The five best playmakers in Big 12 history

The 20th Big 12 Tournament begins Wednesday at the Sprint Center. We look back at the event’s two decades in a language familiar in basketball: Teams of honor.

Here is a list of the Big 12’s best playmakers in its history.

Doug Gottlieb, Oklahoma State (1997-2000)

Before becoming one of the game’s top analysts, Gottlieb piled up assists for the Cowboys. He has the league’s two best assist seasons and holds the record for assists in a single Big 12 Tournament. Plus, he shares a league record with 18 assists in one game.

T.J. Ford, Texas (2001-03)

From Big 12 freshman of the year to Wooden and Naismith Award winner as a sophomore, Ford is one of three Longhorns to have his number (11) retired.

Aaron Miles, Kansas (2001-2005)

Nobody piled up the assists like Miles, whose 954 rank ninth in NCAA history. He never made first-team all-conference but helped Drew Gooden, Nick Collison and Wayne Simien become Big 12 players of the year.

DJ Augustin, Texas (2006-08)

Kevin Durant’s wing man as freshmen then turned in a big sophomore season when he won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard.

Monte Morris, Iowa State (2013-present)

A Bob Cousy Award finalist, Morris led the nation in assist-turnover ratio in 2014 and 2015 and is among the top five nationally this season. Plus, he averages 14.5 points.

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 8:06 AM with the headline "The five best playmakers in Big 12 history."