Taking their best shot

Kansas, Texas two steps closer to Final Four

KU coach Bill Self is two wins away from a Final Four appearance in San Antonio. The last time KU and UT made the Final Four was 2002-2003.

UT coach Rick Barnes is two wins away from a Final Four appearance in San Antonio. The last time KU and UT made the Final Four was 2002-2003.

The Final Four is a week and a half away, and the Big 12 Conference still has two chances to send a team to college-basketball utopia.

It comes as little surprise that Kansas and Texas, the two first-tier teams in the conference, are battling in their respective regions for the right to book a trip to San Antonio.

Granted, some trips would be more convenient than others. Should the Longhorns make the Final Four, they’d simply have to drive 80 miles south on Interstate 35.

Before a Big 12-dominated Final Four scenario happens, though, many variables have to fall into place for both teams. Most of the time, you have to catch a break or two along the way.

First, let’s start with the biggest obstacles for Kansas and Texas.

Villanova surely will be an obstacle for KU, but the Wildcats are more of a minor road block than a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam. Villanova went 9-9 in Big East play and simply doesn’t possess the weapons or depth Kansas has.

Wisconsin could be the frustrating bumper-to-bumper traffic jam. It may seem like the Badgers play in the ugliest of games, but they rely on winning with the fundamentals and defense instilled by coach Bo Ryan.

In fact, Wisconsin ranks first in all of Division I in points allowed at 53.9 per game. Ryan’s team would be a huge Final Four obstacle for Kansas or Villanova.

To find the Longhorns’ biggest obstacle, look no further than the team they play next: the Stanford Cardinal.

Big 12 fans are familiar with D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams, the lethal one-two backcourt punch for the Longhorns.

It remains to be seen, though, if Texas can match up with Brook and Robin Lopez, the 7-foot sophomore towers that average 19 and 10.3 points, respectively.

The duo is the main reason Stanford ranks fifth in the nation in rebounding margin at +8 per game. UT post men Connor Atchley, Damion James and reserves Dexter Pittman and Gary Johnson are going to be critical to the Longhorns’ success against the Cardinal.

Should Kansas and Texas overcome the obstacles and advance to the Final Four, it would make the third time since the Big 12’s inception in 1996-97 that two Big 12 teams made it that far in the same year. The other two years:

2001-2002

Big 12 teams: Kansas, Oklahoma

Records: KU 33-4 overall, 16-0 Big 12; OU 31-5 overall, 13-3 Big 12

Coaches: KU Roy Williams; OU Kelvin Sampson

Location of Final Four: Atlanta

Road to Final Four:

Kansas – Holy Cross W 70-59, Stanford W 86-63, Illinois W 73-69, Oregon W 104-86, Maryland L 97-88.

Oklahoma – Illinois-Chicago W 71-63, Xavier W 78-65, Arizona W 88-67, Missouri W 81-75; Indiana L 73-64.

National Champ: Maryland (def. Indiana, 64-52)

Did you know: KU lost its first game of the season, 93-91, to Ball State, then went 33-3.

2002-2003

Big 12 teams: Kansas, Texas

Records: KU 30-8 overall, 14-2 Big 12; UT 26-7 overall, 13-3 Big 12

Coaches: KU Roy Williams; UT Rick Barnes

Location of Final Four: New Orleans

Road to Final Four: Kansas – Utah State W 64-61, Arizona State W 108-76, Duke W 69-65, Arizona W 78-75, Marquette W 94-61, Syracuse L 81-78.

Texas – UNC Asheville W 82-61, Purdue W 77-67, Connecticut W 82-78, Michigan State W 85-76, Syracuse L 95-84.

National Champ: Syracuse

Did you know: The last time KU faced North Carolina was Nov. 27, 2002, in New York. UNC won, 67-56.