Texas A&M

Big 12 Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:38:45 -0500

While Kansas may be too much for the rest of the Big 12 too handle, no league features as many intriguing individual stars (young & old) on a nightly basis. Arguably the best conference in the country.

Conference Rank: 2nd

10 year average: 5th

Big 12 Page

All-BIG 12 Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Sherron Collins	Kansas	Sr
G	Willie Warren	Oklahoma	So
G	James Anderson	Oklahoma St	Jr
F	Craig Brackins	Iowa State	Jr
C	Cole Aldrich	Kansas	Jr
Second Team
G	Denis Clemente	Kansas St	Sr
G	Avery Bradley	Texas	Fr
G	Xavier Henry	Kansas	Fr
F	Damion James	Texas	Sr
C	Bryan Davis	Texas A&M	Sr

Player of the Year - Sherron Collins Freshman of the Year - Avery Bradley
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
CHN All-Americans Cole Aldrich (1st Team) Sherron Collins (1st) Willie Warren (3rd) James Anderson (4th) Craig Brackins (4th) Avery Bradley Denis Clemente Damion James All-Freshman Team Avery Bradley (1st) Xavier Henry (1st) Keith Gallon (2nd) Jordan Hamilton (3rd) Tommy Mason-Griffin (3rd) Wally Judge		Points: Craig Brackins 20.2 Rebounds: Cole Aldrich 11.1 Assists: John Roberson 6.4 Team: Missouri 81.5

Big 12 Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

1	Kansas	Big 12	1	NCAA
5	Texas	Big 12	2	NCAA
25	Kansas State	Big 12	3	NCAA
29	Texas A&M	Big 12	4	NCAA
35	Oklahoma State	Big 12	5	NCAA
37	Oklahoma	Big 12	6	NCAA
49	Missouri	Big 12	7	NCAA
58	Baylor	Big 12	8	NIT
77	Iowa State	Big 12	9	NIT
107	Nebraska	Big 12	10	CBI/CIT
130	Texas Tech	Big 12	11
170	Colorado	Big 12	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Big 12?

Other Big 12 Content

Big 12 Fantasy Stats Preview

Big 12: Top 25 Players

Big 12: Five Year Ranking l

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Big 12 Basketball: Top 25 Players

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:42:19 -0500

Ranking players is more art then science. How do you compare the potential of freshmen with seniors who have already peaked? How much does physical talent come into play versus intangibles and experience? How big a role do numbers play?

In some situations, the bigger challenge is deciding what position to list a player. College basketball is filled with combo guards, wings who can play from the 2 to 4, centers who are really power forwards, and so on.

All of these questions make lists like this fun and debatable.. if you disagree with CHN's rankings, post what you think below.

BIG 12

PG
1. Sherron Collins - Kansas
2. Denis Clemente - Kansas State
3. Tommy Mason-Griffin - Oklahoma
4. Donald Sloan - Texas A&M
5. John Roberson - Texas Tech

SG
1. James Anderson - Oklahoma State
2. Willie Warren - Oklahoma
3. LaceDarius Dunn - Baylor
4. Cory Higgins - Colorado
5. Avery Bradley - Texas

- This is a talented set of guards overall. Warren might be the best pro prospect of the bunch, but he's still improving. Collins is one of the front-runners for national Player of the Year. Higgins is an underrated performer for Colorado.

SF
1. Damion James - Texas
2. Mike Singletary - Texas Tech
3. Obi Muonelo - Oklahoma State
4. Kim English - Missouri
5. Marqus Gilstrap - Iowa State

PF
1. Craig Brackins - Iowa State
2. Marcus Morris - Kansas
3. Gary Johnson - Texas
4. Keith Gallon - OKlahoma
5. Jamar Samuels - Kansas State

C
1. Cole Aldrich - Kansas
2. Dexter Pittman - Texas
3. Bryan Davis - Texas A&M
4. Ekpe Udoh - Baylor
5. Christopher Niemann - Nebraska

- Compared to some other leagues, the Big 12's big man crop is impressive, though the wing position isn't quite as strong. Freshman Jordan Hamilton of Texas might have more pure talent then any other SF in the league, but it might take him time to become a top-level performer.

