O Explosion
Nearly half the Big 12 schools are averaging more than 500 yards a game, led by NCAA pacesetter Missouri at 595.5. Texas Tech is third nationally at 572.8, Oklahoma fourth at 556.7 and Oklahoma State fifth at 546.0. Texas is ninth at 502.3. Kansas ranks 15th at 473.0.
Let’s Throw
In this week’s NCAA stats, Texas Tech leads the country in passing offense with Missouri third, Kansas fifth, Oklahoma seventh, Kansas State eighth and Texas 11th.
Scoreboard Busters
Oklahoma and Missouri rank 1-2 respectively in NCAA scoring this week. The Sooners are averaging 54.7 points a game. Missouri is at 53.8.
Meier Co-Leader
Kansas’ Kerry Meier and Rice’s James Casey share the NCAA lead in receptions. Each has 37. Meier had a career day against Sam Houston State with eight catches for 136 yards and his first TD of the season.
Branstetter Ranked
KU’s Jacob Branstetter is among the NCAA leaders in field goals with six made in seven tries. Branstetter, a transfer from Air Force who didn’t play in the opener, misfired on a 36-yarder in the third quarter against Sam Houston State, but drilled a 24-yard chip shot later in the same period.
Aggies Lagging
First-year coach Mike Sherman is off to a 1-2 start at Texas A&M and statistics tell the story. The Aggies rank last in the Big 12 in both total offense and total defense.
Cyclones’ Road Woes
After Saturday night’s 34-31 overtime loss at UNLV, Iowa State has dropped 13 straight games outside of Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones have four more road trips this fall – to Baylor, Oklahoma State, Colorado and Kansas State.
Who’s (Best) on Third?
So far Kansas is the Big 12’s most efficient team on third down. The Jayhawks have converted 39 of 67 third-down attempts, or 58.2 percent. Oklahoma State is second at 52.9 percent.
Red Zone Perfection
Oklahoma is 18-for-18 within the red zone. When the Sooners are inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, they have posted 17 touchdowns and one field goal.
Harrell Unharried
Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell has thrown a Big 12-high 186 passes in four games, and he’s been sacked just once. KU’s Todd Reesing has tossed 179 aeriels and been sacked five times.
Kansas Ball Hogs
No school has done a better job of keeping its defense off the field than Kansas. The Jayhawks’ lead the league by maintaining offensive possession for more than 34 minutes a game.
Golden kick
How’s this for a game-winning prize? After booting the winning kick last week to give Colorado a 17-14 overtime victory against then-No. 21 West Virginia, Aric Goodman was awarded a scholarship by Colorado coach Dan Hawkins.
OSU backs thriving
Thanks to Oklahoma State running roughshod over former KU coach Terry Allen’s Missouri State defense last week, three Cowboys rank in the Top 10 in Big 12 rushing stats, including leader Kendall Hunter, who is averaging 149.7 yards a game.
ISU forcing turnovers
Iowa State boasts a Big 12-leading dozen takeaways (five fumbles, seven interceptions), but the Cyclones also lead the league in giveaways with seven (four lost fumbles, three interceptions).
Time on KU’s side
Time of possession isn’t always a true indicator of performance, but it’s a gold-star statistic for Kansas. The Jayhawks lead the Big 12 by maintaining possession for 33 minutes and 46 seconds. Kansas State is second at 31:24.
Meier grabs early lead
Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree is generally regarded as the Big 12’s best pass-catcher, but Crabtree ranks second in this week’s receiving stats with 24. Kansas’ Kerry Meier is the leader with 29. However, Crabtree has five touchdowns receptions, whereas Meier has none.
Flags haven’t cost TTU
Texas Tech is 3-0 despite being the most heavily penalized team in the league. Coach Mike Leach’s Red Raiders have been flagged 35 times for an average of 103.7 yards per game. Kansas, by contrast, has been penalized just 17 times for an average of 53.0 yards per game.
