Complete 2014-15 Big 12 NCAA Basketball Primer Heading into Conference Play

In a year in which many of the power conferences in college basketball are experiencing depth issues beyond their top teams, the Big 12 is preparing for one of its best seasons to date. 

Entering conference play, there are three teams with a legitimate chance to win the regular-season title, while up to seven teams could qualify for the NCAA tournament. 

The conference also boasts a ton of quality upperclassmen as well as some stud freshmen who should make every night of play interesting.

Continue reading for our complete preview of the Big 12 season. 

Nonconference Records

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TCU 13-0

West Virginia 12-1

Baylor 11-1

Iowa State 10-1

Texas 11-2

Kansas 10-2

Oklahoma State 10-2

Texas Tech 10-3

Oklahoma 9-3

Kansas State 7-6

Biggest Lessons Learned from Nonconference Play

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TCU Should Not Be Taken Seriously 

TCU's nonconference record is a big optical illusion. The Horned Frogs went 13-0 over the first two months of the season without playing anyone significant. 

The Horned Frogs do have three wins over teams from the SEC and the Pac-12, but the combined record of those three teams is 20-16. Washington State, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are also not expected to be relevant in March, which does nothing for TCU's resume. 

One has to expect TCU's place in the standings will drop drastically in January, as six of its first eight games in the Big 12 come against ranked opposition. 

Kansas' Star Freshmen Are Slowly Getting Better

One of the big headlines from Kansas' nonconference slate was the performance, or lack thereof, of Kelly Oubre Jr. and Cliff Alexander. 

Bill Self made the right decision by easing them into the picture instead of shoving them into the starting lineup right away.

Over the past few weeks, the two have started to show plenty of positive signs. Oubre has scored over 20 points twice in his last three games, while Alexander is second on the team in rebounding with 5.8 per game. 

Bob Huggins Has West Virginia Back Where He Wants It 

After two tough seasons in Morgantown, Bob Huggins has West Virginia on the national radar once again. 

The Mountaineers will begin conference play Saturday at TCU with a few quality wins under their belt and the designation of being the No. 17 team in the country. 

The only loss suffered by West Virginia this season was a one-point defeat to LSU at home. Other than that slight slip-up, the Mountaineers have put together a solid resume, which includes wins over UConn and three ACC schools. 

Top Storylines to Watch

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Will Anyone Be Able to Take Kansas off Its Throne? 

Kansas has set a high standard over the last 10 years, as it has won every regular-season conference title since 2005. 

This season may finally be the one in which the Jayhawks lose their coveted streak. Although to be fair, we've said that over the past few years and nothing has changed. 

Texas and Iowa State are seen as the main challengers to the throne, but both teams will have to win in Lawrence to be seen as legitimate contenders. 

Texas' Colossal Paint Combinations

One of the main reasons why Texas is seen as a potential Big 12 winner is its depth in the frontcourt. 

Cameron Ridley, Jonathan Holmes, Myles Turner, Connor Lammert and Prince Ibeh will all see a large amount of playing time down the stretch. And all of them can contribute in a dominant fashion for the Longhorns. 

No other team in the conference has the depth and quality to match the Longhorns, which could be the true X-factor in the title race. 

Georges Niang's Production

When March rolls around, Georges Niang could easily be the league's best player, if he isn't already. 

The junior forward has scored over eight points in every game this season, and he has eclipsed the 25-point mark on three occasions. 

Niang is also averaging 5.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, while he has a field-goal percentage of over 50 percent. 

If he keeps those numbers up, he could be in the National Player of the Year discussion.

Rivalry Games and Can't-Miss Matchups

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Oklahoma at Texas (January 5)

The first installment of this season's Red River Rivalry will provide the Sooners with a litmus test of where they stand in the Big 12.

We know what Texas is capable of, but Oklahoma has the potential to turn into one of the best teams in the conference. 

This game will also be key for the confidence of the Sooners, who went 1-2 against ranked teams in nonconference play. 

Kansas at Iowa State (January 17) 

Kansas' trip to Hilton Coliseum marks the beginning of a crucial three-game stretch in late January. 

If the Jayhawks can silence the crowd in Ames and pull off a big win, they will gain a massive momentum boost heading into games against Texas and Oklahoma. 

If Fred Hoiberg's Cyclones can take down the Jayhawks after a tough two-game road swing against West Virginia and Baylor, they could begin to generate more national talk about the program. 

Kansas at Texas (January 24) 

Just a week after their trip to Ames, the Jayhawks must head to the Erwin Center in Austin to face their other major foe in the Big 12. 

If Kansas can assert its authority in this game, the Big 12 title picture will become much clearer, even if the game takes place at the end of January. 

A win for the Longhorns would be a huge boost in regard to the title race. It would also catapult them into a two-game road trip to Ames and Waco, which will be two difficult games. 

West Virginia at Baylor (February 28) 

At first glance, a clash between the Mountaineers and the Bears on the final day of February may not seem significant. 

However, it may carry a ton of meaning when the date rolls around. Both teams are expected to take their lumps throughout conference play, and this could end up being an elimination game of sorts. 

With both teams expected to finish in the middle of the pack in the regular season, this game could go a long way in deciding the seeding for the Big 12 tournament. All one of these potential bubble teams will need in order to lock up a spot in the NCAA tournament is a big win or two down the stretch. 

Winning this game in Waco could set either team up for a run in March.