-- SEC Top 25 Players

-- Pac-10 Top 25 Players

-- Big Ten Top 25 Players

-- Big East Top 25 Players

Big 12 Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:14:50 -0500

BIG 12 FIVE-YEAR STANDINGS

CHN's annual 5-year ranking answers a simple question is in a simple manner: Who has been the best team in the Big 12 over the last five years?

Teams get points for league wins, making the postseason (NIT or NCAA) and winning games in the Big Dance. NIT wins are meaningless here, as are non-conference wins. Also, league tournaments wins are not taken into account. (An original trial-scoring system included points for conference tourney wins. But the flukish nature of these tourney's did more harm than hurt: ie, 2008 Georgia, 2006 Syracuse, and 2004 Maryland ended up getting too much credit despite the reality that they were mediocre to sub-par teams.)

100 total points is set up to be the equivalent of batting .300 in baseball.. anything above and beyond is all-world stuff. 50 points is mediocre and you only start to get bad below 40 points.

Pos.	Was	Team	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	Wins	Gms.	Points

1	1	Kansas	12	13	14	13	14	66	80	83	Win %
			1st Round	1st Round	Elite 8	Champs	Sweet 16			30	Post Pts.
										113

2	2	Texas	9	13	12	13	9	56	80	70	Win %
			1st Round	Elite 8	2nd Round	Elite 8	2nd Round			26	Post Pts.
										96

3	5	Oklahoma	12	11	6	9	13	51	80	64	Win %
			2nd Round	1st Round	X	2nd Round	Elite 8			18	Post Pts.
										82

4	6	Texas A&M	8	10	13	8	9	48	80	60	Win %
			NIT	2nd Round	Sweet 16	2nd Round	2nd Round			19	Post Pts.
										79

5	3	Okla. State	11	6	6	7	9	39	80	49	Win %
			Sweet 16	NIT	NIT	NIT	2nd Round			13	Post Pts.
										62

6	7	Kansas St	6	6	10	10	9	41	80	51	Win %
			X	X	Nit	2nd Round	NIT			6	Post Pts.
										57

7	4	Texas Tech	10	6	9	7	3	35	80	44	Win %
			Sweet 16	2nd Round	1st Round	X	X			12	Post Pts.
										56

8	8	Missouri	7	5	7	6	12	37	80	46	Win %
			NIT	X	X	X	Elite 8			9	Post Pts.
										55

9	10	Nebraska	7	7	6	7	8	35	80	44	Win %
			X	NIT	X	NIT	NIT			3	Post Pts.
										47

10	9	Iowa St	9	6	6	4	4	29	80	36	Win %
			2nd Round	X	X	X	X			4	Post Pts.
										40

11	12	Baylor	1	4	4	9	5	23	80	29	Win %
			X	X	X	1st Round	NIT			3	Post Pts.
										32

12	11	Colorado	4	9	3	3	1	20	80	25	Win %
			X	NIT	X	X	X			1	Post Pts.
										26

Was = Last year's rankig

-Ties are broken by favoring conference winning %

Big 12 Thoughts

- Texas Tech continues to tumble down the ranking after a weak 3-win season.

- Texas A&M is comfortably in 4th. They've made the 2nd round of the tourney 4 years in a row, something that only Texas can also claim.

- Kansas has won 83% of Big 12 games, one of the best rates of any BCS team.

Postseason Points

NIT = 1

NCAA 1st Round = 2

NCAA 2nd Round = 4

Sweet = 6

Elite 8 = 8

Final Four = 10

Final = 11

Champs = 12

Other 5-Year Rankings

ACC

Poll: Who Will Win the Big 12?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:01:48 -0400

Big 12 Basketball: Fantasy Preview

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:48:34 -0400

This is the 2nd of six fantasy stats projections of BCS conference starters. One of my favorite series of the year, and a helpful guide when drafting for fantasy college basketball leagues. For an idea of whether I know what I'm talking about, check out last year's Big 12 Stats Projection. As always, some teams were nailed better then others.. Baylor & Texas A&M were rock solid, Kansas though was particularly weak (underestimated both Collins & Aldrich.)

Keep in mind stats are highly dependent on minutes, and freshmen are obviously the hardest to predict. I try to note places below where other starters not listed may emerge. Stats are listed by ppg, rpg, and then apg.