Here’s when each conference school plays in the NCAA Tournament:
¢ No. 1 Kansas: 11:25 a.m. Thursday vs. No. 16 Portland State
¢ No. 2 Texas: 1:50 p.m. Friday vs. No. 15 Austin Peay
¢ No. 6 Oklahoma: 6:10 p.m. Friday vs. No. 11 Saint Joseph’s
¢ No. 9 Texas A&M: 6:25 p.m. Thursday vs. No. 8 BYU
¢ No. 11 Kansas State: 6:10 p.m. Thursday vs. No. 6 USC
¢ No. 11 Baylor: 1:40 p.m. Thursday vs. No. 6 Purdue
Martin relishes bid
So how much sleep did Kansas State coach Frank Martin get after he found out the Wildcats were a No. 11 seed and would face No. 6 USC?
“Not very much,” Martin said. “But for the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, I’d go six days without sleep.”
Enemies become friends?
The Jayhawks and Wildcats will both be in Omaha, Neb., for their first-round games this week. Martin hoped fans from both schools would root for each other and for the Big 12 Conference.
“We need them,” Martin said of KU fans. “We’re playing a heck of a team in Southern Cal. “I know (KU) has great fans and we have great fans. Nothing would make me happier to see the KU faithful in our corner this weekend.”
Sadler settles for NIT
Nebraska earned a No. 3 seed in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and will play host to No. 6 Charlotte at 8 tonight in the 32-team tournament.
“Even though it’s not the tournament we want to be in, it’s another step in the right direction,” NU coach Doc Sadler said. “We’ll have 12 guys returning next year, so that gives them something to feed back on.”
The Huskers won five of their final eight games to finish at 19-12.
OU benefits from time
The fact that the Sooners play Friday is likely beneficial. OU has been slowed by injuries. Starters Longar Longar (broken bone in foot) and Blake Griffin (knee) played through the pain in the Big 12 tournament.
“In conference games, we’ve had four to five games that we’ve been without one of our top two scorers and rebounders in Blake and Longar,” OU coach Jeff Capel said. “But the people who know me know that I’m a no-excuse person. You have to find a way to overcome adversity and obstacles, and this team has done that. At this time of year, if you’re not hurt or sore, then you’re not playing hard enough.”
Johnson probable for UT
Texas freshman forward Gary Johnson, who suffered a high right ankle sprain in UT’s Big 12 tournament victory against Oklahoma State, should be able to play in Friday’s game against Austin Peay. Johnson missed the Big 12 tournament championship game against Kansas.
Capel lauds St. Joe’s
Capel was asked what he anticipated from OU’s first round opponent, Saint Joseph’s, in the East region.
“Obviously, (Pat) Calathes is a good player,” Capel said of the Saint Joseph’s guard/forward, who averages 17.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. “He scores, he rebounds, he gets defensive rebounds, he leads the break.”
The Hawks also have a former Big 12 player on their team: guard Tasheed Carr, who played for Iowa State his freshman and sophomore campaigns. Carr averages 10.9 points per game this season.
Drew’s heartbeat rises
Baylor coach Scott Drew was asked what his heartbeat level was when he learned that the NCAA nominating committee chose the Bears with the final spot in the tournament.
“It was high,” Drew said. “But when it got to 64, it was even higher. Looking back at it, there was a lot of stress and anxiety.
The first game of the Big 12 tournament, which will feature Oklahoma State against Texas Tech at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, will carry a prominent coaching storyline.
OSU’s Sean Sutton and TTU’s Pat Knight are both in the beginning stages of taking over programs from their respective fathers, Eddie Sutton and Bob Knight.
“It’s kind of a unique situation,” Texas Tech assistant coach Bubba Jennings said. “Both guys have done a great job. They’re really good friends. I know after games, they talk to each other all the time.”
¢Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik, who spent two seasons coaching the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, was asked questions about several Big 12 players and their potential futures in the NBA. His responses:
For Nebraska center Aleks Maric: “He can shoot the ball, he’s a wonderful passer and he’s very physical,” Bzdelik said. “You’re not going to move him around really easily. He has a great work ethic from what I understand and that’s obvious on the way he’s developed his game. There’s no reason he can’t be on an NBA roster next year.”