Freshmen to Watch

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Myles Turner, F, Texas

The Texas big man has been able to ease his way onto the collegiate landscape thanks to the presence of other key frontcourt players in the Texas starting five. 

Myles Turner leads the conference in blocks per game with 2.7, and he is the 13th-best scorer in a league dominated by upperclassmen.

Cliff Alexander, F, Kansas

Cliff Alexander has been the second-most productive freshman in the Big 12 throughout the first few months of the 2014-15 season. 

The forward's breakout game came against Florida, when he recorded his only double-double by providing 12 points and 10 rebounds. Expect him to play a big role down low when the games against Texas and Iowa State come around. 

Johnathan Motley, F, Baylor

Over the last four games, Johnathan Motley has become a force in the paint for the Baylor Bears. 

The 6'9" forward has averaged 16 points per game since December 9. If he keeps that production up during league play, the Bears will have a dangerous frontcourt grouping led by Motley, Rico Gathers and Taurean Prince

Jevon Carter, G, West Virginia

Jevon Carter has been one of the key components of West Virginia's resurgence, as he has provided a boost on both sides of the court. 

On offense, Carter has put up 7.9 points per game, including a 28-point performance against VMI on November 26. The guard has also earned the third-highest league total in steals per game at 1.8. 

Top Big 12 Player of the Year Candidates

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Georges Niang, F, Iowa State

The early favorite to snag the Big 12 Player of the Year award is Georges Niang, who is averaging 16.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game this season. 

As long as he doesn't suffer another season-ending injury, the junior should continue to put up terrific numbers in each stat category.

Jonathan Holmes, F, Texas

While the other Texas big men may attract more attention, Jonathan Holmes deserves plenty of time in the spotlight as well. 

Holmes has already shined in a few big moments, as he scored a game-winning three-pointer against UConn and put up 14 points in the loss to Kentucky. 

Juwan Staten, G, West Virginia

In a league full of dominant seniors, Juwan Staten is looking to become the best upperclassmen in the league. 

The senior guard ranks fourth in scoring in the Big 12 with 16.1 points per game, and he is fourth in assists with 4.2 per game. 

Le'Bryan Nash, G-F, Oklahoma State

A dark-horse candidate to watch in the Player of the Year race is Le'Bryan Nash. Entering conference play, the senior is the top scorer in the Big 12 with 17.9 points per game. 

In each of his 11 games, Nash has scored over 10 points, with his 22 in the opener against Southeastern Louisiana being his season high. 

Predicting the 2014-15 Big 12 Awards

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Freshman of the Year: Myles Turner, Texas

While he will face competition from Oubre and Alexander for this award, Turner should end the season as the Big 12's top freshman. 

He is not under pressure to be the go-to guy, which has helped him adjust to the college game. The forward has thrived off the bench and should continue to do so over the next few months. 

Coach of the Year: Rick Barnes, Texas

Rick Barnes' Longhorns have a legitimate chance to finally end the dominant run of the Kansas Jayhawks. 

Even if his team comes up short, Barnes should win the Coach of the Year award for managing his frontcourt rotation to near perfection and for his resurrection of the program. It's easy to forget Barnes was on the hot seat just two years ago after going 16-18. 

Player of the Year: Georges Niang, Iowa State

Niang is the best all-around player in the conference. The Iowa State Cyclone makes everyone around him better, and he has rarely shown flaws in his game. 

If you compare his entire stat line to anyone else in the conference at the moment, no one comes close to matching the junior forward. 

Big 12 Favorite and Dark Horse

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Favorite: Texas

With all due respect to Iowa State and Kansas, Texas is the best team heading into league play. 

No one in the league can match the Longhorns' depth in the paint, and they will only get better when Isaiah Taylor returns from injury. 

The other two top teams will pose a challenge to the Longhorns, but this will be the year Kansas' reign at the top ends. 

Dark Horse: Oklahoma State

The Cowboys are not one of the six ranked teams in the Big 12 entering conference action, but they do possess a 10-2 record. 

Travis Ford's side carries a ton of experience in the backcourt with Phil Forte and Nash commanding the ball. 

If the duo of experienced players can help motivate the younger guys on the roster, the Cowboys could surprise some people. 

Who Makes the NCAA Tournament?

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Shoo-Ins: Texas, Kansas, Iowa State, Oklahoma

This quartet should occupy the top four spots in the standings throughout the next few months. 

Texas, Kansas, Iowa State and Oklahoma will all rack up plenty of quality wins in the Big 12 and should have no problem entering the field of 68.

Hopefuls: West Virginia, Baylor, Oklahoma State

The Big 12 has a solid chance to put seven teams into the NCAA tournament. But for that to happen, West Virginia, Baylor and Oklahoma State must survive the war of attrition. 

If each of these teams earns a win or two against the top four teams and finishes with 10 conference wins, they should all be playing in the Big Dance.

Long shots: Kansas State, TCU

Kansas State always has a chance to make some noise because of its home-court advantage in Manhattan. The Wildcats have taken their lumps in nonconference play, but they could sneak in with eight or nine conference wins given how weak the depth is in other conferences. 

TCU is only in this spot because it put up a 13-0 record in November and December. No one expects the Horned Frogs to do anything well in the Big 12, but we could be proved wrong. 

Predicting the 2014-15 Big 12 Standings

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1. Texas

2. Kansas

3. Iowa State

4. Oklahoma

5. Baylor

6. West Virginia

7. Oklahoma State 

8. Kansas State

9. TCU

10. Texas Tech 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

All statistics obtained from ESPN and the Big 12 Conference.