Women's conference play starts this weekend. Brenda VanLengen, ESPN and FSN women's basketball analyst, answers some questions about the Big 12 Conference race.

How do you think the regular-season race is going to shake out?
"I think there are at least, five, six, seven teams that have a shot at winning the regular-season title. Five different teams received first-place votes in the coaches' pre-season poll. Right now, you've got four teams in the top seven in the national rankings, six teams in the top 25 and that doesn't even include a team like Iowa State, which is always a tough team and in the mix."

What are the determining factors regarding who is going win the regular-season title?
"Number one, you have to defend your home court. With eight home and eight road games, the adage is to win all of your home games and win at least half of the eight on the road. That's pretty on target. Typically, the Big 12 champion has about three losses. So, if you follow the formula, you'll be in the race.

"Then it comes down to injuries, who gets on a roll, who is playing with confidence at the right time."

With so many good teams, is defending the homecourt going to be difficult?
"The math doesn't really work out. Last year I don't think anyone won all of their home games. Based on the question it's not likely than a team will win all its games at home, but that's definitely each team's goal. The Big 12 has led women's basketball in attendance for the last nine years so everywhere you go, there's a homecourt edge."

What has caught your attention during the non-conference season?
"Texas A&M had to replace some key players and in the off-season Sydney Colson, the person they figured would take over at point guard, tore her ACL. The fact that they're undefeated (prior to first loss on Jan. 5) is very impressive."

"Kansas State is undefeated and off to its best start since 1969. Their strength of schedule hasn't been as strong but they've gone on the road quite a bit. That's probably the reason they won the regular-season title last year is they won at Texas, at A&M and Oklahoma State. So K-State knows how to win on the road."

"Texas has wins over Tennessee and Arizona State and that team is coming together. I expect them to be battling for the title."

What about Oklahoma?
"You've got Courtney Paris and Ashley Paris ... Ashley has changed her body, she's much more lean and quicker and more explosive. She adds another element to her team. Danielle Robinson, a sophomore is so quick and explosive. They're going to be battling for the title."

How about some of the other teams?
"Baylor's Rachel Allison has been phenomenal, Jhasmin Player is back from her injury. They've got size and quickness. That win over Stanford early in the year gives them a boost in the non-conference."

"Iowa State returns all five starters but they've also got two starters back who were injured last season. Allison Lacey continues to be an impressive player and Ames is always a difficult place to play."

"Andrea Riley at Oklahoma State is leading the conference in scoring and they've got to figure out who's going to play inside. When you've got Andrea Riley, though, anything's possible."

"Nebraska lost their all-Big 12 player Kelsey Griffin to an ankle injury. She's redshirting. They're trying to find their identity, where's the scoring and the leadership coming from. They were down 18-2 at Arizona State but came to win so that should give them a lot of confidence."

"Kansas lost Angel Goodrich, a highly touted freshman who was probably going to be a starter, on the third day of practice. Danielle McCray is a tremendous player and Krysten Boogaard inside and they've battled through the non-conference with only two losses."

"Missouri has all its starters back and they lost a couple of games early but they've won eight in a row. They've got enough experience that they'll give some people problems. It's tough to go into Columbia."

"At Colorado, Brittany Spears is an up-and-coming player and at Texas Tech, Dominic Seals has been really tough inside."

There are six teams ranked and you would guess one of those would win the regular season but which team that's not ranked might be a surprise team?
"Iowa State isn't ranked in this week's AP Poll, although they did enter the coaches rankings, and they'll be in the mix. Bill Fennelly is a great coach and he prepares his team but I don't consider Iowa State a dark horse. Everybody knows how dangerous Iowa State can be. Every team that has to go to Ames has that game marked as a difficult trip."

Are there any players who are under the radar who might have an impact?
"Baylor's Rachel Allison falls into that category. She's a hard-nosed, make-it-happen player. In her senior season, she's taking it to another level, she's so competitive and versatile. She finds a way to score and help her team. I don't think she gets enough credit on the national scene."

What players will be the difference makers for their team?
"At Texas, how Carla Cortijo plays the point guard will be critical. She pushes the tempo for that team. At Kansas State, Shalee Lehning is a great guard who leads the nation in assists but Marlies Gipson is the difference maker. Two years ago, she was out for the season and Kansas State finished last. She comes back last season and they finished first. At Oklahoma, Danielle Robinson ... everybody knows about Courtney and Ashley Paris but Danielle is so explosive. Oklahoma needs its guards to take the pressure off the inside players. The more she can score from outside and create in transition, that's going to be very important for OU's success."