For Texas point guard D.J. Augustin: “I actually use him as an example to my young players,” Bzdelik said. “How (Augustin) uses his body to drive – he has a tremendous taste for the game. He’s going to be the in the league for a long time.”
Any concerns about his height (listed at 6-0)?
“No, I don’t have any,” Bzdelik said. “When I speak at camps, I talk about John Stockton (6-1), Steve Nash (6-3), Earl Boykins (5-5), Muggsy Bogues (5-3), Tyronn Lue (6-0). There’s a host of players, to be quite frank, who might be listed at 6-0 or 6-1, but they’re not any bigger than I am. And I’m 5-11, depending on what kind of shoes I wear. My point is (Augustin) plays big.”
For Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin: “He’s skilled and has really good hands and that’s a great quality the NBA looks for,” Bzdelik said. “When we played them here, I was watching him in pre-game warmup. He has a nice faceup shot. The ball comes off his fingers well. With a lot of reps, he could be a real nice perimeter shooter to compliment his inside game. He could have a long NBA career.”
¢Kansas State coach Frank Martin said he’s tough on point guard Jacob Pullen for a reason.
“There’s no relationship like a coach and a point guard, a coach and a quarterback or the manager and the pitcher,” Martin said. “That’s where it all starts, and if the point guard isn’t on the same page as the coach, you’re going to have some inconsistencies as a basketball team. I’ve always been harder on point guards because I need (the team) to understand what needs to get done and (Pullen) relays that to the rest of the team.
“And Jake’s a freshman. We didn’t need him to take three years to grow up. We needed him to grow up in one month. It’s not like high school when you say, ‘I’m tired so I’ll take a possession off.’ The second you do that in the Big 12, you get beat.”
¢Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel seemed perfectly content with the location of this year’s Big 12 tournament.
“You have Michael Beasley, the best player in the country,” Capel said. “You have D.J. (Augustin), the best point guard in the country. Then you have Texas and Kansas, who you could put in the argument for two of the best teams in the country. Kansas City’s a great basketball city. We’re excited to be a part of it.”
Nobody saw this season coming from Texas. Nobody would have guessed they would tie Kansas for a Big 12 Conference title.
Yet as remarkable as the Longhorns doing that is, in retrospect, what KU pulled off in the Big 12 two seasons ago is even more amazing.
That Texas team had Daniel Gibson and LaMarcus Aldridge, both scoring in double figures presently for their NBA teams. And neither guy was the best player on the team. That was P.J. Tucker.
KU started three freshmen and two sophomores, tied Texas for the regular season title and defeated the Longhorns in the Big 12 Conference tourney title game. That was even more amazing than what Texas has done this year.
– Tom Keegan
Turgeon baffled lately
Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon wasn’t exactly pleased with the Aggies’ recent inconsistencies. For instance, A&M beat Texas Tech by 44 points on Feb. 27, then lost to Oklahoma, 64-37, the next game.
“This is probably the most frustrating season I’ve been through as a coach,” Turgeon said. “With that said, we’ve still won 21 games. But the ups and downs are unexplainable. You don’t win by 44 one game, then lose like we did.”
A&M (21-8) is 7-7 in conference play.
Big 12 No. 2 in RPI
The Big 12 Conference now has the second-highest Ratings Percentage Index in the nation. As of Sunday, the conference had seven teams in the Top 50 of the RPI, which calculates a team’s winning percentage (50 percent), its opponents’ winning percentage (25 percent) and the opponents’ opponents winning percentage (25 percent).
“I’d be disappointed if we don’t get six teams in,” Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton said of the NCAA Tournament.
The Cowboys (16-12) have now won five straight conference games to even their Big 12 record to 7-7. Sutton has mentioned in the past that five games ago, he set a goal for his team in the locker room to win its final seven games. Five down, two to go.
Griffin to miss time
Oklahoma standout freshman Blake Griffin underwent knee surgery Sunday and will miss the Sooners’ last two regular-season games. Coach Jeff Capel said he expected Griffin to return in time for the Big 12 Tournament on March 13.
