Big 12 HOOPS PREVIEW
Everyone’s pre-season darlings for the upcoming hoops season are the Kansas Jayhawks. They relish the pressure. Head coach Bill Self does not care much for the off court issues that cropped up in September. While no permanent suspensions have been issued, an altercation between the basketball team and Kansas’ football team resulted in a dislocated thumb for sophomore guard and starter, Tyshawn Taylor, a first semester suspension for guard Brady Morningstar and an ongoing investigation into the incident. This team is loaded, and if they can move on well enough will be at or near the top of the polls all year. Point guard Sherron Collins is expected to snap his team back into focus. It doesn’t hurt to have the top center in college basketball, 6-11 junior Cole Aldrich. Only Morningstar is expected to have trouble holding on to his starting job. Freshman Xavier Henry is likely going to take his spot in the lineup, at least until Morningstar returns. On the floor, Kansas is everyone’s pick. They just need to keep their distractions to a minimum.
Oklahoma may be expected to drop back a notch after losing Blake Griffin to the NBA. The Sooners have plenty of outstanding players and could come away deeper than they were last year. Head coach Jeff Capel hasn’t had great play from his point guards in his three years as Sooner leader. That could change this year. Freshman Tommy Mason-Griffin will likely step right in. Expect to see lots of another freshman, Tiny Gallon. Tiny is 6-9, 300. There is outside shooting ability with Tony Crocker and Cade Davis. But it’s Willie Warren that will likely dictate the direction the Oklahoma program heads this season. Warren’s role increased last year when Griffin battled concussions. He and the team should benefit from last year’s increased role. Those who experienced Oklahoma’s success last season have been joined by solid newcomers. Those facts should lead to a successful ‘09-‘10.
Departures have hit Missouri as hard or harder than any other Big 12 team. Mike Anderson is approaching the changes as chances for the remaining players, rather than being doomed to failure. J.T. Tiller will be called upon to lead this team back to prominence in the conference. There are experienced players to step into the openings left by the defections. Zaire Taylor, Kim English and Marcus Denmon will get more playing time this season. The pace Anderson employs makes depth a demand rather than a desire. Only three new players for Missou and one is Missourian Mike Dixon, a scorer when he played in high school. Tiller had off-season surgery on his shooting wrist. If it heals in time, Tiller will be the key to Missouri coming back strong.
There were five mid-pack teams in the Big 12 a year ago. Texas A&M was one of those teams. They may struggle to stay in the middle having lost two key players from their team in the off season. David Loubeau, a sophomore with scoring ability will get a chance to help in the interior. A freshman, Khris Middleton, will likely get a chance to contribute as well. The Aggies return experience in the back court. Donald Sloan and Derrick Roland were starters last year. Top reserves and an incoming freshman, Naji Hibbert will add to Mark Turgeon’s depth. Reed Arena has become one of the toughest venues to play in for visitors. They currently own the second most home wins in the nation over the past five years. Turgeon thinks he’s got the players to get to the upper echelon in the Big 12 again.
Oklahoma State had a strong finish a year ago. Travis Ford would love to build on that, but of course, there are holes to fill first. Point guard will be first and most important to fill since a four year contributor, Byron Eaton, has moved on. 6-7 wing man James Anderson will be back as well as senior Obi Muonelo. Two others, Keiton Page and Marshall Moses are experienced and will contribute. Ford’s team averaged 80 points per game a year ago and he wants to get the pace even a bit higher. Ok State is the youngest team in the Big 12. If the newcomers and last year’s bench players can make Ford’s up tempo style work, the Cowboys could be back in the top half of the league.
Texas was in the middle of the pack a year ago. They should be battling Kansas for the top spot this season. Damion James will return for his senior year after entering and then removing himself from this spring’s NBA draft. He’s back to develop his skills for next year’s draft, but Rick Barnes’ team is the likely benefactor. 6-10 Dexter Pittman is in the middle. Newcomers will surround him. 6-7 wing Jordan Hamilton will help on the outside. Jai Lucas, John’s son, has transferred over from Florida and will be eligible to play in December. Guard Verez Ward is improved and will be expected to score. The Big 12's most heralded freshman is Avery Bradley who can score and defend as well.
Frank Martin was upset with the NCAA selection committee for keeping Kansas State out of last year’s dance. That fuel added to a well stoked fire should get the Wildcats a spot into this year’s tournament. Point guard Doug Clemente will lead the team. Jacob Pullen can score. There are key newcomers including a transfer from UConn, Curtis Kelley, but Martin is most pleased with the veterans he brings back and the experience they’ll be able to draw on for the tough conference wars ahead. And they get the potential of some highly recruited freshmen like Wally Judge, an All-American in high school. Martin expects a better ending to the K-State story this year.
In order to move closer to the top of the Big 12 this season, Nebraska needs to score more points. They did well defensively a year ago, but they had to. Size was an issue, and at least this season, taller players are present. They still have to prove that they can play. Doc Sandler hopes for more size and more scoring this season. 6-11 redshirt freshman Brian Diaz and Quincy Hankins-Cole, a 6-8 JC transfer will be added to the experienced corps of guards including starter Sek Henry. Sandler would like Christian Standhardinger to come in from his German club team and score like he did in Germany, where he averaged 22 points per game. He will miss the beginning of the season due to his playing with that club team.
Will Baylor be able to build on their NIT runner-up finish from a year ago? Only if they’re able to fill the holes left by graduation. Scott Drew has the pieces to be competitive, but there’re never any guarantees. The Bears are likely to be bigger inside this season. 6-10 Michigan transfer Ekpe Udoh will likely start there. Even though the personnel is somewhat different, the 3-point shot will be an emphasis for Baylor. LaceDarius Dunn was first in the Big 12 in triples. 6-5 guard Dennis Nolan will contribute immediately. Nolan had signed with Memphis, but when John Calipari left, he was set free from his commitment. This may be a key year for Drew. The Bears didn’t do as well as expected until it was too late last year.
Just how far can Iowa State go this season? Just how far can thought to be headed to the NBA
Craig Brackens carry them? State’s stock immediately went up when Brackens decided to stay for his junior year. JC transfer Marcus Milstrap has just one year of eligibility left but he’s hoping injuries that have plagued him are over with. Guard Chris Colvin was recruited by a few good programs and he chose Iowa State. Guard Lucca Staiger should improve based on his summer activity in Europe.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders will be hoping that Mike Singletary has many more nights like his 43 point night against Texas A&M in the Big 12 tournament last year. But, in order to leave the basement of the conference, Tech will need to keep teams under 79 points, which is what they averaged a year ago. Hard to believe that Pat is his father Bob Knight’s son. Point guard John Roberson led the conference in assists a year ago. The Raiders will need to do better on the road.
Colorado doesn’t excite many, but they do have one of the most successful experienced players in shooting guard Cory Higgins. He’ll need some help to lead the Buffalos off the bottom of the league. Even with Higgins, Colorado scored fewer points than anyone in the Big 12 a year ago. Jeff Bzdelik employs a disciplined system. If the talent to run it improves, Colorado will start to move up.
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