ESPN releases the Big 12's Big Monday schedules

Pick a favorite in the Big 12.

Do it.

I dare you.

Because regardless of who you pick, I guarantee I can offer an argument that will make you rethink that choice. Baylor? Sure, they are the most talented team in the conference, but they were also one of the most talented teams in the conference last season and finished 7-9 and out of the NCAA Tournament. Missouri? They're experienced, but they also have a new coaching staff and must learn to play a new system and a new style. Texas A&M? See Missouri. Kansas? They lost The Morrii and a number of key back court pieces. Kansas State? No Jacob Pullen. Texas? Their three best players went pro.

Having said that, the competitiveness and the balance in the Big 12 next season is why the league is going to be so much fun to watch and to follow. No one knows who is going to win. Hell, no one knows which games are going to be important late in the season. Throw in the fact that Nebraska and Colorado heading to the Big 10 and the Pac-12, respectively, not only trims the fat at the bottom of the conference but allows the league to use a double round-robin format; every team plays every other team in the league twice.

Now that I've managed to ramble on for two paragraphs about the Big 12, lets get to that Big Monday schedule:


Some notes:

- Kansas has the most appearances on Big Monday, playing in four of the seven weeks.

- Texas A&M and Texas both play three times on Big Monday, while Baylor and Missouri will have two appearances each.

- Rounding out the schedule is an appearance by Kansas State and one by Oklahoma State who, coincidentally, both host Kansas.