Open Thread: Final Big 12 Basketball Saturday
by awiggo on Mar 5, 2011 9:36 AM CST
in Texas Longhorns Basketball
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PrintNo. 2 Kansas (13-2) at No. 24 Missouri (8-7) 11 AM CBS
Jayhawks secure an outright conference title and take another step toward a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament with a win. On the other side, while Missouri is safely in the tournament, the Tigers are coming off a bad loss earlier this week at Nebraska. Kansas is by far the more talented and complete team, but Mizzou is undefeated in Columbia this season. I’ll take KU in a close one.
Texas Tech (5-10) at No. 22 Texas A&M (9-6) 12:30 PM Big 12 Network
Aggie bloggers have been trying to count to 10 conference wins all season. This afternoon they should easily reach that mark. A&M has secured a first round bye in the Big 12 tournament win or lose—a three seed with a win and likely the four seed with a loss. The Red Raiders do have a road win at Baylor on their resume, but it is hard to see them snagging another. I’ll take A&M by eight points.
Iowa State (3-12) at Kansas State (9-6) 12:30 PM Big 12 Network
The Cyclones did knock off CU earlier this week but K State is playing at another level right now. Jacob Pullen and company have won five straight and seven of their last eight. The Wildcats have gone from an NIT-bound team in late January to a scary NCAA tournament team and a probably 5-7 seed. Seniors Pullen and Curtis Kelly go out in style and win big.
Oklahoma State (6-9) at Oklahoma (4-11) 3 PM Big 12 Network
Bedlam is exciting in some seasons, not this one though. Fran Fraschilla’s opining notwithstanding, Ok State is not a good basketball team, at all. And OU is even worse, losers of their last eight. There would have to be a lot of money riding on the outcome for me to watch this one. I’ll take OSU by four.
Nebraska (7-8) at Colorado (7-8) 8 PM
Bubble elimination game. Nebraska was clearly out of the tournament before the week started but a win over Missouri got them back in the discussion at least. I think the Cornhuskers likely need this one and probably two wins in Kansas City. Colorado was trending toward the tournament but suffered a bubble bursting loss at Iowa State on Wednesday. All the momentum gained by defeating Texas is now gone. Like Nebraska, the Buffs need this one and at least two wins in the Big 12 tournament to earn a berth.
No. 8 Texas (12-3) at Baylor (7-8) 8 PM ESPN
Before this week, Baylor looked to be the sixth Big 12 team headed to the NCAA with Colorado on the way toward grabbing a seven bid. Without some magic in Kansas City, the Big 12 may land six teams, maybe only five. Baylor’s back and forth, one step forward, one step back trend continued on Tuesday night in Stillwater. With their backs against the wall and needing a few solid wins to end the season, the Bears were defeated by double digits. However, I expect a much different Baylor team to show up tonight. In Austin, Texas won the first half against the Baylor zone, but lost the second half when the Bears went man. It will be interesting to see the type of defense Scott Drew elects to play tonight. A win for Baylor means the Bears have a shot at the NCAA tournament. A win for Texas means the ‘Horns regain some of their lost mojo. And if Missouri can somehow knock off KU this morning, then a win would also mean a split Big 12 title.
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#2 Seed
Is there any danger of Texas losing a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament if they lose to Baylor and then don’t make the Big 12 Tournament finals? Does the seeding committee place equal emphasis on the entire season, or more on recent games (i.e., who is hot now)?
"Only angry people win football games." --DKR
Yes
I think if Texas loses tonight, they are not a No. 2 seed. However, they can earn that seed back with two wins in Kansas City.
To answer your question, I think February and March mean more for seeding than November and December for sure.
--AW--
College Gameday
While doing a mock end of game scenario, Coach Knight just unleashed a “chickeshit” live on the air when describing Digger’s 2-3 zone defense using Baylor players.
Hilarious.
--AW--
Kansas with 9 first half turnovers
still up 18-16. If Jayhawks take care of ball, they win going away.
Think Missouri just drew iron from deep for the first time all game. Backboard and airball on first couple of attempts.
Ugly and sloppy basketball by both teams so far.
--AW--
When the energy gets going in that arena Kansas seems to feel it
unfortunately I don’t think Mizzou will pull it off today though.
I wish I could play little league now... I'd kick some fuckin' ass.
make that a done deal
Texas only playing to stop the bleeding and salvage a 2 or 3 seed in the in field of 68.
I had a thought
We beat Kansas, but coughed up the regular season title to them. Texas has never won the Big 12 conference tournament because of these same Jayhawks being in the way. I think Texas wins the conference tournament this year. Why? Can’t say, just a gut feeling. Oh, and my innate blind homerism.
Who are you?!
I'm Kick Ass!
i think their side of the bracket will end up easier.
kansas likely will have to take on red hot k state or mizzou in semi’s.
correction, Wiggo
we’ve been counting to 8 all season
anything past 8 conference wins was viewed as a bonus
I’ve tried to be realistic about the abilities of my team all year.
Question for you: Who do you pick as conference player of the year? Someone on television just mentioned one of the Morris twins from Kansas, and while winning 7 consecutive conference titles is impressive, I wasn’t impressed with either of those two when I watched him play A&M, or any other game I’ve watched them play this season. If I was going to give POTY to a forward, ‘d be more inclined to give it to Perry Jones III, who was a good player on an underachieving team, or Tristan Thompson, who would be my pick for freshman of the year. I’d give POTY to Pullen, simply because he has led K-State return from the brink, and has that team playing like they were picked to at the beginning of the year.
Well
I have told you all season to count higher. Congrats on the 10-6 record a first round bye.
Conference player of the year: It will almost certainly be Marcus Morris but I could make a case for Pullen or Hamilton. Morris has been consistent all year. Pullen was bad early and great late. Hamilton was great early and average to bad late.
Those three will be conference first teamers. Add in Alec Burks from Colorado for sure too. That is four of your first teamers.
Tristan Thompson, Marcus Denmon, Cory Higgins, Markief Morris, Perry Jones, and Khris Middleton are among the next group.
--AW--
Congrats to KU...
I hate it, but they went 7-1 on the road in conference play this season…
Would love to see them again in the Conference Tournament.
What is that, like 8 conference titles in a row?
Now that is a great basketball program. Congratulations Kansas.
Bill Self >> Rick Barnes. If this year’s Texas team fizzles and/or we don’t reach the final four this year or next…bye bye Rick.
I will try and be optimistic
and think just maybe with KU locking down the conference title, that maybe Texas goes out and plays loose since there is now no pressure since #2 seed is locked down for conference tourney.
A gun rack... a gun rack. I don't even own *a* gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack. What am I gonna do... with a gun rack?
by HornsRiverine on Mar 5, 2011 4:18 PM CST up reply actions
Stupid, stupid, stupid mistake by Hansbrough in the ND-UConn game
sends him to the bench with his 5th one. Sigh. That wasn’t even a good foul.
Whoever said laughter is the best medicine had clearly never tasted Scotch.
Irish win!
Now if Pitt loses, we clinch the 1 seed in the Big East tourney. Go Nova!
Whoever said laughter is the best medicine had clearly never tasted Scotch.
NCAA seeds
(Assuming we beat Baylor,) Texas will have lost 3 of its last 5 games, all to unranked opponents. Accordingly, I think it is essentially impossible to get a 1 seed.
I think to get a 2 seed, it is necessary to beat Bayor and advance to the tournament finals; it is sufficient to beat Baylor and win the tournament.
If we lose to Baylor and do not win the tournament, I think we fall to a 3 seed.
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