Conference Play Primer: The Big XII

Favorite: Kansas Jayhawks

Much like the ACC and the Big Ten, the favorite in the Big XII is pretty easy to identify. That isn't because Kansas has been blowing their opponents away. In fact, it has been quite the opposite. The Jayhawks struggled to beat both UCLA and USC at home, needed a spark from a near brawl at Cal to finally put the Bears away, and were unable to put away teams like Memphis, Arizona, Colorado State, and Texas-Arlington when they jumped out to early leads. But the talent on this roster is undeniable, and that was before Josh Selby joined the team in mid-December. This team still has a way to go in terms of maturity and meshing and learning to play together, and I think they may actually be better with Thomas Robinson (who didn't start until Marcus Morris was benched after his ejection against Cal) providing a physical low post presence alongside one of the Morrii, but they will get there. And once they do, we are going to hear a lot of talk about Duke, Ohio State, and Kansas being the nation's three best teams.


Player of the Year: Jordan Hamilton, Texas

Hamilton has improved so much since his freshman season, averaging a league-high (until LaceDarius Dunn logs enough games to be eligible) 19.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg while shooting 42.3% from deep. He's still a gunner. That is not ever going to change. Hamilton was made to score points. But he's become much better at knowing what is a good shot and what is a bad shot. He's still a bit of a streaky shooter, but now his off games are 6-15 nights, not 2-15 nights. The Longhorns are a legitimate contender in the Big XII, and quite possibly the second best team in the league. With a freshman starting at the point and at center, Hamilton has been forced into the leadership role for this team, and he has embraced it. Texas fans should enjoy it while it lasts, because this kid is well on his way to the NBA Lottery.

All-Conference Team:

• G: Marcus Denmon, Missouri: 17.2 ppg, 2.1 spg, 49.3% 3PT
  
• G: LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor: 21.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg
  
• F: Marshal Moses, Oklahoma State: 17.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg
  
• F: Marcus Morris, Kansas: 15.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg
  
• F: Markieff Morris, Kansas: 13.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg
  

Biggest Surprise: Texas A&M Aggies

I don't want to say that I wrote off the Aggies in the preseason, because it isn't true at all. I thought this team at a shot of playing their way onto the bubble. But with the number of quality seniors that were graduating, I never expected Mark Turgeon to have this team on the verge of the top 25 this early in the season, especially not after they lost to Boston College early in the season. But with that BC loss looking better (Less bad? More acceptable?) and subsequent wins over Temple, Washington, and Arkansas, the Aggies look like they round out the top six in a talented Big XII conference. The biggest reason why has been the emergence of 6'6" forward Khris Middleton has a potential first team all-conference performer. He's averaging 15.4 ppg on the season, which combined with David Loubeau and Nathan Walkup has given the Aggies a very good front court. Turgeon's next task? Getting senoir point guard Dash Harris's shooting percentage up over 22.8%.


Biggest Disappointment: Kansas State Wildcats

The Wildcats were supposed to be one of the best teams in the country this season. They were supposed to be competing for the Final Four come March. Right now, they don't even look like a team that can finish in the top four of the Big XII. This team is talented, but size and athleticism will only get you so far. Jacob Pullen is the only player on this team that can really create his own shot, and he has not been able to find a rhythm yet this season. The same might be able to be said about Curtis Kelly, but Kelly is dealing with his second suspension of the season right now while Pullen will be returning from this three game suspension the next time K-State takes the court. Frank Martin's club plays hard and physical, but without senior leadership, this team far too often looks like they don't have any direction. What's worse is that this team's flaws look very difficult to solve. K-State may just be a middle of the pack Big XII team this season.

Teams to keep in mind:

• Missouri: Missouri is the most exciting team in the country to watch. Not just because they play an uptempo brand of basketball, but because every game they play seems to be a nailbiter. They have an excellent back court this season and Ricardo Ratliffe has provided them a solid low-post presence, but I'd argue the most important player on this team is versatile big man Laurence Bowers.
• Baylor: Its a good thing for the Bears that Kansas State has been as bad as they have been this year because it saved them from being the biggest disappointment. A lot of was expected of this team, but heading into Big XII play, their only win outside of Waco, TX, came in Hawaii against San Diego. They will be fine -- there is too much talent on this team for them not to be -- but its crazy that we thought this team could be better than last year despite losing Ekpe Udoh and Tweety Carter.
• Oklahoma State: Keiton Page is one of the most unlikely really, really good scorers in the country, while Marshall Moses has turned into a star. This team could wind up in the Big Dance.
• Iowa State: Seriously. I don't expect this team to make the NCAA tournament, but with guys like Diante Garrett and Scott Christopherson playing well for new head coach Fred Hoiberg, don't be surprised is the Cyclones catch one of the Big XII's big boys sleeping this season.
  

Teams to forget about:

• Colorado: Alec Burks and Cory Higgins are awesome on the perimeter. The rest of the Colorado roster looks like they would be better off playing for Northern Arizona.
• Nebraska: The Cornhuskers are 10-2, but they also just lost their best player, who left the school to either transfer or head overseas for a contract.
• Texas Tech: I'm not sure what is going on with this team. With two senior stars leading an experienced group, I expected more than 6-7.
  
• Oklahoma: Duh.
  