Griffin, who averages 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, tore the medial meniscus in the first half of Saturday’s victory over Texas Tech. He actually returned in the second half and scored 10 points and grabbed five boards, despite the injury.
“We didn’t know the extent of the injury at the time,” Capel said. “He’s played as well as anyone in this league in the last five or six games. I wouldn’t trade him for anyone in the country.”
Rush/Rogers honored
KU’s Brandon Rush and Baylor’s Kevin Rogers were named the Big 12 Players of the Week.
Rush went off for 21 points against Kansas State on Saturday. Rush leads the Jayhawks in Big 12 play with 14.2 points per contest.
Rogers, a 6-foot-9 junior out of Dallas, has averaged 18 points and 11.5 rebounds in Baylor’s last two victories, over Colorado and Missouri.
Bears break out razors
Baylor coaches made a deal with their players toward the end of February that for each game the Bears won, an assistant coach would have to shave his head. The Bears have won three straight games. They’d still have to win their final two regular season games, then reach the Big 12 Tournament championship to apply the razor to head coach Scott Drew.
“Right now, I’m good with my hair,” Drew said. “They have to keep winning if they want to see it any different.”
Tough season expected
Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik had a rather candid response when asked about the Buffaloes’ 11-17 record (3-11 conference).
“What’s happened is fully what I expected to happen,” the first-year coach said. “I knew we weren’t a very good rebounding team. I knew we weren’t going to be a very good defensive team. I knew we would struggle to score at times.
“There’s a lot of things being done that aren’t reflected into wins: Facilities, culture, environment, tangible evidence that there’s an investment in the basketball program that’s never been done here before. I almost have to giggle if anybody thought we’d be doing better than what we’re doing right now.”
Augustin receives honor
Texas sophomore D.J. Augustin was named the Big 12 Player of the Week.
Augustin has been instrumental in UT’s eight-game winning streak. He averaged 23 points and six assists in the Longhorns’ two victories last week.
Augustin presently leads the conference in assists (5.93 per game) and ranks second in scoring (19.3).
“He’s the best point guard in the country,” Kansas State coach Frank Martin said of Augustin. “He’s a ferocious competitor. Guys who play with him get easy shots after easy shots.”
The Longhorns have fed off Augustin defensively as well. Texas has held its last three opponents to an average of 53.3 points per game.
“That’s why Texas can go to UCLA and win,” Martin said. “It’s why they can beat Kansas at home, because of who he is. In my two years of watching him play, I think he’s unbelievable. And if, for some reason, you foul him, it’s going in the basket. That’s an open and shut case.”
Augustin is a 79 percent foul shooter on the season.
Capel praises Griffin
Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel was asked if he could compare Sooners freshman Blake Griffin to any of Capel’s former teammates when he played for Duke.
“I played with a guy who was a heck of a rebounder in Cherokee Parks, but Chief was different than Blake,” Capel said. “I haven’t been around a guy (Griffin) with that kind of size, strength and athleticism. He’s not afraid to be physical and actually enjoys contact.
Miller very doubtful
Nebraska coach Doc Sadler said starting point guard Cookie Miller was “very doubtful” for today’s home game against Oklahoma. Miller suffered a severe shoulder sprain in Saturday’s victory against Texas A&M.
“With him playing 30 minutes a game, it’s going to impact us,” Sadler said of the freshman. “(Point guard) is the hardest position on the court. You have to have a feel for the game and make that pass half a second earlier than someone else. The good news is we have two other guys with some experience who practice that position every day.”
Sophomores Sek Henry and Jay-R Strowbridge would see increased time with Miller out.
TTU guards improving
Texas Tech coach Pat Knight said he’s been pleased with the development of his guards, namely Martin Zeno and Alan Voskuil.
“If you look at the teams playing well, they have good scorers at home and on the road,” Knight said. “(Zeno and Voskuil) had a tendency to stand a little much. It’d be five to 10 minutes where they wouldn’t get a bucket. If they keep moving and cutting in our offense, that’s the main thing.
Voskuil has averaged 19.4 points in Tech’s last five games, while Zeno has averaged 17.4 in that span.
