Cougars’ Nailbiting Loss Creates New Twist and Turn In Big 12

The entire landscape of college basketball changed overnight. Apparently, two of the top contenders face huge upsets on a long Tuesday night. As we were still reeling upon Purdue’s unexpected loss at Nebraska, the only unbeaten team in the NCAA, Houston went down at the hands of the State Cyclones.

With this win, Iowa has sent shockwaves in the entire Big 12 indicating things to come later. In addition to this, the result sends a clear message that no top team can win if they play badly.

How Iowa opens up Big 12?

Milan Momcilovic’s tiebreaking jumper along with two key free throws handed Iowa a monumental 57-53 win over the Cougars. As a result, Houston faces their first defeat and is no longer the only team with a 100% win record in Division I. Consequently, the result has changed the entire complexion of the Big 12 with the table now wide open for everyone. While Houston still sits above teams like Cincinnati, Texas and Iowa, there is no telling what another loss will do to their standings.

The interesting thing to notice in the Big 12 table is that the outcome of a single game can hugely impact the current No.1 and No.10 teams. While Texas currently sits at the top of the table with its 2 conference wins, TCU can easily dethrone them if they start winning.

Read More: Top-Ranked Purdue, Houston Upsets on the Same Day Proves to Be a Rare Sight for College Basketball

It’s only a matter of time before these top teams are tested by some of the underdogs.

Who can win the Big 12?

As of now, there is no clear favorite on the table as multiple teams can stake their claim. We currently have Texas Tech and Baylor at the top with an identical 13-2 record in competition. Moreover, they are unbeaten in both their conference games. Sitting on third is the Kansas State who also are unbeaten in conference play. Next, we have the Jayhawks and Oklahoma who are just one win away from occupying the top positions. After the loss, the Cougars have to contend with the 6th spot. Further, Cincinnati, Texas, and Iowa have the exact win-loss ratio of 12-3. Meanwhile, TCU is the final team included in the Top 10 having lost their conference opener to the Jayhawks.

The competition is now wide open for anyone willing to pounce on any opportunity they get. While it was just one of those days for Houston, the result is a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted. As the tournament heads towards the business end, fans will expect to see more shocking outcomes like these.

What are your thoughts on these recent upsets? Let us know in the comments section.

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