Each weekday, our college hoops experts discuss the biggest issues, trends and themes in college basketball.

1. Kansas has plenty of competition in the Big 12. And with only one month left in the regular season, it's a fair question: Is this the year the Jayhawks' run of Big 12 titles ends?

Andy Katz: I normally would never say Kansas won't win the Big 12. But this year is different. I'm leaning Oklahoma -- even with the loss at Kansas State. West Virginia is in the lead, but I expect the Mountaineers to fall back into the pack after Tuesday night.

C.L. Brown: It's a fair question, but until some team actually does it, I'll stick with Kansas. The Jayhawks still haven't lost at home. Should they beat West Virginia on Tuesday, they'll be in a three-way tie for first place with seven games remaining.

Myron Medcalf: This feels like the year when the streak will finally end. The Jayhawks have to play Texas, Oklahoma and Baylor on the road. They'll host Iowa State and West Virginia. That's a tough final slate for a squad that's already behind in the race and has three losses. But I'm not doing it. Not betting against the Jayhawks. Not this year. I still think Kansas will find a way to get a slice of that Big 12 title pie.

2. What will be the deciding factor in Michigan State-Purdue?

Katz: The Boilermakers need to be able to finish games. How Purdue plays in the final few minutes will determine this game. Purdue has the look of a team that will perform much better once it gets out of the confines of its conference. Michigan State has learned how to close out games again. Expect to see the same against Purdue.

Brown: Each team has an X-factor: For Michigan State, if Bryn Forbes is hitting shots, the Spartans will win. In three of the Spartans' four losses, he was held to one basket. For the Boilermakers, it's freshman forward Caleb Swanigan. He committed to Michigan State before making a reversal to Purdue. If he plays big, the Boilermakers' frontcourt size advantage might be too much for the Spartans to handle.

Medcalf: Both teams are very physical. And at this point in this season, they'll both be ready for this significant matchup. I really think it comes down to the availability of Caleb Swanigan and A.J. Hammons. Swanigan picked up four fouls in his team's loss to Iowa. On Saturday, Hammons drew four fouls in a loss to Maryland. Michigan State will attack those bigs with the same tenacity it used to draw Maryland's bigs into early foul trouble a few weeks ago. That's an important factor for coach Matt Painter's team.

3. DePaul stunned Providence last week. Any chance the Blue Demons shock Villanova?

Katz: No. Not this time. Providence is too shaky. Villanova is not.

Brown: When Providence forward and leading scorer Ben Bentil did not return in the second half due to an injured ankle, it made the Friars much easier for DePaul to defend. Villanova has far more offensive weapons so, no, a second straight upset is unlikely for the Blue Demons.

Medcalf: Always a chance, but it won't happen. Providence-DePaul was weird. Ben Bentil got hurt. Friars couldn't buy a basket. The Wildcats have defeated their past three opponents by 12 or more. This game won't be close.