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Colorado to leave the Big XII after this year; the Big XII's schedule will be the toughest in the country

On Tuesday, the Big XII announced that Colorado will, in fact, be leaving the conference after the 2010-2011 season, joining the Pac-10 as of July 1st, 2011. To do so, Colorado must pay the Big XII $6.863 million. Nebraska, who will also be leaving the Big XII at the same time to join the Big Ten, will be paying the conference $9.255 million, a number that will drop to $8.755 million should they make a BCS bowl.

As far as Big XII basketball is concerned, the conference is jettisoning two of the worst programs. Nebraska finished last in the league in 2009-2010, while Colorado has traditionally been near the bottom, although they should actually be able to compete for a tournament spot this season.

That means that next year the Big XII will be able to play a true round-robin conference schedule.

Think about that. For the remaining Big XII members, every season they get Kansas twice. They get Kansas State twice. They get Baylor and Texas and Missouri twice. Hell, even Iowa State, the leagues only remaining pushover traditionally, will be adding Chris Allen and Royce White in 2011.

As far as I'm concerned, the Big XII will be the toughest conference to play in come 2011.

I'm not saying it will be the best conference, mind you. It was away too early to make a prediction like that. All signs indicate that the Big Ten, the Big East, and the ACC will be very good that year as well, we don't know who leaves for the NBA after this season, and a number of big-time recruits are still deciding on where they will attend college.

But the Big XII's league schedule will be brutal. Let's say that six teams make the NCAA Tournament from the Big XII in 2011-2012, and two more are in tournament contention. That means that even if you are one of those teams that made the tournament, 14 of your 18 league games will be against quality opponents. Its worse for the teams out of tournament contention, as they will play 16 of their 18 leagues games against very good competition.

Now I will admit that it is a bit optimistic to think that six teams from a Big XII as tough as this can make the dance, but look at the programs that are left. Who from that group can you write off?

Iowa State, sure. Texas Tech? Well, they were in tournament contention for much of last season and have been to two dances in the last six years. Oklahoma? They made an Elite 8 in 2009 before last year's collapse. Texas A&M? Oklahoma State? Those teams have routinely made the tournament the last few years.

The Big East is loaded, but they are also top heavy. There are usually at least four or five teams at the bottom of the league with no chance of going to the tournament. And, with 16 teams in the league, you only play home-and-home's with three teams. For the most part, you only get the Syracuse's and Villanova's and Georgetown's once a year.

The same can be said for the ACC, or the Big Ten.

I'm not here to argue that the Big XII is going to be the best conference, but its schedule will be the toughest to play.

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Rankings the Big Mondays

I'll be honest.

I love Big Monday. Maybe its because I grew up in Big East country. Maybe its because I have an awkward love for color commentary of Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery. Maybe its because I am the only person in the country that thinks Brent Musberger and Bobby Knight are entertaining as announcers. Maybe its because something needs to fill the void of Monday Night Football.

Or maybe its because I simply adore starting off my week with two big-time matchups, which just so happen to be the only games of significance each and every Monday. If you can't get excited for Big Monday, then we can't be friends anymore. Sorry. The door's over there.

I have a point to all of this (I swear).

On Thursday, the Big East released their Big Monday schedule. The Big XII announced their portion back in July, which means that I now know exactly how I will be spending each and every Monday in January and February.



Hit the jump to see our rankings of which Big Mondays we are looking forward to the most:

(Ed. Note: We aren't including the first three weeks in our rankings. If we were, they would be at the bottom. Two games are always better than one.)

1. January 17th: Villanova @ UConn; Kansas State @ Missouri; Syracuse @ Pitt; Kansas @ Baylor

I mean, isn't this obvious? The 17th is Martin Luther King, Jr., day, and what better way to celebrate your Monday off from work than eight solid hours of Big East and Big XII hoops? The day tips at 3:30pm (all times EST) with Villanova heading to UConn. Now, the Huskies are going to be down this season, but they still have Kemba Walker who will need to have a big game against Villanova's loaded back court. The good news for UConn is that the game will, in fact, be played at Gampel Pavilion, their on-campus arena, as opposed to the Hartford Civic Center. The other MLK Day Big East game will be one of the best of the season. Pitt and Syracuse, along with Villanova, are the favorites to finish atop the conference, and its by a pretty wide margin. There is a lot to like about this game, but the matchup that intrigues me the most will be Pitt's sophomore big man Dante Taylor going up against stud Syracuse freshman Fab Melo. I get the feeling NBA scouts will like that as well.

UConn beat Nova in Philly last year.
(photo credit: Stamford Advocate)

On the Big XII side, the games will be just as entertaining. The first game pits Kansas State and Mizzou, two of the more exciting teams to watch in this league. Kansas State has a ton of size and length along their front line, but their back court is relatively inexperienced after all-american Jacob Pullen. That's not ideal considering the Tiger's 40 minutes of hell defense. Mizzou is deep, especially in the back court, with a lot athletes that really can get after it defensively. It may not be the prettiest game to watch, but it will be exciting. The night ends with Kansas heading to Waco, TX, to take on Baylor. Both the Bears and the Jayhawks have potential all-americans on their roster in LaceDarius Dunn and Marcus Morris. But they also boast two of the most-hyped recruits in the country in Josh Selby and Perry Jones.


2. February 14th: West Virginia @ Syracuse; Kansas @ Kansas State

It may be Valentine's Day, but love is rarely in the air when Kansas and Kansas State get together. The atmosphere is always fantastic when the Jayhawks enter the Octagon of Doom, and this season should be no different. Marcus Morris will have his hands full with the Wildcat front line, but the matchup that everyone will want to see is freshman phenom Josh Selby going up against senior and all-american Jacob Pullen.

