Big 12
Big 12's teams, coaches and style of play.
Kansas fans can exhale. Xavier Henry is still coming to Lawrence.
One of the nation’s prize recruits – a 6-6 sweet-shooting guard is high on anyone’s list – gave the Jayhawk faithful a tense 12 hours or so on Tuesday when word surfaced that Henry was re-considering his commitment to Bill Self’s squad and possibly headed to Kentucky (if only to complete what was already a ridiculously good recruiting class).
But later that night, Henry texted a radio station he was sticking with KU.
“I’m going to Kansas and that’s final,” the text read.
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Time to find out how good the Sooners really are.
The No. 4 Sooners travel to Columbia – where they haven’t won since 2003 – for a huge showdown against No. 15 Missouri. If they win, they remain in the running for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and mathematically still in the hunt for the Big 12 title.
If they lose … well, that’s three losses in the last four games and the regular-season finale against surging Oklahoma State looming three days later. Good luck getting a No. 1 seed with that kind of finish.
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This is getting ridiculous.
Kansas lost six key players, including every starter -- more than 80 percent of its scoring and rebounding – from last season’s national title team. Yet after Sunday’s 90-65 throttling of No. 10 Missouri, here the Jayhawks stand, on the cusp of their fifth straight regular-season Big 12 title.
They’ve done it with five freshmen, three sophomores and two juniors, one of which was a JUCO transfer. Only Sherron Collins saw any serious playing time during last year’s 37-3 run. Cole Aldrich, the sophomore rebounding machine, saw spot time here and there.
Who’da thunk it? Not even the players knew they were headed for a 24-5 overall record and 13-1 in league play.
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Monday erased any lingering doubts about Blake Griffin’s importance to Oklahoma. Back-to-back losses will do that.
Not that the No. 3 Sooners are a lost cause without Griffin. They showed as much during Monday’s 87-78 loss to Kansas. They jumped out to an early lead and when they started to struggle, they showcased an aggressive, pressing defense and even displayed some impressive outside shooting.
But without Griffin, Oklahoma’s merely a good team.
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Ah, Rivalry Week.
It’s not perfect. Kentucky-Louisville was last month, and Xavier-Cincy was back in December. Traditionalists don’t get to see Indiana-Purdue until Feb. 21st. Still, there’s plenty for even the most discerning hoop fans who love a good rivalry.
Like Monday’s primetime game between Kansas and Missouri. Few things build drama in college hoops like regional rivalries.
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Trouble keeps finding the defending champs. The last time was an eligibility question.
This time, all it took was a greeting.
Kansas coach Bill Self was in Springfield, Mo. last week to watch highly touted prospect John Wall. Afterward, he reportedly went up to Wall and complemented him on his game.
The problem with the whole thing stems from the NCAA’s rules surrounding when Self said hello.
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Michigan’s win against No. 4 UCLA shouldn’t be a huge shock. Expect nothing less from a John Beilein team.
Sure, the Wolverines (3-0) started off hot this season, mostly behind Manny Harris’ scoring touch. But it’s the third time a Beilein-coached team has beaten the Bruins. In 2007, Beilein’s West Virginia squad took advantage of a Darren Collison’s absence to snag a 70-65 win. In 2006, Kevin Pittsnogle & Co. pulled off a 60-56 win.
Whether it’s Beilein’s perplexing 1-3-1 zone or some timely 3s, his teams get it done vs. UCLA. ‘Nuff said. Especially since it wasn’t Thursday’s most remarkable game.
That would be Texas Tech’s 167-115 win against East Central (Okla.). Yes, you read the score correctly. 167-115.
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Say this about Kansas coach Bill Self – he’s earning that new contract.
Self, who guided the Jayhawks to their third NCAA tournament title in April and first since 1988, signed a mega $30 million deal in the offseason. He’ll get a short grace period from fans and school officials because they’re elated to raise another banner in Allen Fieldhouse, but Self admits the pressure will build for KU this season.
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Depending on one’s politics, being feted at the White House can be a huge honor or a teeth gritting affair. Does seeing President Bush hold up a Kansas jersey aggravate you or bring an even bigger smile to your face?
Maybe I’ll leave the politics to someone else…
In lieu of my personal biases (except when it comes to my allegiances to the Jayhawks as a University of Kansas graduate), I’ll pose this question: Who knew the President was such a big hoops fan?
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Regardless of how Bob Knight’s perceived, his wins record is an impressive achievement. That’s nearly 22 victories a season for 42 years.
But Knight will have to be remembered as a great coach, because he won’t keep that wins record for long. And when that happens, what is he left with? We can debate his coaching /personal style, but I’ll leave that to our columnists.
Me, I like the quotes.
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