With every Big 12 Conference men’s basketball team at least halfway through its conference schedule, the standings appear to fulfill preseason poll predictions.

Kansas and Oklahoma State were the pre-season favorites, and currently sit at first and second place respectively. Baylor was supposed to be the cellar dweller. And with only one league victory, the team is firmly entrenched in last place.

The only true surprises are Texas A&M;, which has four victories in league play, and Missouri, which owns just two conference victories.

The only undefeated team left is Kansas and it seems to be in control of its own destiny. But three southern schools — Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech — are within just three games. At this point, it appears that any of the top-four teams could take home a conference title.

“I see Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas or Texas Tech coming out of there,” Kansas coach Bill Self said when asked what teams had a chance to win the Big 12 regular season title.

All three teams are competing for the title and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. But several others are fighting for at-large berths in either the NIT or NCAA post-season tournaments.

“The Big 12 is tough, and is one of the top conferences,” senior guard Keith Langford said. He said he thought five or six teams could make the NCAA tournament.

Kansas (18-1, 8-0 Big 12): The Jayhawks looked vulnerable in the early going, narrowly defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Texas A&M; Aggies at home. They do appear to be getting into a groove, though, after winning each of the team’s last three games by an average of nearly 17 points per game.

Kansas must still travel to Oklahoma and Texas Tech, while enduring a home contest against Oklahoma State along the way.

“We’ve got a small lead at halftime, but the first half is not near as important as the second half,” Self said. “It’s about to get a lot tougher. We haven’t been to Texas Tech yet. We certainly haven’t gone to Oklahoma. Kansas State and Missouri — we know what those games will be like.”

Projected Finish: First. If Kansas takes care of its games against northern division teams, it can afford to lose once or twice and still take home the title.

Oklahoma State (17-3, 7-2 Big 12): The Cowboys lost two early road games, but that seems to be forgotten now. They have quietly won seven conference games, with an impressive victory at Texas Tech.

“You look at Oklahoma State and they’ve got two losses.” Self said. “But they were at Texas and Oklahoma.”

Oklahoma State, the defending Big 12 champion, is finished with the hardest part of its schedule and is in the best position to capitalize on a Kansas loss.

Projected Finish: Second. The Cowboys’ visit to Allen Fieldhouse on Feb. 27 may decide which team gets the number one seed in the Big 12 tournament.

Oklahoma (17-4, 6-2 Big 12): A week ago, the Sooners looked like the real deal.

They gave the Duke University Blue Devils all they could handle in New York to start the season. Then they defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns in impressive fashion.

Times got a little rough, however, when Oklahoma then lost to Iowa State and Texas Tech.

With road games against Texas, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech remaining, Oklahoma has little room for error. Still, with a healthy Kevin Bookout, junior forward, this team will be tough to beat.

“They’re a dangerous team,” said J.R. Giddens, sophomore guard and Oklahoma native. “Taj Gray, Andrew Lavender and the freshmen and sophomore guards that they have are very good and talented. They can shoot and have an inside presence with Bookout.”

Projected Finish: Fourth. Oklahoma will be back in the NCAA Tournament this year, but the team’s remaining schedule is far too difficult to allow it to contend for a conference title.

Texas Tech (14-5, 6-2 in conference): Bob Knight’s team seems to be peaking at the right time. After suffering losses to Oklahoma State and Texas, Texas Tech rebounded with a victory at Oklahoma.

“Texas Tech might be playing better than anyone else in the league right now,” Self said.

If the Red Raiders continue their recent play, they will be a factor in the conference race until the bitter end. With home games remaining against Oklahoma and Kansas, and a rematch at Oklahoma State, Texas Tech certainly has the opportunity to make some noise.

Projected Finish: Third. The Red Raiders have solidified themselves as an NCAA Tournament team.

Texas (15-6, 4-4 Big 12): Texas is starting to play like the team that lost its best player. Since their leading scorer, sophomore guard P.J. Tucker, became academically ineligible to play, the Longhorns have lost three of their last four games.

Projected Finish: Fifth. Playing Colorado, Kansas State and Baylor in the coming weeks will help get Texas back on track, but it has lost too many games to contend for the conference title.

Texas A&M; (15-5, 4-5 Big 12): At this point, Billy Gillispie is the favorite for Big 12 coach of the year. And he deserves it.

Nobody expected anything out of the Aggies after they went winless in conference play last season. With four league victories thus far, though, they are in solid position to post the best record in school history.

“At the midpoint, I would say Texas A&M; has been a pleasant surprise,” Self said.

Projected Finish: Sixth. The NCAA Selection Committee frowns upon teams with conference records below .500. But if Texas A&M; can earn eight total conference victories, it will likely receive a bid.

Kansas State (13-6, 3-5 Big 12): After sweeping Missouri and beating up on Iowa State, Kansas State looked like a team on the rise. Though they lost to Colorado at home, Self is still impressed.

“They’ve got a nice team,” Self said. “I think they are much improved.”

Projected Finish: Eighth. Each of the Wildcats’ conference defeats was a nail-biter, and senior forward Jeremiah Massey is one of the conference’s best big men. At this point, though, the NIT is all they can hope for.

Iowa State (11-8, 3-5 Big 12): Coming off back-to-back victories against Oklahoma and Texas, Iowa State is starting to show signs of life.

Only one ranked team, No. 3 Kansas, remains on the Cyclones’ schedule. If sophomore guard Curtis Stintson continues to excel, the team could make a run at eight or nine conference victories.

Projected Finish: Seventh. Iowa State still has an outside shot of making the NCAA Tournament, but it needs to win seven of its eight remaining games.

Nebraska (10-9, 3-5 Big 12): The Cornhuskers have suffered a number of tough losses this year, and coach Barry Collier still hasn’t led his team over the hump.

Projected Finish: Tenth. They’re only playing for pride at this point.

Colorado (11-9, 3-6 Big 12): When Colorado lost at Baylor, it looked like Ricardo Patton’s team was the worst team in the conference. Recent victories over Missouri, Kansas State and Iowa State, however, give Colorado the appearance of building toward the future.

Projected Finish: Ninth. This team is gaining confidence and it could knock off a contender down the stretch.

Missouri (10-12, 2-7 Big 12): Everyone knew the Tigers would be down this year, but few thought they would fall this far.

Missouri has enough talent to compete, but it’s only league victories are against Nebraska and Iowa State. And neither came easily.

Projected Finish: Twelfth. The upcoming game with Baylor could determine last place in the conference.

Baylor (9-10, 1-7 Big 12): The Bears’ only league victory came against the Colorado Buffaloes at home, but this is a much-improved team.

“Baylor has been much better than a lot of people thought they would be,” Self said.

Projected Finish: Eleventh. They’re still a few years away, but freshman guard Aaron Bruce is one of the conference’s best freshmen and will be a dangerous player for years to come.

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Big 12 Conference Standings

TEAM CONFERENCE RECORD OVERALL RECORD

W L W L

Kansas 8 0 18 1

Oklahoma State 7 2 17 3

Oklahoma 6 2 17 4

Texas Tech 6 2 14 5

Texas 4 4 15 6

Texas A&M; 4 5 15 5

Kansas State 3 5 13 6

Iowa State 3 5 11 8

Nebraska 3 5 10 9

Colorado 3 6 11 9

Missouri 2 7 10 12

Baylor 1 7 9 10

Source: Big12sports.com