Jacob Pullen and the Wildcats have a great home court.
(photo credit: USA Today)

In the early game, Bob Huggins will bring his West Virginia Mountaineers to the Carrier Dome to take on Jim Boeheim's Syracuse Orange. The Orange are definitely the more talented team, with guys like Kris Joseph and Fab Melo looking like potential first round picks, but the Mountaineers are a scrappy bunch led by senior Joe Mazzulla. With Kevin Jones and Deniz Kilicli seemingly primed for big years inside, it should surprise no one if WVU gives Syracuse a game.


3. February 7th: Pitt @ West Virginia; Missouri @ Kansas

Rivalry games are what it is all about in college hoops, and these two rivalries are about as entertaining as it gets. West Virginia fans are notoriously rowdy, and the last time the Panthers came to visit, it ended with a Pitt assistant coach being hit by a coin thrown from the stands. With both teams once again loaded with physical, tough basketball players, I wouldn't be surprised if this year's installment of the Backyard Brawl ended up in an actual brawl.

Marcus Morris and Kim English will be two of the best players in the Big XII next year.
(photo credit: Statsheet)

You know a rivalry is good when it has its own nickname. Pitt-WVU is the Backyard Brawl, while Kansas-Missouri games are known as the Border War. This year, the Tigers will be traveling to the Phog to take on a very good Jayhawk team. Kansas will be playing with a freshman point guard in Josh Selby, which is never ideal when you are facing the kind of pressure that Mizzou puts on for 40 minutes.


4. February 21st: Syracuse @ Villanova; Oklahoma State @ Kansas

A late February game between two of the favorites to win a conference? Yes please! The outcome of this Syracuse and Villanova game will, in all likelihood, have a major impact on the top of the Big East standings. Villanova may not have answers for Kris Joseph or Fab Melo, but can the Orange zone contain the Wildcat's tremendous back court?

Oklahoma State travels to Kansas in the night cap. The Cowboys lost their star James Anderson to the NBA this offseason and return a young roster. Okie State does have a couple of solid post players and some young talent in their back court, but winning in the Phog is never an easy task.


5. February 28th: Villanova @ Notre Dame; Kansas State @ Texas

Texas lost quite a bit of talent, but with freshmen Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson coming in, and Jordan Hamilton returning, there's reason to believe this Texas team could make a run at a Big XII title. Kansas State is likely a top ten team this season, which means that if the Longhorns get a couple of breaks this year, this game could end up being a fantastic way to end the Big Monday season.

Notre Dame lost a bunch of talent as well, as Luke Harangody and Tory Jackson graduated. But with guys like Ben Hansbrough, Tim Abromaitis, and Carleton Scott returning, as well as a healthy Scott Martin being added to the rotation, this Irish team may sneak up on some people. But if Villanova is in the mix for a Big East title at this point in the year, will the Irish be able to compete with a determined Villanova team?


6. January 24th: Notre Dame @ Pitt; Baylor @ Kansas State

There's an argument to be made that Jacob Pullen and LaceDarius Dunn at the two best guards in the country. Would I make that argument? Not necessarily, but I would argue that watching those two go back and forth in a game with as much size, length, and athleticism as there is on both sides of the ball in this game will be immensely entertaining.

If Notre Dame continues to play the way they did down the stretch last season, then this matchup with Pitt might struggle to hit the 50's. If Notre Dame decides to try and take more advantage of some of the offensive talent they have on their roster, it may end up being a higher-scoring affair. But will Notre Dame then be able to compete with a very good Pitt team?


7. January 31st: Louisville @ Georgetown; Texas @ Texas A&M

Both of these games are quite similar. Georgetown loses Greg Monroe, but they return a talented and experienced back court that could end up being one of the best in the country. Its part of the reason they are considered one of the four best teams in the conference. Louisville, on the other hand, lost quite a bit of senior leadership and will head into this season with a younger group of kids.

As we mentioned, Texas lost some talent, but has a solid core of young guys that will lead them. The 'Horns, like Georgetown, should be considered one of the top four or five teams in their league, while the Aggies will have lost a lot of their senior leadership.
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The Only Conference Preview You Need To Read: The Big XII

Summer officially ends on September 22nd, but for me, the end of summer always coincided with the end of August. Or when I had to go to school. (That first day was always the worst, wasn't it?) Anyway, school is right around the corner, which means that college basketball season is around the corner, down the street, through two lights, and on the left. Since we've all had a fight with our GPS at one time or another, we at BIAH will take this week to roll out our way-too-early, all-encompassing conference previews.

To browse through the other conferences, click here.


Pre-season Awards

Player of the Year: Jacob Pullen, Kansas State

I remember watching Pullen play as a freshman and sophomore, and I can honestly say I never thought he would develop into the player he did as a junior. Coming into last season, the guy everyone was talking about in the K-State back court was the dynamic Denis Clemente, but after some impressive performances in high-profile non-conference wins, Pullen (deservedly) developed the reputation of a big-time shooter and scorer. With Clemente gone, Pullen will be the focal point of a Kansas State team that doesn't have a ton of offensive options, especially in the back court. This is still a very good team -- they are big, long, athletic, and will defend and rebound as well as anyone in the country -- but at the end of a game or the shot clock, the ball is almost assuredly going to be in Pullen's hands. He's going to get plenty of opportunity to put up points this year, and if he can improve his ability to distribute the ball -- he will command a lot of attention defensively -- I don't see why he can't be a 20+ppg scorer and average 4 assists. If you put up those numbers for the conference favorite, you deserve player of the year consideration.


