Peterson: It’s no myth the Big 12 is one monster of a men’s basketball conference again

AMES − This is real-time stuff, the Big 12 being a bear of a men’s basketball conference. This conference is legit that good, as Iowa State heads to 17th-ranked TCU (13-1, 2-0 Big 12) for a Saturday 1 p.m. (ESPNU) game against the Horned Frogs.

Eight of the 10 total conference games have been decided by 10 points or less. Five outcomes have been by one possession. No. 3 Kansas has wins of 2 points against Oklahoma State, and by 3 against Texas Tech.

More:Peterson: For Iowa State’s Caleb Grill, practice certainly is making perfect

Iowa State’s most recent success came after Caleb Grill’s 3-pointer with 33 seconds broke a 58-all score in a 63-60 win over Oklahoma at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.

Don’t get too comfy watching Big 12 games, because if something crazy can happen − it will.

And now it’s at TCU, fresh off Wednesday’s late-game win at No. 16 Baylor. Throughout the conference, wins will be the result of what happens within a game’s final minute. It’s happening in the Big 12. It’s happening nationally.

Iowa State’s Caleb Grill has made 15 of his last 23 3-point shots. He’s in a shooting zone heading to Saturday’s game at TCU.

“It’s similar to what’s going on in the NCAA as a whole,” Iowa State (2-0, 11-2) post player Robert Jones said Friday. “A lot of teams are beating a lot of teams that are good. I think it’ll all shake out in the end.”

Six Big 12 teams are among the Top 25 of the USA Today Coaches Poll, and if you think that’s impressive, how about this: Houston enters the Big 12 next season. Coach Kelvin Sampson’s 14-1 team just happens to be ranked second in the same poll, sits at No. 1 in the NET and plays a top 20 schedule.

“It’s the best conference in the NCAA,” Cyclone wing Gabe Kalscheur said. “There’s a lot of great players. Every team takes pride in their defense; other conferences might not take as much pride. Defense wins games and championships.”

To that point, Houston has the nation’s top scoring defense, while Iowa State’s is seventh.

“With the COVID year, everybody’s got older personnel,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “There’s so many older, more mature guys. Those guys understand how important everything is, so they set the tone. We know there are great coaches, great players and great programs in this league. It’s shown up to this point.”

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Coaches. Players. Offensive and defensive schemes. There is no rest.

“We keep our focus on what’s in front of us,” Kalscheur said. “We don’t get too far out in front of ourselves.”

In the Big 12, you can’t. Nor can you get too high or too low about what happens during games. Thursday at Oklahoma, Iowa State jumped out to a 25-7 lead. Then the Sooners scored 20 points in a row. The score was tied at halftime. Neither team led by more than 5 points during the game’s final 20 minutes.

More:Peterson: No. 25 Iowa State men’s basketball escapes with first win at Oklahoma since 2019

“We’re not going to play perfectly,” Otzelberger said. “There’s something with our group . . . a pride point. We get to a spot in the game, and our guys are able to connect. It’s the togetherness. The unity. That’s our message as we move forward.

“We’ve got to be the most together team in this league. That’s something we can control.”

He’s got a Core Four of veteran leaders. He’s got Caleb Grill, Kalscheur, Jones and Jaz Kunc – each playing their fourth or fifth college season, and each has been significant.

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger likes what he’s seen thus far from his Big 12-unbeaten team.

Grill has made 15 of his last 23 shots from beyond the arc. Kalscheur had three big-time defensive plays against Baylor on Dec. 31, a game in which he scored 23 points. Jones had an eye-popping first half in rallying the Cyclones from a 29-4 deficit during the first half last season against the Bears in Waco. Kunz, currently injured, is Iowa State’s top rebounder and one of the team’s top 3-point shooters.

More:Peterson: Iowa State’s Robert Jones showed his potential the last time he faced Baylor

They were significant during last season’s Sweet 16 run, and they’re significant parts of a team looking to defeat a second top 25 opponent in a row. Last Saturday, it was No. 13 Baylor.

“Those are all older, experienced guys,” Otzelberger said. “They appreciate this opportunity. The best way they show their gratitude is to have that pride point. We don’t want to be in positions where we have that great a deficit.”

This Saturday, it’s TCU, who sit undefeated in Big 12 play and are an opponent that likes to push the pace with one of the top backcourts in the nation —with Mike Miles averaging close to 19 points per game with a 33-point game against Baylor, and Damion Baugh.

“He’s certainly pushing the ball fast in transition and making plays,” Otzelberger said of Miles. “They’re really getting the ball up and down the court with a lot more pace than they played with last year. He’s leading that charge.

“He’s really aggressive in the halfcourt. He’s putting together, up to this point, a performance that would warrant being in contention for player of the year in the league.”

Again, this has many elements of being another close game. Welcome to the Big 12.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, and on Twitter @RandyPete

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State men’s basketball will face its second Top 25 opponent within a week