BIG 12

BAYLOR

G Tweety Carter - 13, 4, 4
G LaceDarius Dunn - 17, 5, 1

G Nolan Dennis - 10, 3, 2
F Quincy Acy - 11, 6, 1

F Ekpe Udoh - 10, 7, 1

Notes: I don't expect Dunn's ppg to rise that much as Baylor should be a more well-rounded team this year. Udoh never averaged more than 6 ppg at Michigan, but should do better than that.

COLORADO

G Cory Higgins - 19, 6, 4
G Nate Tomlinson - 8, 4, 4
G Dwight Thorne II - 12, 4, 3
F Austin Dufault - 12, 5, 1
C Shane Harris-Tunks - 9, 7, 1

Notes: Higgins quietly put up big time numbers last year and could be one of the Big 12's top fantasy guys. Expect Dufault's game to take a step forward.

IOWA STATE

G Diante Garrett - 10, 3, 6
G Lucca Staiger - 12, 3, 3
F Craig Brackins - 19, 11, 1

F Marquis Gilstrap - 13, 6, 2
F Jamie Vanderbeken - 9, 5, 1

Notes: Brackins put up 20 ppg last year, but I expect his scoring to come down a bit as his surrounding cast improves. Gilstrap, a Juco transfer, could put up some of the best numbers from any newcomer.

KANSAS
G Sherron Collins - 18, 4, 7

G Tyshawn Taylor - 11, 3, 3
G Xavier Henry - 14, 5, 3
F Marcus Morris - 9, 6, 1
F Cole Aldrich - 17, 10, 1

Notes: Xavier Henry is the big-time recruit who should help take the pressure off of Collins to score. Markieff Morris should also put up worthwhile numbers off the bench.

KANSAS STATE

G Jacob Pullen - 15, 3, 4
G Denis Clemente - 16, 3, 5

F Dominque Sutton - 9, 6, 1
F Jamar Samuels - 12, 6, 1
F Wally Judge - 9, 6, 1

Notes: Samuels could be the team's most improved fantasy performer from last year. Judge is a heralded freshman, but don't expect him to blow up the stat sheet.

MISSOURI

G Zaire Taylor - 10, 4, 5

G Kim English - 13, 3, 2
G JT Tiller - 11, 3, 4
F Keith Ramsey - 7, 5, 1
F Justin Safford - 9, 6, 2

Notes: English's production could double now that he moves into the starting 5. Safford showed off his range in the post-season, but he'll certainly have his off nights.

NEBRASKA

G Lance Jeter - 7, 4, 3
G Sek Henry - 9, 3, 3
G Ryan Anderson - 11, 4, 3
G Toney McCray - 9, 4, 2
F Christopher Niemann - 11, 6, 1

Notes: Anderson's scoring has actually dropped each year, but I expect a bounce-back senior campaign. Niemann is a newcomer who sat out last season, but will be expected to contribute from day one.

OKLAHOMA

G Tommy Mason-Griffin - 10, 3, 7

G Willie Warren - 17, 4, 4
G Tony Crocker - 12, 4, 2
F Keith Gallon - 10, 7, 2
F Orlando Allen - 7, 5, 1

Notes: Warren should be helped by the addition of Mason-Griffin, a pg who can distribute the ball. "Tiny" Gallon has huge potential, but might not hit his statistical stide until next season.

OKLAHOMA STATE

G Ryan Penn - 7, 2, 4
G James Anderson - 20, 6, 3
G Obi Muonelo - 15, 8, 2
F - Marshall Moses - 10, 7, 1

F - Matt Pilgrim - 8, 5, 1

Notes: Eaton's departure leaves a big hole at PG. Penn is not a lock starter, as he'll face competition for those minutes. Without many other options, Anderson could be the Big 12's scoring leader.

TEXAS

G Avery Bradley - 12, 3, 3
G Jai Lucas - 9, 4, 4
F Damion James - 17, 10, 2
F Gary Johnson - 12, 8, 1
C Dexter Pittman - 13, 9, 1

Notes: Justin Mason, who started last year, could return to the starting lineup, relegating Johnson to the 6th man role. Texas has another viable fantasy option off the bench in Jordan Hamilton, a wing who can really score the ball.