And a close second goes to: LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor

Dunn is in a similar situation to Pullen. His talented back court mate -- Tweety Carter -- is gone, which means that he is going to have to carry even more of the offensive load. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, either, as Dunn is one of the best shooters in the country. I think Dunn has a chance to be conference player of the year and a first team all-american, but Pullen got the nod because Dunn plays off the ball. Where Pullen is more of a point guard and has the ability to create for himself off the dribble, Dunn is more of an off-guard, a catch-and-shoot kind of guy. I worry that a lot of his success this season will be determined by the development of AJ Walton as a point guard. Dunn's placement here is with the assumption that he will not miss an extended amount of time for the alleged assault against his girlfriend.

Breakout Star: Marcus Morris, Kansas, and Jordan Hamilton, Texas

The Big XII has a number of kids that I think are capable of having a breakout year -- AJ Walton, BJ Holmes, David Loubeau, Michael Dixon, Ray Penn, Christian Standhardinger. But Morris and Hamilton are the two kids that I think are all-but-guarantees for a big season. Morris showed flashes of brilliance as a sophomore, starting at the four and becoming the Jayhawks most reliable offensive option in the post. With the amount of talent that Kansas is losing, Morris is the guy that will be counted on to pick up the slack. After seeing how much he improved after putting on some strength between his freshman and sophomore campaigns, I see no reason that he isn't first-team all-conference, and possibly even an all-american, this year.

Hamilton is a bit of a different story. A consensus top 10 recruit last year, he spent last season as the Longhorns hired gun off the bench. The problem is that Hamilton has yet to develop a sense of shot selection. As a freshman, if he touched the ball, more than likely a shot was going up. When he was on, he was a nightmare for opponents (ask Oklahoma State), but when he was missing he really hurt Texas. There's not a doubt in my mind that this kid can be a lethal scorer in the Big XII, but only when he develops a better sense of what is a good shot. (Although, it should be noted that as he gets better and becomes a bigger part of the Texas offense, the standard of what is a "good shot" for him will become more lax.) Generally speaking, the biggest improvement tends to come between a player's freshman and sophomore years. I think Hamilton can make the jump.

All-Conference First Team

• POY- Jacob Pullen, Kansas State, Sr.
  
• G - LaceDarius Dunn, Baylor, Sr.
• G - Cory Higgins, Colorado, Sr.
• G - Kim English, Missouri, Jr.
• F - Alec Burks, Colorado, So.
  
• F - Marcus Morris, Kansas, Jr.

All-Conference Second Team

• G - Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas, Jr.
  
• G - Jordan Hamilton, Texas, So.
  
• G - John Roberson, Texas Tech, Sr.
  
• F - Jamar Samuels, Kansas State, Jr.
• F - Quincy Acy, Baylor, Jr.
  

Freshman of the Year: Josh Selby, Kansas

This is kind of awkward because Selby has yet to be cleared by the NCAA. If he does end up getting cleared, Selby -- the No. 1 recruit in the country according to Rivals -- should make an immediate impact. Selby plays a similar brand of basketball as former Jayhawk point guard Sherron Collins. He's a scorer that can beat his man off the dribble, knock down a contested 25 footer, and is capable of creating for teammates in the lane. But where Collins was built like a running back, Selby is built like a basketball player -- 6'3", long arms, excellent athleticism. There is going to be quite a bit of returning talent in the back court, but if Selby lives up to the hype, he will be the creator for Bill Self's club.


All-Freshman Team

• G - Phil Pressey, Missouri
  
• G - Cory Joseph, Texas
• F - Cameron Clark, Oklahoma
  
• F - Perry Jones, Baylor
• F - Tristan Thompson, Texas
  

What Happened?:

• Expansion: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know already. Nebraska left. Colorado left. We thought the world was going to end, but the world didn't end. That enough summary? It is for me.


• Texas A&M's rough summer: First, the Aggies lost their star recruit Tobi Oyedeji, a 6'9" kid out of Bellaire, TX, who tragically passed away when he crashed his car on Prom Night. Nowhere near as tragic, but still depressing is that Derrick Roland, who snapped his leg just about in half last season, was denied an extra year of eligibility, ending his collegiate career.
  


• Scandals galore: Missouri's prize recruit, Tony Mitchell, looks like a long shot to be on the Tiger roster this season after he wasn't allowed to graduate from high school. The reasons are plenty, including unexplained absences, questionable test results, and the fact he attended a school accredited as a home school his first three years. Mitchell has been ruled ineligible for the first semester already.
  
  He's not the only star recruit that has yet to be cleared. Josh Selby, a consensus top five recruit from Baltimore, has not been cleared by the NCAA due to a relationship he has with Carmelo Anthony's agent. It is not clear whether that agent is acting as an advisor or he has an agreement with Selby to become his agent, but one thing that is clear is basketball players from Baltimore stick together. Its very possible that this agent is doing nothing but help this family work through a complicated process. But Selby was also spotted driving a white benz. So who knows.
  
