win. Two days later, on a late night in Austin, OU was cruising with an insurmountable 22-point cushion with less than eight minutes to play. Or, at least we thought it was insurmountable. Texas ended the game on a 47-19 run, stunning the Sooners. Two brutal overtime losses. Two disheartened teams. One will respond with a big win in Norman on Saturday. The other could suddenly find itself on the tourney bubble.

West Virginia at Kansas (1 p.m. on CBS) - Not sure the Moutaineers know what’s about to hit them in their first Big 12 visit to Phog Allen Fieldhouse. And not sure they have enough talent to keep this within 20. Bill Self doesn’t lose in Lawrence, unless, of course, he’s playing against a future lottery pick capable of bullying his guards and backflipping on his court. Don’t imagine one of those is residing in Morgantown these days.