TEXAS A&M

G Donald Sloan - 14, 4, 5
G Derrick Roland - 8, 3, 3
G BJ Holmes - 10, 3, 2

F David Loubeau - 10, 7, 1
F Bryan Davis - 13, 8, 1

Notes: Loubeau only played 14 mpg last year, but should see double the time now that Elonu moves on. Davis' numbers should be right there with just about every big-man in the league besides Aldrich.

TEXAS TECH

G John Roberson - 16, 4, 6
G Nick Okorie - 10, 3, 2
F Mike Singletary - 14, 7, 2
F Brad Reese - 11, 4, 2
F Robert Lewandowski - 10, 6, 1

Notes: Reese is a Juco newcomer known for scoring the ball. Despite a lack of notoriety, Roberson's numbers are some of the best you'll find in the backcourt.

Projected Big 12 Leaders

Top PPG
1) James Anderson (20)
2) Craig Brackins (19)
3) Cory Higgins (19)

Top RPG
1) Craig Brackins (11)
2) Cole Aldrich (10)

3) Damion James (10)

Top APG
1) Sherron Collins (7)
2) Tommy Mason-Griffin (7)

3) Diante Garrett/John Roberson (6)

Fantasy Stats Preview Archive

- ACC

Texas A&M Basketball Preview: #28

Joel Welser — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:24:33 -0400

Overall Rank: #28

Conference Rank: #4 Big 12 Conference

2008-09: 24-10, 9-7

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Mark Turgeon (49-21 at Texas A&M, 202-140 overall)

If Chinemelu Elonu stayed in school for the 2009-2010 campaign, this could have been a very, very special season for Texas A&M. Without him, the Aggies will have to rely on some youngsters to fill the void and nobody is going to replace him any time soon on either end of the floor. What it leaves is another Aggie team that will be good and should reach the NCAA Tournament, but not good enough to make a deep tournament run.

Key Losses: G Josh Carter, C Chinemelu Elonu

Key Newcomers:

Coach Mark Turgeon has brought in yet another solid recruiting class. Wings Naji Hibbert and Jeremy Adams will push the returning players for minutes. Hibbert is a fine shooter and will use his 6-6 frame to finish around the basket. Small forward Khris Middleton is a great shooter who can immediately provide an offensive spark off the bench. Power forwards Ray Turner and Kourtney Roberson are both capable of making an impact right away and both will be given every opportunity to contribute.

Backcourt:

The perimeter returns everybody except do-it-all wing Josh Carter. However, this was not the most consistent group a year ago. Derrick Roland struggled to find his shot most of last season, but he still started 30 games. Donald Sloan is the scorer of the bunch and the main ball handler. After averaging 11.8 points per game and having a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio last season, big things are expected from Sloan for his senior campaign. B.J. Holmes had a great sophomore campaign, averaging 8.8 points and 1.4 assists. He can handle the ball and is also an extremely consistent outside shooter. Dash Harris proved to be yet another capable point guard during his freshman campaign and should play a bigger role as a sophomore.

Frontcourt:

It is in the frontcourt where things get a little more disconcerting. David Loubeau and Nathan Walkup both averaged less than 14 minutes per game last year and they will both be asked to carry a much bigger load this time around. Loubeau is a solid rebounder, especially on the offensive end. He is not the most dynamic scorer around, but he might be the best option at power forward just because of his ability to hit the glass. Walkup is the other returning option. Unlike Loubeau, Walkup can stretch out the defense with his outside shooting ability. No matter who ends up starting, Loubeau and Walkup both need to step up their games and fight for a starting job with Turner and Roberson.

Who to Watch:

While those four fight it out for a starting job, Bryan Davis will be the go-to-guy under the basket. The 6-9 senior averaged 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds last season and should get a lot more opportunities to put up big numbers now that Elonu is gone. At 6-9 and 240 pounds, Davis is a bruiser under the basket and a solid defender. Even when he is not blocking shots, he will use his large frame to make it difficult for anybody to score around the basket.