  Oklahoma also had a controversy in their program. Freshman Tiny Gallon was alleged to have been given $3,000 by a financial advisor, which likely played a role in his decision to leave Norman after one season. Then Tommy Mason-Griffin and Willie Warren, neither of whom did anything impressive last year, both hit the road as well. Between transfers and graduation, Capel is left with ... well ... a lot of youngsters.
  
  And how can we forget about LaceDarius Dunn. The potential all-american broke his girlfriend's jaw. His suspension hasn't been announced just yet, but he is back in school and allowed to practice with the team.


• Jacob Pullen's beard...: He's keepin' it, y'all.


• The Canadian-Texan pipeline: Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph are both top 25 recruits this season. They are also both Canadian. Myck Kabongo will be joining them at Texas next season after a two day decommitment. There is some talent north of the border, and while it is a different border than we are generally talking about when dealing with Texas, I don't think Longhorns fans will have a problem with this kind of immigration.


• Coaching changes: Believe it or not, no head coaches were fired from Big XII schools this off-season. There were two changes, however. Jeff Bzdelik took off for the opening at Wake Forest when Dino Gaudio was fired, replaced by Northern Colorado's Tad Boyle.
  
  Greg McDermott left Iowa State to head back to the MVC and coach Creighton. He was replaced by local hero, Fred Hoiberg, who will have his work cut out for him with all the players that left and the floods that hit Iowa in August.


• Royce White lands: The troubled youngster who went to Minnesota before dropping out -- he never stepped on court after getting in trouble a couple of time for shoplifting and possibly stealing a laptop -- ended up at Iowa State. No word on whether he will be able to suit up this season.


• Nick Sidorakis is a stand-up guy: Enough with the depressing stories already. Give this piece on the Oklahoma State senior a read, who gave up his scholarship for a teammate.

What's Next?:

• The Big X: So Nebraska and Colorado are both leaving the conference before the start of next season. After all that the teams in the league had to do to keep from disintegrating, the question now becomes how long will it last? Is this a temporary peace treaty, one that lasts until the season is over and everyone gets to arguing about television dollars and inequitable payouts? Will Texas A&M jump ship to the SEC? Will the Pac-10 get the four other teams that they wanted originally?
  


• This conference is good: The talent level is this league is ridiculous. There are nine schools that have a legitimate chance at making the NCAA Tournament. Depending on how some freshman pan out and the development of some bench players, there could be four, maybe five, teams capable of making a deep tournament run. Would anyone be shocked to see three players -- Pullen, Dunn, and Morris -- make first team all-american? This season will be a lot of fun to follow in the Big XII.
  

Power Rankings

1. Kansas State: The Wildcats have a lot of talent on their roster, enough to win the Big XII and likely spend the year in the top ten. It starts with Jacob Pullen, who will be one of the early favorites for Big XII player of the year and a potential first team all-american. We all know about Pullen -- a big time scorer and shotmaker -- that has really developed in his four years in Manhattan. Frank Martin's club is also going to be loaded up front again. With a rotation of Curtis Kelly, Jamar Samuels, Wally Judge, Jordan Henriquez-Roberts, and Florida International transfer Freddy Asprilla, K-State has one of the biggest, most athletic front lines in the country. Make sure you box the Wildcats out this year. The biggest question mark for K-State is going to be where Pullen gets his back court help from. Denis Clemente graduated and Dominique Sutton transferred out, leaving quite a bit of inexperience behind -- three sophomores, three freshman, and one transfer. Someone from this group is going to need to step up and become a guy that can defend and knock down open jumpers. Rodney McGruder is a 6'4" sophomore off-guard that hit 18-43 threes in limited minutes last year. Martavious Irving and Juevol Myles are point guards that could allow Pullen to play off the all. And keep an eye on freshman Nino Williams, a Kansas native that was a top 100 recruit in 2011 before enrolling early.


2. Kansas: The Jayhawks won't be as loaded as they have been the past two seasons. That's what tends to happen when you lose players like Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich, and Xavier Henry. The good news for the Jayhawks? They actually return everyone else from a team that had as much talent top to bottom as anyone in the country. The Morris twins will be back on the front line, and its not a stretch to think that Marcus could end up being a first team all-american. Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey, two talented freshmen that didn't see many minutes last season, should also thrive in expanded roles. The back court will, once again, be loaded for Kansas. Josh Selby, if he gets eligible, should be an adequate replacement for Collins as a playmaker at the point. If he isn't, Tyshawn Taylor also returns and should be expected to play an expanded role this year as well. Brady Morningstar and Tyrell Reed will be back to play their roles, and don't be surprised if Travis Releford or Elijah Johnson prove to be playmakers if and when they get a chance. While the Jayhawks lost some star power, this is still a team with a very deep, very talented roster that will compete for a Big XII title, maybe even a Final Four, depending on how some of their bench guys from last season develop.


