COVID is creating a scheduling log jam
Baylor no longer is atop the Big 12 basketball rankings. COVID-19 holds that distinction.
Last week, 10 Big 12 games were scheduled. Five were postponed by the pandemic.
Of the five pre-Saturday games scheduled this week, two already have been postponed, and fingers are crossed on the other three.
West Virginia hasn't played since a Jan. 9 home loss to Texas and won't play until at least this Saturday, at Kansas State.
Iowa State hasn't played since a Jan. 9 home loss to Texas Tech and won't play again until at least this Saturday, at Texas Tech.
OSU's game at West Virginia scheduled for Tuesday was postponed a week ago. Then OSU's home Bedlam game, scheduled for last Saturday, was postponed.
Only Texas Tech has not been subject to a conference postponement.
It all makes for a scheduling logjam. The Big 12 wisely left the first week of March free, for makeup games, before the Big 12 Tournament starts March 10.
But the Big 12 might soon need extra dates to play all the games already postponed. The Big 12 women's schedule has been jerryrigged for quick rescheduling. For example, when two games are postponed on the same date, if the postponements are caused by a single team for each game, the remaining teams are quickly matched.
The entire ordeal has shifted priorities from winning to just playing.
Here's hoping the schedules fall into place soon and the Big 12 can complete a full slate.
Here are the rankings for this week:
1. Baylor (5-0, 12-0): The Bears won at Texas Tech on Saturday, a few days after the Red Raiders won at Texas.
2. Texas (5-1, 11-2): The home loss to Tech stings, but the victory at Kansas still resonates.
3. Kansas (4-2, 10-3): KU hasn't played either Iowa State or Kansas State, the two teams at the bottom of the conference.
4. Oklahoma (3-3, 7-4): The Sooners also haven't played ISU or K-State, but OU has played TCU twice.
5. Texas Tech (4-3, 11-4):
Tech has some good wins (at Texas, at OU) but also has played both K-State and Iowa State.
6. Oklahoma State (3-3, 9-3):
The Cowboys are getting better. They usually finish strong after a slow start. Can they finish strong off a decent start?
7. West Virginia (2-3, 9-4): The Mountaineers were disappointing before all the cancellations.
8. Texas Christian (2-4, 9-5): If the Horned Frogs hadn't won in Stillwater, they would be grouped down with Kansas State and Iowa State.
9. Kansas State (1-5, 5-9):
The Wildcats looked like they needed a COVID cancellation last Tuesday against OSU.
10. Iowa State (0-5, 2-7): What do you expect at a football school?
Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.