Kellis Robinett’s weekly Big 12 Report

This could be a strange year for the Big 12 when it comes time to hand out awards.

Kansas is the favorite to win or share the conference’s regular season championship for an 11th straight season, but none of its players appear in the running for Big 12 Player of the Year. Odds are good one or two Jayhawks make their way onto the Big 12’s first all-conference team, but that is not a given.

The Jayhawks are winning with balanced scoring and defense instead of the highlight plays of a few individuals. That formula is working wonders on the court, but it will make for some conflicted choices when voters single out players at the conclusion of the regular season on March 7.

Oklahoma guard and Sunrise Christian product Buddy Hield appears to be the favorite for player of the year as the conference’s top scorer, while Oklahoma State’s Phil Forte and Le’Bryan Nash are both averaging more than 16 points. Georges Niang is the versatile player that makes Iowa State go, and Rico Gathers is a double-double machine for Baylor. Juwan Staten, the conference’s preseason player of the year, is also in the mix, averaging 14 points a game.

Each of those players could conceivably receive a first-team nod over KU standouts Perry Ellis, a Wichita native, Frank Mason and Wayne Selden.

Ellis leads Kansas with 13.1 points per game, while Mason averages more than 12 points and four assists, while Selden is the top three-point shooter in the conference.

The Big 12’s coaches and media members will likely give at least one Kansas player the benefit of the doubt and select them for the first team, because their contributions led to a conference championship. At least one KU player has been represented on the Big 12’s first team since 2000.

Still, statistics will favor other players.

For this year, at least, the voting process may be fascinating.

Players of the week

Four players took home weekly honors from the Big 12 on Monday. Ellis and Nash were named co-players of the week. Oklahoma’s TaShawn Taylor and Texas’ Myles Turner were named co-newcomers of the week.

Quote of the week

“I told somebody before the game that we were the best 12-13 team in the country, and (now) we are probably the best 13-13 team in the country.”

-K-State basketball coach Bruce Weber following a win over Oklahoma. His statement was odd, but correct. The Wildcats are the top-rated team with a 13-13 record by both Ken Pomeroy (84) and the RPI (94).

Power Rankings

1. Kansas (21-4, 10-2): Closing in on another Big 12 title.

2. Iowa State (18-6, 8-4): Four of final six games are on the road.

3. Oklahoma (17-8, 8-5): Would be in second without two K-State losses.

4. West Virginia (19-6, 7-5): Opponents starting to figure out Press Virginia.

5. Oklahoma State (17-8, 7-6): Cowboys can’t stand prosperity.

6. Baylor (18-7, 6-6): Game effort at Kansas.

7. Texas (17-8, 6-6): Next five games are against ranked teams.

8. Kansas State (13-13, 6-7): Marcus Foster loves playing Oklahoma.

9. TCU (15-10, 2-10): Good victory over Oklahoma State.

10. Texas Tech (12-14, 2-11): Red Raiders will have a shot in their final three home games.

This story was originally published February 16, 2015 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Kellis Robinett’s weekly Big 12 Report."