Final Projection:

Sloan and Davis are a good duo to build around and Holmes should be a player who will score in bunches this year, but there are questions. If Roland’s shot is not falling it will force a freshman into the lineup. While that might help in the rebounding department and add some size to the perimeter, this team needs Roland’s defense and experience. The other obvious issue is in the frontcourt where somebody needs to try and replace Elonu. In the end, Texas A&M will win some big games and make it to the NCAA Tournament, but their expectations should end there.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Donald Sloan, Senior, Guard, 11.8 points per game

B.J. Holmes, Junior, Guard, 8.8 points per game

Derrick Roland, Senior, Guard, 6.3 points per game

David Loubeau, Sophomore, Forward, 4.6 points per game

Bryan Davis, Senior, Forward, 10.8 points per game

Next Top 144 Teams
29		30		31		32

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Big 12 Basketball: High-Low Preview

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:35:36 -0400

Everybody loves a prediction. It's a fact. People that claim to hate sports predictions are just jealous that no one cares what they have to say (or their predictions are never right). But sometimes when making predictions, certain teams or groups of teams are truly to close to call. On CHN or in preview mags, we do our best to slot teams into specific spots, but sometimes you just want to say honestly, teams A, B, and C are virtually the same and luck will determine how they finish. You can't say that in a Top 144 ranking, but I'm saying it here in a series of High-Low predictions, which includes a range for each team's finish and a few reasons why.

(How about the high production values with that picture?..)

BIG 12 HIGH-LOW

While it's hard to see anyone knocking Kansas out of the top spot, there's a ton of parity between teams 3 through 9.

* my projected finish in yellow

BAYLOR
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
On the one hand, Baylor "seems" like a program on the rise that is on pace to finish in the upper half of the league.. on the other hand you have a 5-11 team losing almost 40 ppg worth of scoring. One of the more perplexing teams to project.

COLORADO
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
After winning just 1 game last year, Colorado has to be better. But in a league that's so talented, it's hard to expect much more then 3-4 wins. Next year, the program should finally take a step up.

IOWA STATE
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
With a star player in Craig Brackins and a coach I respect in Greg McDermott, the pieces are in place for Iowa State to surprise some people in 2010. Should be right there with likes of Mizzou and A&M fighting for the final tourney bid.

KANSAS
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
The only team in the series so far without a high-low range.. it's almost impossible to imagine Texas or anyone else taking the top spot barring a horrible injury streak.

KANSAS STATE
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
K-State has finished over .500 in league play for 3 straight seasons, a streak which should continue in 2010. For the team to have a special season, one of transfer Curtis Kelly or freshman Wally Judge will need to emerge as a legit frontcourt force.

MISSOURI
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
After three rather blah years, Mizzou broke out in a big way with an Elite 8 run last year. Now that they've lost their 3 best players, opinion differs across the board about how far the Tigers will fall.

NEBRASKA
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Nebraska usually manages to a) be slightly better then you expect, but b) still not good. On paper, this looks like a last-place contender, but yet you know they'll somehow win 6 or 7 league games.

OKLAHOMA
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
It's not easy overcoming the loss of your leading scorer, top 3 rebounders, and leading assist guy. Helping ease the pain is a top-notch recruiting class, but a slide to 6th is certainly not out of the question.

OKLAHOMA STATE
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
The Coyboys have a lot of talented players, but the big hole at PG following the graduation of Byron Eaton may prevent them from being a serious contender. Will be a bubble tourney team in the mold of A&M & Oklahoma.

TEXAS
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Outside of KU, Texas is the only Big 12 team whose front-court can compete at an elite level. It will be the impact of new guards Avery Bradley, Jai Lucas, and J'Covan Brown that determines if the Horns can make a serious March run.

TEXAS A&M
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Like the two teams above, A&M loses its best player in Josh Carter, but is still in line for a tourney bid. Even without Chinemelu Elonu, the likes of Bryan Davis and David Loubeau should more then hold their own in a league that is guard-heavy.

TEXAS TECH
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
There's no reason to expect much out of Tech this year. Their talent is sub-par and their coach has yet to prove he's capable. 4-5 league wins seems about right.

>> ACC: High-Low Preview

>> Big Ten: High-Low Preview

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Preview Interviews

The Ultimate Schedule: Big 12 South

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:20:02 -0400

Big 12 Schedule “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (three against the South Division)

- Big 12 Championship Game

Week 1: Georgia @ Oklahoma State (September 5^th)

One of the best intersectional games of the season takes place on the first Saturday with the Bulldogs visiting the Cowboys. Mike Gundy’s team is expected by many to take the place of last season’s Texas Tech squad that eventually tied with Oklahoma and Texas for the division crown. QB Zac Robinson and WR Dez Bryant are two of the more explosive options for the Pokes, but they’ve got talent all over the field on offense. The questions reside on the other side of the football, with the hope being that new defensive coordinator Bill Young can give the unit some teeth.

