The Big XII's Big Monday schedule released

ESPN and the Big XII have released their portion of the Big Monday schedule, seen below.


It kicks off with a unique beginning on Martin Luther King, Jr., day. Kansas State will play at Missouri at 4:30 pm, followed by Kansas heading to Baylor in a nightcap at 8:30 pm. All four of those teams should be top 25 clubs, which makes Monday must see basketball. (The Big East's Big Monday schedule isn't out yet, but I'm assuming they will also have two games on the schedule.)

In general, the conference did a pretty good job of getting their best teams, and biggest draws, on the schedule. Kansas and Kansas State both play four times. Missouri, Baylor, and Texas both play twice. Texas A&M and Oklahoma State both play once. Colorado is probably the only team that has a shot at making the NCAA Tournament that won't be playing on Big Monday, but with the school's defection to the Pac-10, is it any wonder why?

The one question I have is why Kansas and Texas aren't playing on Big Monday. Those are the two best programs in the conference, and while they aren't going to be the two best teams in the country this season, the Jayhawks and the Longhorns have developed a nice rivalry. Wouldn't Kansas-Texas make more sense on the opening double-header than Kansas-Baylor?