p with a torn meniscus that cost him the rest of the postseason. Thunder fans catapulted

While Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are set for a de facto Big 12 title game, the two teams that have routinely been at the bottom of the league standings are having late-season upticks.For the first time since November 2007, Kansas and Iowa State are coming off conference victories on the same weekend. The Jayhawks and Cyclones are now prepping for their season finales this weekend, while the Sooners and Cowboys get a break before settling the Big 12 title on Dec. 3.Its definitely huge for us, the reality of starting new and building a foundation, said first-year Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, whose team has won consecutive Big 12 games. Weve been learning the whole season. I think you saw our team get better as the season has gone. Were learning how to practice, were learning how to prepare, were learning what detail looks like.The Cyclones (3-8, 2-6 Big 12) overwhelmed Texas Tech 66-10 on Saturday, a week after beating Kansas (2-9, 1-7), which then snapped a 19-game conference losing streak with a 24-21 overtime victory at home over Texas.Iowa State wraps up its season at home Saturday against No. 19 West Virginia . Kansas plays the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State after its first conference win in Beatys two seasons .It changes the dynamic greatly for us, Beaty said Monday during the weekly Big 12 coaches teleconference. Reality is getting that win validates basically all the work and the continued fight that these kids have put in over the last two years.Iowa State and Kansas both won on consecutive Saturdays in November 2007. That stretch ended when the Jayhawks, on way to an 11-0 start and eventual Orange Bowl victory, beat Iowa State on the third Saturday that month.Since 2006, either Kansas or Iowa State has been the last-place finisher in the Big 12 -- in the North Division through 2010 when the league was still 12 teams, then in a 10-team league without divisions since 2011.Beaty was asked how soon he will know if the upset of Texas is indeed a turning point for the Jayhawks.Thats something that will take a little bit of time. ... I certainly think that will be one that we will always go back to and draw upon, he said. But for it to be a turning point, theres got to be more production behind it.Before back-to-back wins, Iowa State had hung tough in a 34-24 home loss to Big 12-leading Oklahoma.Campbell wants to lay a really rock-solid foundation for the Cyclones, and said having some success because of how they are preparing and playing is huge for the future of the program.Some other notes from the Big 12 call:WHO WOULD STOOPS CHOOSE?Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting a year ago, and is starting to get some notice again with the seventh-ranked Sooners on an eight-game winning streak. So is big-play receiver Dede Westbrook. So which one would get a vote from Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops?I cant be the guy to choose between my two children, Stoops said.DIFFERENT VIEWOklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said every coach he has spoken with agrees with him about the difference in right and wrong and what happened to the 10th-ranked Cowboys in a loss to Central Michigan, and a Hail Mary pass for a touchdown on an untimed play that officials later admitted should have never been allowed. While the Cowboys are officially 9-2 with a seven-game winning streak, Gundys believes that the College Football Playoff selection committee also sees us as a one-loss team.OUT OF CONTENTIONWest Virginias chance at the Big 12 title ended with a 56-28 loss at home Saturday night to Oklahoma. Pressures off, didnt get it done when it came to the Big 12, coach Dana Holgorsen said. But he noted that the Mountaineers (8-2, 5-2) can still win 10 games in the regular season and more than five Big 12 games for the first time.ITS OWN BOWLAfter three consecutive losses, Texas Tech (4-7, 2-6) cant get bowl eligible. So coach Kliff Kingsbury said the emphasis this week is on sending 12 seniors out on the right note and treating Fridays season finale against Baylor at the Dallas Cowboys stadium like their own bowl game.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25Luis Gonzalez Jersey Large . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. http://www.customdiamondbacksjersey.com/ . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Diamondbacks Jerseys China . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Custom Diamondbacks Jersey China . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70.OKLAHOMA CITY -- After starting the season with a 6-1 record, the Oklahoma City Thunder were being looked at as the surprise team in the NBA. A week later, the Thunder are in a tailspin, riding a four-game losing streak.That is the situation that awaits the Thunder (6-5) when they play host to the Houston Rockets (6-4) on Wednesday night at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.The latest loss came Monday night when Thunder traveled to Detroit on the second night of a back-to-back. Near the end of the first quarter and the start of the second, Oklahoma City allowed the Pistons to go on a 23-6 run. It was an uphill battle from that point on, and Detroit emerged with a 104-88 victory.Defensively we started with really good energy, Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. In fairness to our guys, you can always expect on a back-to-back that youre going to be a bit leg weary. Generally thats going to affect your offense. Sometimes on back-to-backs you cant put stock or onus on having a great offensive output, but you have to hang your hat on your defense.Oklahoma Citys defense is getting precipitately worse, but it hasnt just been against teams such as the Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Clippers.The Thunders last two defeats came at the hands of the Orlando Magic and Detroit, clubs that rank in the bottom seven in the NBA in scoring. Each team managed to score over a 100 against the Thunder.Were one of the top teams in the league when we play defensively, Thunder guard Russell Westbrook told The Oklahoman. So Im not really worried about whos playing and whos not.Having issues with defense, however, is not a good problem to have with the Rockets in town. Houston is 10th in the league in scoring at 107.8 points per game and fifth in 3-point shooting at 37 percent.Houston has noot had a problem putting up points this season.dddddddddddd The Rockets are coming off a 115-88 plastering of the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.I thought they came out with the right intensity, they came out the way they should have, Rockets coach Mike DAntoni said. We talked about it and came out in the second half the way we should have. That way we got some good rest. I saw a lot of good things.The Rockets might get even stronger Wednesday with the possible return of guard Patrick Beverley, who has been out since the preseason after undergoing left knee surgery.Beverley and the Thunder have a history that goes back to when he crashed into Westbrooks knee during the 2013 postseason. Westbrook ended up with a torn meniscus that cost him the rest of the postseason. Thunder fans catapulted Beverley to the top of their most hated list, which he has held onto since then.Against the 76ers, Rockets guard James Harden posted 33 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. He is now one of only three players in history to average at least 30 points and 10 assists through 10 games. Harden was also named Western Conference Player of the Week.However, Harden seems to be more focused on making sure his team plays the right way.Were getting better game by game, and defensively were getting better and offensively has been better, too, Harden told ESPN.com. We take it one game at a time. These next three games will be extremely tough; well be all right as long as we continue to do the things weve been working on.Asked his assessment of the Thunder in the wake of Kevin Durant exit in free agency, Harden said, Its Russ. Its Russ, and its a one-man show. ' ' '