My brother-in-law and I were watching the Australian Open over the weekend and got into a discussion about The Big Four, a.k.a. what the media used to call Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray during their heyday. He was adamant that Murray didn’t belong — three Grand Slams compared to at least 20 apiece for the other three — but there was a time (circa 2010-16) when all four of them were discussed together.
Murray’s inclusion is kind of how I feel about the Big 12 in women’s basketball this season. Due to conference realignment, there are four power conferences: ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Big 12. While the first three leagues all have national title hopefuls, and multiple teams project as hosts in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, the Big 12 doesn’t seem to belong in the same conversation.
Other than Notre Dame’s baffling performances in the Cayman Islands against TCU and Utah, the Big 12 didn’t have many marquee victories in nonconference play. Iowa State and Baylor have disappointed relative to preseason expectations, though the Bears are on the upswing. Utah and Colorado lost their most productive seniors from last season and are still figuring out their way. Oklahoma and Texas are gone to the SEC.
The conference’s hopes rest on…