Kansas City, Mo ? If history means anything, just four teams have a realistic chance of winning the 2001 Big 12 men’s basketball tournament.
Teams with first round byes Kansas in 1997, ’98 and ’99 and Iowa State in 2000 are the only squads that have ever won the postseason event.
The eight teams playing today Baylor-Colorado (noon); Oklahoma State-Texas Tech (2:20 p.m.); Nebraska-Kansas State (6); Missouri-Texas A&M (8:20) would have to win four games in four days to claim the championship.
“I do think it can be done. There were a couple years we met a team in the finals playing a fourth straight day,” Kansas coach Roy Williams said.
“One year we played beat Oklahoma State in the finals. It was their fourth day in a row. Their shots were a little off. That had to do with stamina I’m sure.”
KU beat a weary Okie State team, 53-37, in the 1999 finals.
“You may start questioning, ‘Do I have enough gas in the tank to get me through?”‘ Williams said. “One year we played Missouri which was playing the fourth straight day (KU won, 87-60, in 1997). We were really good. I felt that day we’d have been tough to beat whether they played the fourth day or first day.”
A team that plays slowdown basketball or a team with great depth might have a better chance to win four games in four days.
“If you’ve got a team playing a certain tempo where stamina is not a question or if they have a significant bench, it’s a lot easier,” Williams said.
Like most everybody else, Williams has a sentimental favorite Oklahoma State and coach Eddie Sutton. The Cowboy program was shaken by a plane crash that claimed the lives of two players and eight others associated with the program.
“I think what Larry Eustachy (Iowa State coach) has done this year has been absolutely phenomenal,” Williams said of the coach who led ISU to its second straight regular-season title. “But what Eddie has done is in a completely different league because of all the things off the court.
“No way I could have done it as well as Eddie has done it. His team has gotten better and better. He’s handled all the stuff off the court like the gentle grandfather he is. He’s really been the rock for everybody, not just the players but the whole university community.
“I don’t know if he’s had time to grieve himself and take care of himself. I say to him, ‘Are you OK?’ He says, ‘I’m fine. We’ve got to take care of the other people, the players, the families.’ He is a remarkable person.”
Another possible darkhorse?
“You could make a case for Texas playing better than everybody. The last three weeks they haven’t even been in any close games,” Williams said of the 23-7 Longhorns, who have won six straight games.
“Iowa State is still the class of the league. They’re the champions. But there is some strength a long ways down the list in this league. I think it’s more wide open than it’s ever been since we formed the league.”
KU will play the winner of today’s K-State-Nebraska game at 6 p.m. Friday. The winner advances to a semifinal clash against Texas A&M, Missouri or Oklahoma at 3:20 p.m. Saturday. Two victories and KU might get another shot at Iowa State at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Jayhawks are 0-2 versus the Cyclones this season.
“Iowa State. Iowa State,” soph Drew Gooden said, asked who he’d like to meet in the tourney. “I’m 0-4 against Iowa State. Our only two losses at home are against Iowa State (past two years). Kirk (Hinrich) and Nick (Collison) have never beaten Iowa State. It’s bragging rights for them.
“But a lot has to happen before we’d play them. We have to beat either K-State or Nebraska and then another game.”
KU’s Kenny Gregory was named third-team all-Big 12 by the Associated Press this week, but second team by the coaches.
Why didn’t Gregory make first or second team AP considering he’s KU’s leading scorer at 16.1 points per game?
“Kenny is hurt maybe unfairly by his free throws,” Williams said. “Some people say, ‘How can you have a guy who in the last couple minutes can’t be in the game?’ He’s had a fantastic season.”
Gregory hits 57.3 percent of his floor shots, 40 percent of his free throws.
Gooden still wears a protective cast on his right wrist when he’s not practicing or playing in games. He has a slight fracture in the wrist.
“I keep it immobilized to let the healing process continue,” Gooden said. “The only chance I’m taking (in playing now) is by falling on it the same way I could rupture my wrist. That’s my shooting arm, my shooting hand. That’s bad news. I keep this on there so if I fall walking to class, with this brace I’d be all right.”
