Player of the Week
Mac McClung, Texas Tech
Texas had won six games in a row and beaten three top 15 teams this season. Ranked fourth in the country, Shaka Smart’s group was rolling and looked like a true contender for the national title. Then they played Mac McClung, who got red hot for his Red Raider’s squad. McClung iced the game with a deep two that was originally ruled a three. It was a challenging shot, an isolation off the dribble pull-up that was well contested. The tight defense didn’t seem to bother the Georgetown transfer, as he buried the shot without even touching the rim. He finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal. He was aggressive throughout the game, getting to the foul line ten times, hitting eight of those shots. No. 15 Texas Tech will need a similar offense spark from McClung as their next game is against No. 2 Baylor.
Who’s Hot
Andrew Jones, Texas
Jones sank a corner three with just over a second remaining to hold off No. 14 West Virginia, 72-70. It is challenging enough to win the game when it’s tied, but Jones had ice water running through his veins, hitting a three while down one. Jones had a stellar game throughout as well, scoring 16 points, adding three rebounds, an assist, a steal and four three-pointers. More impressive than any shot on the court, the win comes almost exactly three years after the team found out about Jones’ leukemia diagnosis. He has returned to be a key piece for the scorching hot Longhorns, and even scored his 1000th career point during the game. The Longhorns suffered their second defeat of the season to Texas Tech, but Jones was marvelous still. He scored a team-high 20 points, shooting over 63% from the field and from deep. They suffered their first loss in conference, but Jones has been scorching for the last three games.
Oklahoma State
Up just three points against No. 6 Kansas, the Cowboys needed one strong defensive possession to seal the game. Instead of even letting Kansas get a shot off, Bryce Williams stole the final inbounds pass and threw down an incredible dunk to secure the 75-70 win. It was the biggest upset win in the Big 12 this season. Once again, Cade Cunningham led the Cowboys in scoring. However, against the Jayhawks, the rest of the starting lineup was beautifully balanced. Four of their starters ended in double digits and went 50% (8-16) on threes. David McCormack was the main offensive threat for Kansas, leading the team with 24 points and 12 rebounds. One of the biggest reasons for Oklahoma State’s upset win was limiting Jalen Wilson, who is 12th in the conference in scoring. Wilson was shutdown effectively, as he scored just four points on 2-7 shooting.
Who’s Not
West Virginia
Their representation under this category has nothing to do with losing in the final seconds to Texas. They played extremely well and were one shot away from upsetting one of the best, and hottest teams in the country. The Mountaineers reside in here because star center Oscar Tshiebwe has decided to transfer to the Kentucky Wildcats. Even though his production has faltered after a spectacular rookie season, the former 5-star recruit played a massive role in West Virginia’s title aspirations. His offensive impact was limited, but he was a considerable defense force, and his presence was consistently felt for opposing slashers. The Mountaineers will now need to rely on Derek Culver to slide to center and need to become more reliant on their depth this season. Coach Bob Huggins is a smart leader, and should be able to navigate this departure, but it certainly puts a dent in their postseason dreams.
Top 5 Three-Point Shooters in Big 12
1. Umoja Gibson, Oklahoma
Gibson gets the prize for best three-point marksman right now due to his mix of threes hit and percentage of makes. He is third in the conference in three-point percentage at 48%. In addition to the great percentage, Gibson has done so while hitting 2.4 threes per game. This is the most makes for anyone in the top seven for three-point percentages. The 6’1 guard has been able to consistently find the range for the Sooners this season.
2. Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
Agbaji is shooting 42.7% from three so far this season. That number is good for eighth in the conference. More importantly, Agbaji is sinking 2.7 threes per game, which is the most in the conference. The 6’5 junior has greatly improved from last season, raising his percentage by almost nine percent from last season.
3. Jared Butler, Baylor
By far the best NBA prospect on these rankings, Butler has had a truly spectacular start to the season for the Bears. His numbers have been wonderful from across the court, but he has been especially lethal from three. Butler has shot 43.1% from deep, with 2.3 makes per game. The leading scorer for points per game, Butler draws a lot of defensive attention. Yet, he has consistently been an impactful player, especially from deep.
4. Matthew Mayer, Baylor
Baylor is absolutely loaded at guard this season, so Mayer does not get the playing time of many other top shooters. However, he has made the most of his 15 minutes per game, hitting 1.2 threes per game on just 2.1 attempts. He is shooting at a truly incredible clip, 48% from behind the arc, which is the best in the conference. He may see more playing time for the championship contending Bears if he can continue to be a flame-thrower from behind the arc.
5. Brady Manek, Oklahoma
The only forward on this list, Manek is by far the tallest of the impactful shooters. He uses his 6’9 frame to rise up over defenders and has been able to hit threes with ease. The Sooner is ninth in the conference with a 42.1% clip from behind the arc with 2.3 makes per game. In addition, Manek had one of the great shooting performances of the season against UTSA, hitting eight three-pointers on 11 attempts.