Caveat emptor: The clickbaitish article you’ve clicked or tapped on (likely in the shitter or in furtive glimpses while on the clock) is largely inane and not worth your time and its assertions are almost certainly wrong and built upon presuppositions that are ill-informed w/r/t college basketball. Enjoy.
Premise: I’ve been watching Big 12 basketball for a little more than a decade and I’ve seen the league produce some talented teams, but I’ve never seen so many good teams that were so close to being great teams (which I’ll concede is a fairly vague and subjective evaluation). This thought exercise started a couple weeks back and then cemented itself this past weekend as I watched a Taurean Prince led Bears squad dismantle Texas in Austin (I’ve personally chosen to think we were one more Javan to Zay 12-foot perimeter pass from figuring out that zone), and I began to wonder what Texas might accomplish if Taurean went to a Tier 1 school that didn’t have a passive sexual assault policy, or if he played for a coach that actually asked his players to buy in defensively. The premise here is to take one player from another Big 12 squad that would most seamlessly improve the current squad given their current makeup and ideal style of play. While it's tempting to simply say Buddy Hield’s name 9 times and be over, we’ll attempt to mix it up a bit in order to give you, dear reader, a few minutes of escape from work or family or something that is almost certainly more consequential and important than reading this article, or else simply a break from your masturbatory keening over Hudl tapes from Charlie’s latest haul of errbody recruits.
A note: This league has particularly consistent play at a couple positions, like the four, which has standouts like Perry Ellis and Georges Niang; steady veteran floor stretchers like Ryan Spangler, Connor Lammert and Nathan Adrian; and emerging talents like Tech’s Zach Smith and KSU’s Dean Wade—which means that while Niang and Ellis would improve every team in the league, the improvement at that specific position is likely less than some of the weaker positions in the league, like the 3. (Devin Williams, in the absence of Cam Ridley, is, according to my layman eyes, far and away the best five in this league, which has a true dearth in back to the basket big men.) Also, for most statistics I’m using Big 12 conference stats only, because they represent common opponents and I don’t want to overstate anyone’s stats against wildly different competition (Baylor racked up some gaudy rebounding totals against the nation’s 268th rated nonconference schedule per KenPom)…unless those stats don’t serve my purpose. Enough dawdling—time for content.
Texas: Taurean Prince
Needs: Texas’ worst league-wide statistic is rebounding as they currently lead only TCU in rebounding margin (Texas has a particularly low offensive rebounding percentage, which is partly attributable to their defensive strategy of getting back in transition). Texas gets okay rebounding production from the 4 and 5, but very little from the 3. UT currently rolls a couple combo guards (Yancy/Holland), a shooting guard (Davis), and a few minutes for Tevin Mack as a true wing three (he gets as many minutes at the four with Ibeh and Shaq’s propensity for drawing whistles). Taurean Prince is at least those guys’ equal as a shooter and is a huge plus in rebounding and general size, which allows for more variability in defensive rotations (Texas likes to switch screens, which is why we end up with so many guards desperately trying to front a post). A lot of people who know more about basketball than I do thought Jordan Barnett would grow into a quality wing, but two separate coaching staffs failed to develop him to even minor contributor status.
Fit: I love Prince’s game and length and athleticism and his jacked new bod. Prince is a sort of simulacrum of what I’d like Mack to become offensively as a rangy athlete who can score from anywhere on the floor. Prince would potentially be a monster as the Wildman that fronts Smart’s Diamond press. Prince's defense is, like most Bears in Scott Drew's tenure, largely an interval before he gets to play offense again; I suspect Shaka would get a bit more buy in. Prince would also allow for more lineup variability in that Texas wouldn’t give up as much defensively when he plays the four and Lammert moves to the five as our natural fives are still figuring out that footwork is a component to defensive positioning (I’ll briefly note that while Ibeh is his own worst enemy when it comes to foul trouble, our guards do him no favors w/r/t rotation and staying in front of their man).
Other players considered: Buddy Hield, Perry Ellis, Devin Williams, A Healthy Cam Ridley
Iowa State: Devin Williams
Needs: Iowa State is last in the league in points allowed (this is partly a function of pace, though they’re also dead last in the Big 12 according to KenPom’s ratings) so any new player has to be selected with an eye for a defensive upgrade. ISU is also one of the worst in the league at both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage (the offensive percentage is partly because they are more focused on stopping transition buckets and because they shoot so well, but, with the pace they play, they should be netting north of 9 offensive rebounds a game).
Fit: Devin Williams would give ISU a true post scorer and take some of the scoring, rebounding, and defensive responsibilities off of Jameel McKay and Georges Niang, who are the only rotation players for the Cyclones taller than 6’6". Williams is the only player in the league to rank in the top 3 in both defensive and offensive rebounding (and his on fleek goggles channel some inner Horace Grant, imo).
Other players considered: Rico Gathers, Jaysean Paige, Jonathan Holton, Ryan Spangler
Kansas: Buddy Hield
Needs: Kansas needs for nothing and wants for little. Kansas is a league leader in both scoring offense and scoring defense and is likely to wrap up a 12th consecutive title this Saturday when they host Tech. The one statistical weakness of the Jayhawks is turnover margin: they’re currently a nonplussing dead last in the league. While the Frank Mason Devonte Graham dyad at point guard has been good enough to win a Big 12 title, neither guy protects the ball well as both have an assist to turnover ratio below 2. The turnover margin, however, doesn’t really bother KU as their total turnovers aren’t bad and they’re more interested in forcing tough shots than turning opponents over (they currently lead the league in field goal percentage defense).
Fit: Buddy Hield is the best player in the league and the rich get richer.
