A conference that has produced singularly scintillating players like Texas' Kevin Durant (2007), Kansas State's Michael Beasley (2008) and Oklahoma's Blake Griffin (this season) makes it difficult for productive post players to maintain visibility.

Iowa State's Craig Brackins is playing like he wants to avoid becoming an invisible man.

Last Saturday, Brackins scored 42 points in the Cyclones' loss to Kansas. That's one point shy of the Big 12 single-game record.

"You're talking about the two best collegiate players we've seen in recent memory from a pure-talent standpoint," Kansas coach Bill Self said of Durant and Beasley. "He (Brackins) doesn't shoot it like Kevin, but he can certainly stretch it. He may not post as good as Beasley, but he can certainly score in the block. He's kind of a hybrid of both of them."

Brackins followed up his 42-point effort by scoring 24 at Colorado, his 11th 20-point game of the season. In the last two games, the 6-10 sophomore has scored 66 of Iowa State's 116 points.

"The sky's the limit for Craig," Iowa State coach Greg McDermott said. "He's got room to put on another 15 pounds of muscle to his frame. His defense has improved and, offensively, he's added to his repertoire.

“We have to understand if there’s only one guy scoring baskets, then the ball needs to go to him every possession. We don’t shoot it until he touches it."

That's basically how the Cyclones' offense has worked the last two games. Brackins has grounds for suing for a lack of support. In the last two games, his Iowa State teammates have made 31-of-105 shots (29.5 percent) including 10-of-48 (20.8 percent) from 3-point range.

Brackins, who is the Big 12's leading scorer in conference games, was solid as a freshman, averaging 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

While Griffin is cranking out double doubles and making a serious bid to give the Big 12 another national player of the year, Brackins has been named the conference's player of the week three times; Griffin has won the award four times.

"I've been doing this a while and I don't think anybody's ever busted us for 42," Self said after Saturday's game. "That was as good a performance as probably I've ever (seen) an individual (have) against us."

After Kansas guard Sherron Collins scored a career-high 26 points with five assists to help the Jayhawks overcome Brackins' effort, Self told his junior point guard:

"Good news, bad news. Good news is you played great. Bad news is you've got no chance for Big 12 player of the week."

Brackins not only is single-handedly helping the Cyclones remain competitive, he's also trying to help out as an unofficial football recruiter.

Last Saturday as he lit up Kansas defenders in Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State's football coach Paul Rhoads was hosting recruiting visits.

On Sunday, two high school players from Brackins' hometown of Palmdale, Calif., announced they had verbally committed to sign with the Cyclones after attending Saturday's Craig Brackins Show.

Just a Little more
There was suspense aplenty in Lawrence, Kans., a few weeks ago. Would he play? Or would he redshirt?

"He" was Mario Little, a junior-college transfer who figured to give an inexperienced Kansas team a boost in scoring and leadership. A stress fracture in his leg prevented Little from benefitting from the non-conference schedule; he missed 12 games.

By Jan. 13, Little had to decide if he would sit out this season as a medical redshirt or play the rest of the season. He decided to play.

The 6-5 junior has helped steady Kansas' lineup. His ability to play the small forward spot gives the Jayhawks another scoring option to go along with sophomore post Cole Aldrich and junior point guard Sherron Collins.

Little has made his last 11 field goals since starting against Kansas State on Jan. 13, the day he made his decision. He is averaging eight points in Big 12 games and played a season-high 30 minutes in the Jayhawks' tough-it-out victory at Nebraska Wednesday night.

“Probably not his best gamed, but still I don’t think we win the game without him," Kansas coach Bill Self said. “He has a presence on the team nobody has besides Sherron (Collins). He believes he belongs. He gives us a toughness and presence, elevates our manliness.”

Fast breaks
* Organizers of the "Remember the 10 Run" presented a gift of $20,000 to the Oklahoma State University Counseling Department for the second year in a row. The event has been organized to honor the 10 men of the Cowboys' basketball traveling party who died in an plane crash on Jan. 27, 2001. Fans attending the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State on Monday night in Stillwater observed a moment of silence.