Drew doesn’t mind call
Baylor coach Scott Drew was asked if senior guard Aaron Bruce should have been called for the foul that sent Oklahoma’s Tony Crocker to the line for a four-point play on Feb. 19. OU eventually won in overtime, 92-91.
“The official called it, so it must have been (a foul),” Drew said. “OU made tough shots and they won that game, so give them credit.”
Game of the week
Kansas State at Kansas, 8 p.m. Saturday. Jayhawks seeking revenge for Jan. 30.
Big things were expected of Texas A&M this season because the Aggies returned starters Joseph Jones, Josh Carter and Dominique Kirk, along with key reserves and touted recruit DeAndre Jordan.
So why is A&M running fourth in the Big 12? No, not because of the coaching change from Billy Gillispie to Mark Turgeon.
The Aggies aren’t as good as last year because they no longer have guard Acie Law, who was the best clutch shooter in the nation a year ago, repeatedly turning what looked like losses into victories, including his huge three-point shot over Brandon Rush in Allen Fieldhouse.
A&M misses Captain Clutch, who is averaging 4.2 points per game for the Atlanta Hawks, more than it misses its former coach, who has heard boos in his new job at Kentucky.
– Tom Keegan
Capel reflects on coach K
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is three wins shy of 800 for his career, which would put him one short of San Francisco coach Eddie Sutton, who is fifth all-time with 801 victories.
Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel played for Coach K from 1993-1997.
Capel didn’t want to jinx Krzyzewski and congratulate him early, but he had several memorable stories.
“One of the funniest things ever – well, it wasn’t funny at the time – but my freshman year before Duke-Carolina at Chapel Hill, we were doing shoot-around,” Capel recalled. “It was time to roll the ball over to the managers, and I was standing next to the ball rack, so I reached down to pick one up. Coach came in cursing, asking what I was doing. He said, ‘Here at Duke, we don’t walk around picking up sea shells.’ This guy dives on the floor and says, ‘This is my ball. This ball has Duke on it.'”
Capel said Krzyzewski dove on the floor in the locker room – nice suit and all – a few times during Capel’s day when the coach felt Duke wasn’t playing hard.
Wildcat freshman shines
Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week. Beasley’s 40 points against Missouri was three shy of the Big 12 single-game record.
Best player in the nation?
“That’s not for me to decide,” Kansas State coach Frank Martin said. “I can tell you, though, I wouldn’t want to coach anyone else but him.”
Longar plays with pain
Oklahoma senior center Longar Longar missed only two games because of a broken bone above his right foot. He returned to action last week against Iowa State.
“Your first thought is, ‘I can’t play,'” Capel said. “It shows the commitment he has to this team and the program. I don’t know how many kids who would play with a broken bone in their leg. We had actually been treating him for a stress fracture since Jan. 12, so he was ahead in his treatment.”
Longar hasn’t practiced this week.
Knight dishes out credit
After David Godbold’s game-winning three-pointer at Texas Tech on Saturday, TTU coach Pat Knight said he had no problem with the Red Raiders’ defensive scheme.
“He had only hit one shot all game. From that deep? Give the kid credit,” Knight said of Godbold’s 28-footer. “That was a hell of a shot. It’s not like it clanked around the rim either. It hit nothing but net.”
OSU guard honored
Oklahoma State’s Byron Eaton was named the Big 12’s Player of the Week.
The junior averaged 21 points per game in OSU’s victories against Baylor and Texas A&M.
“He’s had total control of the game at both ends,” OSU coach Sean Sutton said during Monday’s weekly Big 12 Teleconference. “When he’s being aggressive and getting to the free-throw line, we’re winning games.”
Eaton went 14-of-16 from the line against Baylor on Feb. 13.
Sadler impressed with duo
Nebraska coach Doc Sadler joked when asked about the impact Beasley and Bill Walker have had on the Big 12.
“I think most of us would like to have one of those guys, but they have two guys averaging 40 points a game,” he quipped. “We have a hard time as a team scoring 40 points. They’re two pros.”
Game of the week
Texas at Kansas State, 8 p.m. Monday. Could have an impact on first place in the Big 12 Conference.
