Big 12 Tournament 12: Thomas Robinson and More Studs Who Will Dominate

 

In the upcoming Big 12 tourney, the Kansas Jayhawks are generating much attention to their program. Led by Thomas Robinson, Kansas is the early favorite.

Robinson, however, is not the only player fans expect to shine when the teams take the court later this week. His teammate Tyshawn Taylor, for instance, should put up big numbers as Kansas looks to take over the Big 12. Missouri, another potential No. 1 seed in the tourney, features deep talent, including the likes of superstar athlete Marcus Denmon.

Thomas Robinson

Robinson, of course, will lead much of the discussion and debate surrounding the tournament. The best overall player on a team that expects to receive a No. 1 overall seed, Robinson has been an incredibly effective player all season long.

Averaging an incredible 18.0 ppg to go with an especially robust 11.9 rpg, Robinson has helped the Jayhawks win the Big 12 regular season (26-5, 16-2) due to his incredible abilities on the court.

When Robinson steps into the game, he is an immediate difference-maker and the exact kind of player who casual fans begin to notice when March Madness sweeps the country.

Tyshawn Taylor

So long as Robinson continues his stellar play, expect a comparably impressive effort from Taylor.

His 17.2 ppg are as important as Robinson’s 18.0, and as the senior and leader of the squad Taylor's determination will prove to be incredibly important if the Jayhawks look to make a late-season run at the championship.

As a senior, Taylor hopes to prove that he is an elite playmaker ready to make a difference in the NBA.

He currently leads the Jayhawks with 4.9 assists per game in 33.1 minutes and adds 1.1 steals and a .431 three-point percentage as well. As one of the more dominant players in the country, Taylor will not want to live in Robinson’s shadow during this tournament.

Expect him to rise to the occasion and perform at an elite level.

Marcus Denmon

Over in Missouri, Denmon has proven himself to be one of the best offensive players in the country.

Under new coach Frank Haith, Denmon is the team leader for a team that already has years of experience under its belt. Missouri, which is undefeated out of the conference, has made a case to be considered an elite team this season. At 27-4, their 14-4 conference record and the fact that they’re in the same conference as Kansas are the only things that holds the Tigers back.

Denmon has demonstrated his abilities all season long. His 18.0 ppg help make sure that Missouri is in the top 10 in scoring in the NCAA, and his 5.1 rpg total adds a valuable asset to an already impressive athlete.

Denmon is one of the most explosive players in college basketball, and if Missouri has any chance at beating Kansas in the Big 12 tourney, it will be on his shoulders.

J’Covan Brown

While Texas has had an out-of-character unimpressive season to date, it can be proud to boast Brown.

Brown is getting an incredible amount of playing time this season, and at 35.3 minutes per game he has been effective with his time on the floor. While Texas is having a moderate season at best (19-12), Brown is putting up numbers worthy of the NBA.

Averaging 20.0 ppg, he is putting up numbers on all sides of the ball. In addition to his scoring totals, he has 3.8 apg and 3.1 rpg and could continue to lead this Texas team to a run at the tournament so long as he performs moderately well in the Big 12 conference tourney.

Royce White

Iowa State has little-to-no chance of passing Kansas or Missouri for a chance at the conference championship, but that doesn’t mean that White didn’t have a say in it first.

If Kansas is going to beat Iowa State this season, it will have to limit the production of this standout athlete.

White leads Iowa State in every major offensive category this season. Averaging 12.6 ppg, he is shooting .526 percent from the field and adding all sorts of other padding statistics as well. His 9.2 rpg (including 2.6 offensive boards) make him a force to be reckoned with under the rim, and on defense, he adds a block and 1.2 steals a game to boot.

He is also an extreme offensive playmaker, leading the team with 5.2 assists per game.

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