* Colorado's victory over Iowa State was the Buffs' first win since beating Western State on Jan. 7 and their first over a Division I opponent since Dec. 28.

* Brian Diaz, a 6-11 freshman who joined Nebraska's team on Jan. 17, has decided to redshirt this season. He participated in six practices and was in uniform for two games. Diaz is from Puerto Rico. His enrollment was delayed because he hadn’t met Nebraska’s English proficiency requirements.

Stat sheet
* With six assists against Oklahoma, Baylor senior Curtis Jerrells became the second player in school history to record 1,000 points, 400 assists and 100 steals in his career. Micheal Williams (1984-88) is the only other Baylor player to accomplish that.

* Texas senior guard A.J. Abrams has 338 career 3-pointers. That ties the record set by Kansas' Jeff Boschee (1998-2002).

* In its last two games, Oklahoma has made 64-of-110 shots (58.2 percent) and is 14-of-31 (45.2 percent) from 3-point range. The Sooners' two opponents (Baylor and Oklahoma State) were a combined 54-of-137 (39.4 percent) and 24-of-59 (40.7 percent) in those two categories.

* Oklahoma's 20-1 start matches the best in school history (1985-86).

* Oklahoma has defeated Baylor 29 consecutive times, a winning streak that dates to 1997.

* Since the start of Big 12 play, Baylor is 10-67 against ranked opponents and 3-35 under coach Scott Drew.

* In its four Big 12 losses, Colorado had 81 turnovers. The Buffs had eight in Tuesday night's victory against Iowa State.

* Texas Tech has allowed at least 50 points in a half eight times this season.

* Kansas junior point guard Sherron Collins has made 27 consecutive free throws. The school record is 34.

* Colorado sophomore Cory Higgins is 36-of-39 (92.3 percent) from the free throw line in Big 12 games.

* In Wednesday night's game in College Station, Texas A&M’s bench also outscored Tech’s bench 35-1.

Talking points
“It amazes me. We look at him like he’s a grizzled veteran. He averaged eight minutes a game (in 2008), and I bet four of those were in blowout wins. He’s done a lot this fast.”
Kansas coach Bill Self on sophomore Cole Aldrich, who is averaging 15 points and 9.8 rebounds per game

"It helps out a lot when I score, too, but assists-to-turnover ratio means that I’m not turning the ball over. Turnovers are what hurts your team. Assists are always good. That means someone is scoring. ... That’s why I think the assists-to-turnover ratio is more special to me."
Oklahoma senior point guard Austin Johnson, who is averaging 14.2 points per game in Big 12 play, on his 3.41 to 1 assist to turnover ratio

"Words cannot describe how desperate some of our guys are to get a win. This is a type of game that makes you want to cry. It was an emotionally and physically draining game to play."
Colorado's Dwight Thorne II, who scored a career-high 30 points in the Buffaloes' 77-75 overtime loss to Kansas State

"I don’t want to say it, but there is an elephant in the room. We have trouble scoring. More guys have got to make plays for us."
Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon after the Aggies lost at Texas to fall to 1-4 in the Big 12

"When you have that little number (national ranking) next to your name, you keep looking at those guys that are above you, those guys that are right behind you. We watched Duke today beat Maryland pretty badly (85-44 on Saturday), and you’re always comparing yourself, ?How would we do against that team?’ Our main focus right now is the Big 12, but you’re always looking elsewhere.”
Oklahoma senior Taylor Griffin on the Sooners' mind set

“I’m tired of the excuse of youth. Seriously. This is a game we need to come in here a lot better and finish." * Iowa State senior guard Bryan Petersen after the Cyclones' 55-49 loss at Colorado Tuesday night:

Standing tall
Oklahoma State's 6-5 junior Obi Muonelo is averaging 9.3 rebounds per game. Here's a look at the smallest (shorter than 6 feet, 5 inches) top rebounders in Big 12 history: