It was a bit weird with the absence of a Big Monday hoops game last night. I was all excited to have the night off and I got stuck with those mid-major conference championships. I suppose the close games were fun to watch, but only toward the end.
I think I’m ready for the big boys to play on Wednesday.
Speaking of which, the Big 12 weekly coaches teleconference took place earlier on Monday. Here are some highlights from the call to get you ready for the Big 12 tournament, scheduled to begin Wednesday at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City:
KU coach Bill Self spoke about how many Big 12 teams he thought would make the NCAA Tournament:
“People perceived this to be a down year (in Big 12), but there’s probably more good teams in the league right now than there has been since I’ve been in the league for six years,” Self said. “I do think we’ll get six teams in. A few weeks ago, people were saying we’d only get three or four. I think we’re closer to six or seven.”
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My take: The most teams the conference has ever sent to the NCAA Tournament is six (2008, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000). My guess is the conference gets six in this year (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State). K-State could be the odd team out.
Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon spoke about the Aggies’ sudden change of fortune the last few weeks. A&M (23-8) has won six straight games and finished the conference season 9-7:
“The Baylor game was probably the low point,” Turgeon said of the Feb. 14 loss to Baylor, which dropped A&M to 3-7 in conference at the time. “(Junior guard) Derrick Roland got everyone together and said we’re going to leave this one in the locker room. Baylor was the low point and we’ve fought back since. We became a pretty dominant home team to close the season. We’re peaking.”
My take: I fully expect A&M to beat Texas Tech in the first round of the Big 12 tournament, setting up a rematch against Missouri in the quarterfinals that would make for entertaining television.
Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford argued his case for the Cowboys to be included in the NCAA Tournament:
“If you told me at the beginning of the year that you’d have a team that’s 25 in the RPI with a top 10 strength of schedule, that has 20 wins and finished 9-7 in the league, I’d say they’re already in,” Ford said. “I think anyone in the league will tell you we’re much improved from the beginning of the year.”
My take: Oklahoma State has won six of its last seven games because it’s finally realizing the impact sophomore James Anderson can have on a game as one of the best scorers in the league. At the beginning of the year, the Cowboys would rush possessions and chuck up the first semi-looking decent three-pointer they saw. Now, they’re running the offense around Anderson, who’s averaging 24.2 points in the Cowboys last seven games. Look out for this guy in the Big 12 tournament. Barring a disastrous first-round loss to Iowa State, the Cowboys should be fine for the NCAA Tournament.
Baylor coach Scott Drew was asked if he has talked to his team yet about the NIT:
“Last year, you had Georgia get on a roll,” Drew said. “We do have experience, depth and we’re capable of playing good basketball. I think any time you have an automatic (NCAA) berth at stake, everyone focuses on that.”
My take: So basically, no NIT talk. I don’t blame Drew. He mentioned Georgia, which won the SEC tournament last year with a 13-16 overall mark and a 4-12 conference record. Baylor is 17-13 and 5-11. Stranger things have happened.
Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik spoke about what’s hurt Colorado the most this year during a 9-21 campaign:
“For the most part, my team has been competitive all year long,” Bzdelik said. “What’s hurt us is our lack of depth, lack of experience and because of our extreme youth. We get worn down physically. The last two games, Texas A&M and Kansas State, we’ve led at the half, but we just wore down.”
My take: I’ve always thought Bzdelik was one of the best quotes in the conference because he tells it like it is. It would really be neat to see this team improve over the next few years, using K-State and/or Missouri as a template for turning around a program. It helps that guard Cory Higgins (17.8 points per game) is only a sophomore.
Kansas State coach Frank Martin expressed his delight over the Big 12 tournament ending on Saturday as opposed to Sunday, when the NCAA selection committee finalizes the bracket:
“I think it’s tremendous we play the title game on Saturday now,” Martin said. “It’s a lot more beneficial to give committee members time to digest the teams in the tournament. The Big 12 has gotten short-changed in the past. It’s affected teams in the finals a heck of a lot more than other teams, as far as No. 1 and No. 2 seeds (for NCAA Tournament), which is what the Big 12 deserves every year. This gives committee members ample time.”
My take: Can’t say I disagree.
Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel was asked if he’d ever coach a guy like Blake Griffin again:
“Certainly, those guys don’t come around very often,” Capel said of Griffin. “He’s very unique and I’ve said that from the first day he came here. He’s a joy to be around and a really great example to the rest of the guys in the program. When you have that kind of size, strength and athleticism, and you match that with the work ethic and desire to be really really good, that’s really unique. You don’t find many kids like him at 19 years old with that sort of work ethic and desire. He’s worked his butt off to improve.”
My take: His 22 points and 14 rebounds per game are proof. An OU-KU finals matchup with a healthy Griffin would be a blast to watch.
Injury updates:
Two injury updates to speak of: Texas A&M’s Josh Carter and Texas’ Gary Johnson.
Turgeon said Carter, who suffered an ankle injury last Saturday against Missouri, would be a game-time decision for the Aggies’ 8:30 p.m. Wednesday tipoff against Texas Tech.
“He was pretty sore (Monday). He won’t practice (Monday),” Turgeon said. “He’s in a boot. We’re not going to jeopardize him in any way for this game, but knowing Josh, he’ll be ready to play Wednesday night.”
Johnson suffered an ankle injury on Feb. 21 against Oklahoma and missed three games for the Longhorns. He returned against Kansas last Saturday, but played only 11 minutes and scored only three points. He averages 11 points per game.
“I don’t think he’s 100 percent, but he’s OK,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said of Johnson. “I’m hoping he’ll get there in the next day or so.”
Texas faces Colorado at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
I’ll leave you guys with a hilarious Onion video on the idea of the NCAA Tournament expanding to include 4,096 teams. Thanks to my friend Joe for sending me that link.
That’s all for now, friends. As always, discuss.