Other players considered: Devin Williams, Taurean Prince
Kansas State: Monte Morris
Needs: Kansas State is near the bottom of the league in total points scored and is the worst offense not named TCU according to KenPom. They currently have the ignominious lead in total turnovers (despite being one of the slower teams), have poor 3 point and overall shooting percentages, and if you’ve watched any KSU games, you’ve probably seen some, let’s call it, inelegant halfcourt offense. The Wildcats have been hurt by the loss of Kamau Stokes and seemingly haven’t found a triggerman or even a stable ballhandler for their offense.
Fit: Monte Morris is the pick here as he is the steadiest ball handler and most productive assist man in the league and would singlehandedly improve upon KSU’s meager shooting percentages (he’s shooting 45% from 3 and 52% overall).
Other players considered: Isaiah Taylor, Buddy Hield, Isaiah Cousins
West Virginia: Isaiah Taylor
Needs: WVU has a lot of good pieces, but the teams that have beaten them have protected the ball and slowed down WVU’s potent transition offense. The ‘Eers have a healthy league lead in turnover margin, but in their worst losses of the season (home losses to Texas and Oklahoma and at UT) they only forced single digit turnovers. Their halfcourt offense is okay, but they tend to rely on offensive rebounding more than execution. WVU lacks a true point guard as combo guards Jevon Carter and Tarik Phillip share the distributor role.
Fit: Isaiah Taylor is Bob Huggins’ personal pick for best point guard in the league, so that’s enough justification for me. Huggins thinks Zay is "the best guy in our league at pushing the ball" and that "he’s really really good in transition" and "he makes good decisions off the break." Zay would be a great compliment to WVU’s cadre of combo guards and would be deadly leading WVU’s transition offense. Taylor is also excellent in isolation and late shot clock situations and would singlehandedly improve WVU’s shot quality in their halfcourt sets.
Other players considered: Monte Morris, Buddy Hield
Oklahoma: Devin Williams
Needs: Oklahoma’s worst losses (@KSU, @Tech and home to KU) have come in games where their league best 3 point shooting was poor (Texas is the league leader in 3 point defense, btw). Neither Ryan Spangler, Khadeem Lattin nor their primary backup Dante Buford are particularly skilled at scoring with their backs to the basket. OU effectively has 3 frontcourt players, so depth is a concern for the Sooners.
Fit: Williams would give Oklahoma similar bumps to what he would give ISU. Oklahoma is currently neutral in rebounding margin in Big 12 play and Williams would likely shore that up. Plus, he would give the Sooners a more traditional post scorer for those games when Hield, Woodard, and Cousins aren’t being the best troika of shooters the league has ever seen.
Other players considered: A Healthy Cam Ridley
Oklahoma State: Devin Williams
Needs: There are a lot of players that could improve OSU’s roster, but their starting guard combo of Jawun Evans and Jeff Newberry are actually solid, if not approaching some of the better backcourts in the league. OSU particularly struggles with post scoring and rebounding and Devin Williams is the best in the league at those two attributes.
Fit: Devin Williams keeps popping up because he offers things most teams don’t have.
Other players considered: Buddy Hield, Georges Niang
Texas Tech: Taurean Prince
Needs: Tech is in the middle of the pack in most league categories (save their league leading free throw percentage) so there is room to improve in most respects. Their forwards aren’t exactly JAGs (Zach Smith is an athletic 4 who could blossom as an upperclassman), but there currently isn’t a standout in the group. Tech runs a lot of combo guards and has senior Toddrick Gotcher lead a plurality of ballhandlers.
Fit: While Morris and Taylor would improve ball security and allow Gotcher to be more of a scorer than a distributor, Prince provides a big upgrade at the 3. Prince is a do-a-bit-of-everything stat stuffer who would likely buoy Tech’s standing in most statistical categories.
Other players considered: Perry Ellis, Georges Niang, Monte Morris, Isaiah Taylor
TCU: Buddy Hield
Needs: The Horned Frogs, save maybe Kyan Anderson, have had major talent deficits at nearly all positions since they entered the league. Hield is the best player in the league and would be the largest roster upgrade.
Fit: Hield would probably score 35 a game in heroic and futile efforts.
Other players considered: Georges Niang, Monte Morris, Devin Williams, Taurean Prince, A Roster Exchange With Kansas
Baylor: Bill Self
Needs: I like Baylor’s roster a lot. Yes, Lester Medford is in the middle of the pack as a point guard in the league, and Buddy Hield would be a huge upgrade over the Freeman/Wainwright combo they use at the two and three, but we all know the personnel at Baylor isn’t the problem. Baylor has great size and athleticism at nearly every position that isn’t point guard (especially when Gathers isn’t playing the 5) but Baylor is, again, outside of the top 70 in defensive efficiency (currently 128). In the 12 years Drew has been at Baylor, the Bears have finished outside the top 70 9 times and have only once finished inside the top 40. While Baylor has good length at most positions, they repeatedly fail to protect the rim (Motley, who looks the part of a potential rim protector in Baylor’s zone, has yet to arrive as a defensive enforcer). We can talk about how almost no major college basketball programs use zone as a base defense and how Baylor’s zone basically gives away the baseline, but the simple argument here is that Baylor’s defense, when considering the quality of their athletes, is simply not effective.
I have some quibbles with Drew’s offensive sets (things can get a bit unorganized and hectic and occasionally turnover prone), but he has generally recruited plus athletes and tends to let them play loose and with confidence and usually has a couple of guys he can count on in isolation.
Fit: Bill Self is the best coach in the league. 11 12 consecutive Big 12 titles makes this inarguable (hell, half of that would be sufficient). I put the question to you, reader, is there any doubt Self wins title #12 if he had Baylor’s roster this year?
Other players considered: Buddy Hield, Lon Kruger, Bob Huggins, Shaka Smart
