Big 12 Basketball on TV: Week 13

Jan 23, 2013; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders entertain the crowd before the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at the United Spirit Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Four teams have the middle of the week off, letting the rest of the Big 12 play catch up in how many conference games have been played. By the time all of them play this Saturday, everyone will have played seven conference games. The bottom four of the conference are at a disadvantage with West Virginia, TCU, Texas, and Texas Tech all having five or more losses, but it paves the way for a huge tripleheader in Big 12 play on Saturday.

NOTE: Central time zone listed

Wednesday

• 6:00 pm – Oklahoma (13-5, 4-2) at Baylor (14-5, 5-1) – ESPNU
• 7:00 pm – Iowa State (14-5, 4-2) at Oklahoma State (13-5, 3-3) – Big 12 Network (WOI-TV) / ESPN3
• 7:00 pm – Texas (9-10, 1-5) at (18)Kansas State (15-4, 4-2) – ESPN2

Saturday

• 12:45 pm – West Virginia (9-11, 2-5) at Texas Tech (9-9, 2-5) – Big 12 Network (WOI-TV) / ESPN3
• 3:00 pm – Oklahoma State at (2)Kansas (19-1, 7-0) – Big 12 Network (WOI-TV) / ESPN3
• 5:00 pm – (18)Kansas State at Oklahoma – ESPN2
• 7:00 pm – Iowa State at Baylor – ESPN2
• 7:00 pm – TCU (9-11, 0-7) at Texas – Longhorn Network

It’s a big week for middle of the pack teams in the Big 12 to put themselves in position for a top spot and making a run at a regular season championship. Iowa State, Baylor, and both Oklahoma schools can do just that, especially with the Sooners and Cowboys playing the Kansas schools on Saturday.

Baylor’s center, Isaiah Austin, is dealing with a knee injury but is probable for Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma. He ranks second on the team in points per game (14.5) and 3-point shooting percentage (.378).

While not a critical matchup, if Texas wants to get out of the basement and potentially get a decent seed in the tournament, they have to win in Manhattan and take care of business with the other three teams at the bottom. Then Iowa State looms when Myck Kabongo becomes eligible to play for them again.

Both West Virginia and Texas Tech will try to avoid their sixth Big 12 loss in an early game on Saturday.

Brian Spaen is the lead editor of Clones Confidential. Get more Cyclones coverage by following us on Twitter.