3. Baylor: Scott Drew's club is losing both Ekpe Udoh and Tweety Carter, their best interior player and starting point guard from a year ago. Coming back, however, is LaceDarius Dunn, a Big XII player of the year candidate that was second in the league is scoring as a junior. The Bears will also once again have a very big, very athletic front line headlined by freshman phenom Perry Jones. Jones is a kid with a ton of potential -- size, mobility, perimeter skills -- but he lacks some aggressiveness and assertiveness. His partner up front is 6'7" junior Quincy Acy, an athletic freak that quite possibly could be the hardest dunker in the country. Rounding out the Bears front line is Anthony Jones, a 6'10" lefty with three point range, Cody Jefferson, a highly regarded recruit that didn't get many minutes as a freshman, and 6'8" junior Fred Ellis. The issue for Baylor is going to be their back court, specifically at the point. AJ Walton had a promising start to his freshman season, starting the first four games for Baylor with Carter out. Walton, who proved to be a solid defender as well, will need to be able to fill the void left by Carter. Nolan Dennis, another highly regarded sophomore that saw limited minutes, will be counted on for increased production as well. whie freshman point guard Stargell Love will see time. Baylor has a star in Dunn and size and athleticism up front. Depending on how guys like Jones, Acy, Dennis, and (especially) Walton develop, Baylor could very well finish in the top three or four in the league.


4. Missouri: You know what you are going to get with Mizzou. They are going to pressure you defensively, using their 40 minutes of hell defense. While the Tigers lose a couple of key role players -- JT Tiller, Zaire "Mr. Big Shot" Taylor, Keith Ramsey -- there is still quite a bit of talent on this roster. It starts in the back court, where leading scorer Kim English and offensive sparkplug Marcus Denmon both return. Promising point guard Michael Dixon also returns, and with the addition of Ricky Kreklow and Phil (freshman) and Matt (JuCo transfer) Pressey, the sons of Paul Pressey, Mike Anderson will be able to go six deep on the perimeter. On the front line, Laurence Bowers and Justin Safford are both versatile 6'8" forwards that are athletic, can defend, and have three point range. Junior Steve Moore, sophomore John Underwood, and freshman Kadeem Green will also see time up front. Perhaps the biggest knock suffered by Mizzou this offseason was the investigation into Tony Mitchell. Mitchell is the kind of versatile, athletic forward that thrives in Mizzou's system. Even without him, this is a tournament team that, possibly a top four team in the league.


5. Texas: The Longhorns were quite the disappointment last season. A preseason national title favorite that climbed to No. 1 in the country, the 'Horns stumbled down the stretch, eventually being ousted in the first round by Wake Forest. While the Longhorns lose a ton of talent -- Damion James, Avery Bradley, Dexter Pittman, Justin Mason -- this roster was as equipped as any to handle it. In the back court, J'Covan Brown, Jordan Hamilton, and Jai Lucas are back, while Dogus Balbay should be back to full strength after suffering a season ending injury last season. The best Longhorn guard may just end up being Cory Joseph, a top ten recruit out of Canada that could very well be the starter at the point from day one. Don't be surprised is Jordan Hamilton becomes a dangerous player for Rick Barnes. He's a gunner, but if he can learn some shot selection, the kid can really put up points in a hurry. The front court is a bit thinner than it was last year, with Gary Johnson, Alexis Wangmene, and seldom-used Shawne Williams all back. Like the guards, the best big man of the group will likely end up being Tristan Thompson, Joseph's high school teammate at Findlay Prep and fellow Canadian. I don't think the Longhorns can win a Big XII title this season, but a top four finish and possibly a Sweet 16 run are not out of the question.


6. Texas A&M: It was a rough year to be an Aggie, between Derrick Roland's leg, Tobi Oyedeji's unfortunate passing, and the loss of Brian Davis and Donald Sloan. The cupboard is far from bare, however. BJ Holmes and Dash Harris both looked like they could develop into good players in the Big XII, especially with the amount of minutes opening up in the Aggie back court. Expect sophomore Naji Hibbert to see an increased role on the perimeter as well. Up front, A&M has a fairly solid rotation. David Loubeau may be primed for a break out season, as he looked very impressive last season, and with Khris Middleton, Ray Turner, and Nathan Walkup returning and three freshman coming into the program at 6'8" or taller, the Aggies once again look like they are going to be a physical defensive team. Mark Turgeon's clubs have never been flashy. They grind you out and win games through execution and defense. This team is loaded with offensive firepower, but if a couple of guys develop and this group continues to play the way Turgeon wants them to, this group should be, at the least, in the bubble conversation come February.


7. Colorado: The Buffaloes, perennially a Big XII doormat, finished eighth in the league last year and stand to make another jump this season. Colorado, who lost head coach Jeff Bzdelik to Wake Forest in the spring, return essentially their entire starting line-up, including Alec Burks and Cory Higgins. Burks and Higgins are two of the most underrated players in the country, mainly because they play for a Colorado team that rarely gets national exposure. They play different styles -- Burks is more of a slasher and a small forward, while Higgins is one of those crafty scoring guards with "old-man" game -- but combined, they averaged over 35 ppg. Burks was also the team's leading rebounder. Also returning is Marcus Relphorde, a forward who transferred in from Indian Hill CC, that is a solid defender and led the team in threes. Beyond that, Colorado doesn't have a ton of talent on their roster. Nate Tomlinson is a decent point guard, there are a couple of capable bigs, and new head coach Tad Boyle will have two freshman at his disposal. This team will ride their big two, but if the Buffs can get a bench and a couple of other role players stepping up alongside Relphorde, there is a decent shot this team makes a run at the tournament.


8. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys lost their two leading scorers in James Anderson and Obi Muonelo, but the rest of the roster is returning for Travis Ford. And while the 35 ppg that those two provided is a lot to replace, there are some pieces on this roster. Keiton Page and Ray Penn are both undersized in the back court, but make no mistake that both are talented kids. Nick Sidorakis and Fred Gulley should both see expanded roles in the back court as well, with freshman Markel Brown also getting some valuable minutes. A big issue the Cowboys are going to face losing Muonelo is that he was a good enough rebounder at 6'4" that he was able to play the four. It will be interesting to see how Ford handles that change. Don't be surprised if Marshall Moses and Matt Pilgrim start to play more together, but there are still going to be quite a few minutes to be earned. Last year's crop of newcomers -- Roger Franklin, Torin Walker, Jarrid Shaw -- had quite first years, with Franklin the only one cracking the rotation. This year, four newbies -- freshmen Michael Cobbins (a top 50 recruit and Ford's best newcomer) and Brian Williams, Juco transfers Darrell Williams and JP Olukemi -- will have a good chance at earning playing time. The Cowboys will be a borderline tournament team this season, but the future looks good in Stillwater.


9. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders got off to a hot start last season, but thanks to a late losing streak fell (way) out of contention for an NCAA bid. The good news is that Tech brings back seven of their top nine, including leading scorers forward Mike Singletary and point guard Jon Roberson. Singletary and Roberson form one of the better 1-2 punches in the league. Tech is much more than just those two, however. David Tairu is a tough kid that should start alongside Roberson in the back court. Brad Reese, D'walyn Roberts, Theron Jenkins, and Robert Lewandowski form a solid quartet of front court players. I like the make up of this roster -- a lot of experience (nine upperclassmen, seven seniors), a lot of tough kids, two go-to players. The question will be whether Pat Knight can make it all come together on the defensive end of the floor.


10. Nebraska: Like Colorado, the Cornhuskers will be playing their final season in the Big XII. But unlike the Buffaloes, Nebraska doesn't look like they will make much noise in the league on their way out the door. If the Huskers are anything, they are big. With Brian Diaz returning and Christopher Niemann (hopefully) getting healthy after back-to-back acl tears, Nebraska will be able to boast two seven foot centers. Also expect a big season out of 6'8" forward Christian Standhardinger, who averaged 8.1 ppg and 4.8 rpg in a super productive 15 mpg after missing the first 15 games of the year with eligibility issues. Brandon Richardson, Eshaunte Jones, and Lance Jeter give the Huskers an adequate back court, but there is simply not enough talent on this roster to give Nebraska a shot at competing in the league.


11. Oklahoma: Jeff Capel is facing quite the rebuilding process in Norman. Many expected the Sooners to be a top 25 team last season, but injuries and attitude problems kept Oklahoma near the bottom of the league. And now, with their top four scorers gone, Capel will be playing this season with, essentially, one returning upperclassmen -- senior shooting guard Cade Davis. The cupboard isn't completely bare. Steven Pledger and Andrew Fitzgerald both showed flashes of promise as freshmen. Capel also brings in seven newcomers, headlined by top 50 small forward Cameron Clark. The biggest issue Capel is going to face this season is a lack of size inside, as there are really only three post players on the entire roster. It will be a while before the Sooners are competing for the Big XII title in hoops again.


12. Iowa State: Fred Hoiberg is going to have a long season in his first year back at Iowa State. His two best players -- Craig Brackins and Marqus Gilstrap -- are both pursuing professional careers. Lucca Staiger left the team midseason for to return to Germany. Charles Boozer was kicked out. Their home court was flooded. Its so bad in Ames that Greg McDermott left to return to the MVC and Creighton, which may actually be the better job. Senior Diante Garrett is a bright spot for the Cyclones, and he may be the only one. I can honestly say that Iowa State could go winless in the Big XII, and I wouldn't be that surprised.

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The Big XII's Big Monday schedule released

ESPN and the Big XII have released their portion of the Big Monday schedule, seen below.


It kicks off with a unique beginning on Martin Luther King, Jr., day. Kansas State will play at Missouri at 4:30 pm, followed by Kansas heading to Baylor in a nightcap at 8:30 pm. All four of those teams should be top 25 clubs, which makes Monday must see basketball. (The Big East's Big Monday schedule isn't out yet, but I'm assuming they will also have two games on the schedule.)

In general, the conference did a pretty good job of getting their best teams, and biggest draws, on the schedule. Kansas and Kansas State both play four times. Missouri, Baylor, and Texas both play twice. Texas A&M and Oklahoma State both play once. Colorado is probably the only team that has a shot at making the NCAA Tournament that won't be playing on Big Monday, but with the school's defection to the Pac-10, is it any wonder why?

The one question I have is why Kansas and Texas aren't playing on Big Monday. Those are the two best programs in the conference, and while they aren't going to be the two best teams in the country this season, the Jayhawks and the Longhorns have developed a nice rivalry. Wouldn't Kansas-Texas make more sense on the opening double-header than Kansas-Baylor?
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Conference Tournament Preview: The Big XII

Where: Ford Sprint Center, Oklahoma Kansas City

When: March 10th-13th

Final: 6:00 pm ESPN




Favorite: Kansas Jayhawks

Most people would agree that Kansas is the favorite to win the national title, so why wouldn't they be the favorite to win the Big XII? You know about the Jayhawks by now. Sherron Collins is their senior leader at the point. Cole Aldrich is their horse on the block. Xavier Henry is the stud freshman averaging 15 a game on the wing, his shooting a key to the Jayhawks success. Marcus Morris and Tyshawn Taylor are stars waiting for their turn to shine. After watching Kansas go 29-2 and roll through the best conference in college basketball with a 15-1 record, is there anything about the Jayhawks that I need to tell you about?


