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(AP) -- Kansas coach Bill Self is sticking by the prediction he made in October, before the college basketball season began.

Four losses will mean a chance to win the league.

Three may do it outright.

The eighth-ranked Jayhawks had a two-game lead heading into last weekend, but a loss at Iowa State on Saturday bunched up the standings.

Fourth-ranked Missouri and No. 6 Baylor were a game back heading,into Monday night's games as the Big 12 reaches the midway mark of a newly expanded 18-game conference schedule.

The Cyclones are another game back, while Kansas State sits at 4-4 and 15-5 overall.

Every other team in the league has at least three Big 12 wins except Texas Tech, which has yet to break through after eight conference games.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)