Kansas basketball’s neighbor the biggest threat for Big 12 title

The Kansas Jayhawks hold the record for the most consecutive conference titles all-time with 14-straight. This season however, the odds are not in favor of the Jayhawks as they currently sit in a tie for third place in the conference standings.

Earlier in the season, most fans were saying the Texas Tech Red Raiders were the biggest challenger to dethrone Kansas or the Iowa State Cyclones could be the team to knock off the Jayhawks. In all reality, neither of those teams are the real challenger.

Contrary to popular belief, at this very moment, Kansas is simply not the best team in the Big 12 conference, instead it is its in-state rival, the Kansas State Wildcats.

The Jayhawks have the best strength of schedule in the Big 12 and have the highest ranking in the AP Poll amongst all conference teams, sitting at 13th in the country. Despite these qualifications, Kansas State has one player who’s changed the dynamic of the team.

Without senior Dean Wade earlier in the season, the Wildcats looked lost and the only scoring on the team seemed to come from senior guard Barry Brown. Since Wade’s return however, Kansas State has looked stronger on the offensive end and continue to overwhelm opponents on the defensive side of the ball.

Since Wade’s return, he has averaged 15.3 points per game and has been a force all-around, rebounding, passing and spreading the floor. It has been apparent Wade has not been the best version of himself this season as he was the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 Player of the Year.

Despite Wade’s regressed play, he has been a key piece for the Wildcats and played a vital role for the team, which has won six straight conference games.

The Wildcats should be a ranked team and should have been ranked weeks ago, but the continuous disrespect will likely only motivate coach Bruce Weber’s team.

Most Kansas fans simply shrug off the presence of the Wildcats, knowing the poor history of Kansas State basketball but history means nothing this season. The Wildcats made a run to the Elite Eight last season without Wade (although most people believe they had the easiest path to the Elite Eight) and could use that experience to end the reign of the dominant Kansas Jayhawks.

Kansas has hope, especially within its most recent game, which saw three Jayhawks make three triples and four players score in double digits. Kansas played arguably its best game against Texas Tech, but from the sample size it has shown this season, the Tech game seems more like an outlier than a turning point.

Kansas is an unexperienced team and has a ton of obstacles to face this season, but the biggest threat lies in the hands of its own rival.

Can the Wildcats knock off Kansas or will the Jayhawks do what they do best and find a way to win yet another Big 12 title? The 290th Sunflower Showdown may paint the picture for who will win the conference title.