OKLAHOMA CITY – Even after Dexter Pittman scored a career-high 26 points in the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship, Texas coach Rick Barnes wanted more from his big man.

So he quizzed Pittman during the postgame news conference after Wednesday's 67-56 win over Colorado. Point guard A.J. Abrams added a third person to the comedy team. Barnes thought Pittman should have scored even more. The exchange went like this:

Reporter: Dexter, how come you didn't have 35 or whatever?

Pittman: Because I missed some free throws. Five free throws, I think?

Barnes: What about the layups?

Pittman: I missed some layups.

Barnes: Who guarded you on the last layup?

Abrams: Me.

Ready to dance: Oklahoma State reserve Obi Muonelo started to give a politically correct answer when asked if the Cowboys had played their way into the NCAA Tournament with a 81-67 win over Iowa State.

Then he shifted to honesty mode with the approval of coach Travis Ford.

"Yes, I think we have," Muonelo said. "After this game, I think we're definitely in the NCAA Tournament."

No liftoff: Baylor center Josh Lomers was questionable until game time against Nebraska because of a sprained ankle.

Then the 7-footer started and scored 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting. It was only the second time this season he scored in double figures. What he lacked in mobility, he delivered in size.

"If you are going to have a guy that gets a sprained ankle," Baylor coach Scott Drew said, "have it be a guy that doesn't jump very much or use it very much."

Looking back, looking ahead: Texas uncharacteristically went to a 2-3 zone defense in its win over Colorado.

Don't expect the same strategy against Kansas State. The last time the teams met, the Wildcats put on a shooting display led by Denis Clemente's 44 points in an 85-81 victory.

"We didn't play good defense at all," Abrams said. "But you have to give them credit for making the shots. Obviously we're a better team from that game, and I think it's more of a concentration and effort thing."

Briefly: Baylor improved to 16-0 this season when shooting a better percentage than its opponent. ... Since becoming a starter eight games ago, Texas point guard Dogus Balbay has 52 assists and only 15 turnovers.