And if they lose?: Kansas State Wildcats and Baylor Bears

Kansas State and Baylor are both very good basketball teams led by very talented back courts. When you talk about K-State's Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente, the first thing you have to mention is the three point shooting ability. When either of those two gets going, 30 is well within reach. Where Clemente is quicker and better getting out in transition, Pullen's smooth play and craftiness in the paint makes im the more effective option in the half court. After those two, the K-State offense often times becomes a throw-it-up-and-go-get-the-board system. There are few teams in the country that can match the Wildcat's size, athleticism, and aggressive along their front line. How good are they? Jamar Samuels comes off the bench.

Both the Wildcats and the Bears have a shot are winning the Big XII tourney.
(photo credit: Dallas News)

Where K-State is a team that is going to play aggressive man-to-man defense, whether it is in the full court of the half court, Baylor is a zoning team. A poor man's Syracuse, the Bears are long and athletic and make it very tough to score on the first shot. Their biggest issue defensively is that they struggle on the defensive glass at times and do not force many turnovers, which are the standard knocks on zone teams. Offensively, their offense centers around the stellar play of Tweety Carter -- who has developed into one of the best playmaking scoring point guards in the country -- and the sweet shooting Lace Dunn.


Don't count out: Texas A&M Aggies and Missouri Tigers

The Aggies have been one of the more pleasant surprises this season. No one thought much of this team early in the season, and the were more and last deposited in the back of the nation's collective mind after the grizzly leg injury suffered by Derrick Roland at Washington earlier this year. But Mark Turgeon has done a great job with this group. They play a tough, phsyical brand of basketball, led by point guard Donald Sloan, who has emerged as their go-to scorer. Brian Davis has been his usual self on the block all season long, while the emergence of David Loubeau as another threat inside has made the Aggies that much more complete.

Texas A&M and Missouri play very contrasting styles.
(photo credit: STL Today)

There may not be a team in this conference that runs a more effective system than the Missouri Tigers. Based on their lineup alone, this is probably not a team that deserves mention as a Big XII contender, but with a slew of tough, physical, athletic guards and some length along their front line, the 40 minutes of hell defense preached by Mike Anderson has made Mizzou a threat to win everytime they step on the floor.


Sleeper: Texas Longhorns

Its not often that you see a team that has been No. 1 in the country be called a sleeper for anything, but that is exactly the case for Texas. Something has happened to the Longhorns over the last two months of the season, turning them from a title contender to a team that may not make it out of the first round of either the Big XII or the NCAA Tournament. But the Longhorns have talent, they have size, and if they can ever put it all together, this is a team that can win some games.


Names you need to know:

• James Anderson, Oklahoma State: Anderson won the Big XII player of the year award, and rightfully so. The 6'6" shooting guard may be the most dangerous scorer in the country. He averages 22.9 ppg and has range out to about 30 feet. When he gets it going, he has the ability to get 40 in a given night. But the most important part about Anderson's game is that the attention he draws opens up space for guys like Keiton Page and Obi Muonelo to operate. Marshall Moses and Matt Pilgrim have become an underrated front court tandem as well. The Pokes can beat anyone in the league, as evidenced by the fact they are the only league team to beat Kansas, but if there is an achilles heel to this team it is at the point -- they lost Ray Penn for the season -- and their relative lack of depth.


• Ekpe Udoh, Baylor: Few players are more improved than Udoh this year, as he has skyrocketed up NBA Draft boards this season. His ability on the defensive end has never been questioned, as he is an excellent shot blocker and rebounder. But his development into an honest-to-goodness threat on the offensive end makes him one of the tougher matchups in the conference; he can score in the post, but he also has a decent jump shot and face up game.
  


• Alec Burks and Cory Higgins, Colorado: Its too bad that the Buffaloes don't have much support for these two, because Burks and Higgins can flat out ball as they averaged a combined 36 ppg. Behind these two, the Buffs have been much more competitive than expected this season. They won six league games, including an upset of Baylor. They came very close to getting wins against Gonzaga, Texas A&M, Kansas State, and even took the Jayhawks to overtime. Big XII teams better not overlook Colorado in this tournament.


• Kim English, Missouri: English is the prototype for a player in the Mizzou system. He is and athletic, 6'6" wing that can knock down threes. The leading scorer for the Tigers, English is capable of carrying Mizzou when he gets hot.
  

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The Big XII is a tough place to win on the road

After Colorado and Kansas State both defended their home court last night, the Big XII, as a conference, is a staggering 114-1 at home on the season. The next closest conference is the ACC, whose teams are a meager 97-12 at home.

(*Bonus points for anyone that can name the one home loss.)

The stats get more impressive from there.

Eight teams have home winning streaks of at least 11 games. Missouri and Kansas have the two longest, at 30 and 51 games, respectively. In comparison, seven Big East teams have lost more than one home game. 60% of the Pac-10 has lost more than one home game.

So my question is, when will the next home loss come?

Well, tonight actually.

Texas plays at Iowa State, Kansas plays at Nebraska, and Missouri plays at Texas Tech. I wouldn't be surprised if all three road team wons, tripling the number of home losses in the Big XII in one night.

(*The answer? Iowa State lost 63-60 at home to Northern Iowa on December 2nd.)

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