Given the countless rumors about the future of the Big 12, the biggest bold prediction I could make is that the conference will still exist in two years. But since that isn't specific to basketball, I'll throw out a few more...while there's still time.
1. Royce White will earn First-Team All-Conference honors and become a fantasy stud.
Based on my lofty ranking of White in my Big 12 Top 10, this prediction may not be shocking, but this guy was essentially off the basketball radar after leaving Minnesota. Somewhere along the way following his off-court transgressions and subsequent YouTube retirement, something clicked in White's head. By all accounts, those issues are a thing of the past, and he's letting his play on the court write the next chapter of his story. White averaged a triple-double in a summer league and continued his strong play on the team's trip to Italy. He displayed a terrific all-around game overseas, posting 11.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 3.0 steals per game on the four-game tour. That's the kind of multi-category performance you rarely find from a fantasy perspective and the kind that earns you a spot among your league's elite.
2. Thomas Robinson will average a double-double and be named Conference MVP.
Only six major conference players averaged a double-double last season, but a number of things point to Robinson achieving that feat this year. In just 14.6 minutes per game, T-Rob posted 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds. That's ridiculous. From a scoring perspective, the Jayhawks have a lot to replace up front, so Robinson will get to take plenty of shots. He rarely strays far from the basket, but when you shoot over 60% from the field, why bother? On the glass, his rebounding rates are phenomenal. His defensive rebound percentage shows that he grabbed basically one of every three misses while he was on the court. On the offensive side, he snatched nearly 20 percent of his teammates' misses. Like White, Robinson comes into the season with plenty of positive momentum after a successful summer. He plays with tremendous effort, and even though many are predicting a down year for Kansas, Robinson's talent will help keep them in the Big 12 race.
3. Baylor will win the regular season Conference Championship.
For a team with tons of talent, this may not seem all that bold, but the next person who tells me Scott Drew knows how to use it will be the first. Still, with a frontline of Perry Jones, Quincy Miller, Quincy Acy, Anthony Jones, and Cory Jefferson, they are as deep and as athletic as anyone inside. Most of their questions entering the season are in the backcourt, but the team's offseason trip to Canada provided reason for optimism. I'm not a huge A.J. Walton fan at the point, but Boston College transfer Brady Heslip and juco transfer Pierre Jackson give them additional depth. Heslip was red hot from beyond the arc in Canada on his way to averaging 16.5 points, while the ultra-quick Jackson was the Junior College D-1 Player of the Year last season. Throw in freshman Deuce Bello and Cal transfer Gary Franklin, who becomes eligible mid-season, and there are plenty of options to mix and match. As for their competition, Kansas and Texas both lost a lot from last season, so if Baylor can't surpass them this year, it may never happen. Missouri returns a lot, but a new coach and different tempo may negate some of that advantage. And Texas A&M has similar questions in the backcourt to go with a new coach and the fact that everyone in the conference now hates them.
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