Looking back on the Big Eight basketball season while wondering if the next player named Phillips to come into the league will wear No. 66 during the post-season tournament…
Why They’re Playing the Big Eight Tournament…So Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma State will have an opportunity for an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Why They’re Really Playing the Big Eight Tournament…To make money.
Unfounded Rumor…That Kansas State is abandoning Ahearn Fieldhouse for Bramlage Coliseum next season because Kansas had won five consecutive games in Ahearn.
His Team Wasn’t Consistent But He Sure Was…Iowa State coach Johnny Orr invariably made uncomplimentary remarks about the officiating after every defeat.
Lazarus Had Nothing on Kansas…The Jayhakws lost four of their first five Big Eight games – two at home – then captured eight of their last nine, including four of five on the road.
See If Leonard Hamilton Ever Receives a Christmas Card from Me…Jim Bain.
Beast Player with Same Name as a State Capiotal…Kansas State’s Mitch Richmond. Runnersup: Kansas’ Lincoln Minor and Iowa State’s St. Paul Doerrfeld.
Southpaw of the Year…Oklahoma’s Stacey King. Runnerup: Iowa State’s Lafester Rhodes.
Northpaw of the Year…Kansas’ Danny Manning. Runnerup: Iowa State’s Jeff Grayer.
Youngest Looking Old Senior…Nebraska guard Henry T. Buchanan who’ll turn 28 on May 4.
Oldest Looking Young Senior…Missouri’s Derrick Chievous who doesn’t turn 21 until July 3. Cheivous is only two weeks older than Kansas sophomore guard Kevin Pritchard.
Youngest Looking Freshman…Nebraska’s 7-2 Rich King.
Oldest Looking Freshman…Missouri’s Doug Smith. He could pass for Buchanan’s father.
Maybe He’s Mellowing…Kansas coach Larry Brown went through the entire 14-game Big Eight schedule without drawing a single technical foul. He was, however, on the bubble a couple of times.
Unsung Player of the Year…Kansas State point guard Steve Henson played practically every minute of every Big Eight game. I doubt the WIldcats would have finished second in the league race without him.
Best Big Eight Player Born in Hattiesburg, Miss…Kansas’ Danny Manning.
He’ll Be The Best Manning in the League Next Season…Nebraska junior Pete Manning.
Either He Doesn’t Have Hands or They Move So Fast You Can’t See Them…Oklahoma guard Mookie Blaylock.
We Missed Ya This Year, Ya Big Lug…Oklahoma State’s 7-4 Alan Bannister who announced before the conference season started he was transferring to Arkansas State.
Who Were Those Guys?…Kansas wore yellow uniforms while knocking off Western Carolina, 68-63, last December. Coach Larry Brown hasn’t trotted out those amber togs since, and says he won’t ever again.
Best Big Eight Player From a Foreign Country…Tossub between Nebraska’s Richard van Poelgeest, a native of the Netherlands, and Canadian Dan Becker of Colorado.
Worst Big Eight Player From a Foreigh Country…See above.
Heartwarming Moment of the Year…Kansas’ Archie Marshall, two months after suffering a career-ending knee injury, playing seven seconds with his leg in a brace in the Jayhawks’ home finale.
Maybe He Should Stick to His Fan Fare Stores…Merle Harmon, the lead play-by-play man on the conference TV network, seems to know less about Big Eight basketball than Katarina Witt.