Coach Young was the defensive coordinator at Kansas in 2007 when the Jayhawks made their way to the FedEx Orange Bowl, and he’ll have to find ways to rattle Georgia QB Joe Cox. Georgia’s got some serious offensive threats as well, beginning with WR A.J. Green and a stable of running backs looking to make a name for themselves after sitting behind Knowshon Moreno last year. A shootout favors the Cowboys, but they could find it tough to hang too many points on Willie Martinez’s defense.

Other Games Considered: Oklahoma vs. BYU (9/5 in Arlington, TX), Baylor @ Wake Forest (9/5)

Week 2: Houston @ Oklahoma State (September 12^th)

Back to Stillwater, this time for a game far more likely to turn into a shootout due to the firepower on both sidelines. Case Keenum may be one of the nation’s most underrated quarterbacks, and he threw for more than 5,000 yards and forty-four touchdowns in 2008. Running back Bryce Beal ran for more than 1,200 yards last season as a sophomore and the receiving corps got along pretty well without Donnie Avery in the first season under Kevin Sumlin. The issue for the Cougars, along with many of the other teams in Conference USA, is defense. The improvement of that unit could be the difference between simply reaching bowl eligibility and winning the league for Houston. In fact, this will be a very good test for both defenses.

Other Games Considered: Texas @ Wyoming (9/12), Rice @ Texas Tech (9/12)

Week 3: Texas Tech @ Texas (September 19^th)

Last year’s game was an absolute classic in Lubbock, with a Graham Harrell pass to Michael Crabtree winning the game with one second remaining on the clock. The Longhorns didn’t fire out of the gates, something that the Red Raiders were able to take advantage of in jumping out to a 22-6 halftime lead. Tech was also able to take advantage of a young Texas secondary, throwing for 474 yards on the night.

Also, the Red Raiders had the ball for more than thirty-six minutes and fatigue can definitely become an issue when they control the clock in that fashion. Look for Will Muschamp to dial up the blitzes in order to make things difficult for Taylor Potts. Also, keep an eye on the health of RB Barron Batch, who injured a shoulder in fall camp. If he’s at or near 100% Batch will give the Tech offense another dimension.

Other Games Considered: Connecticut @ Baylor (9/19), Tulsa @ Oklahoma (9/19)

Week 4: Texas Tech @ Houston (September 26^th)

A rather lean week on the schedule for South Division schools, so why not take in a game that should be an entertaining shootout? Regardless of who’s playing quarterback for Texas Tech they’re going to move the ball and put up points, and the same can be said for Houston QB Case Keenum. But the time this game rolls around we’ll have a good idea of what Coach Sumlin’s team can do against Big 12 competition since they visit Oklahoma State on September 12^th. While this isn’t the same caliber of team that the Red Raiders had a season ago, there’s still the “name brand” factor that will stoke the fires among the Cougar faithful. If Tech isn’t ready to go from the opening kick Houston could pull off the upset.

Other Game Considered: UAB @ Texas A&M (September 26^th)

Week 5: Oklahoma @ Miami (October 3^rd)

The Sooners haven’t played the Hurricanes in south Florida for over twenty years, so expect the locals to have this date circled. The last meeting between the two schools was a blowout, with the Sooners blasting the rebuilding Hurricanes in Norman. The “Baby Canes” are now a bit more experienced and they know for a fact who their quarterback is (Jacory Harris), so Miami should put up a better fight. But at the end of the day will the Sooners have too much firepower offensively? Look for the Hurricanes to hang around for a little while due to the hype that will likely precede the matchup, but they’ll have a tough task dealing with Sam Bradford and company on offense along with a loaded front seven on defense.

Other Games Considered: Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (10/3 in Arlington, TX), New Mexico @ Texas Tech (10/3)

Week 6: Bye Week (October 10^th)

Oklahoma hosting Baylor would be intriguing for the mere fact that quarterbacks Bradford and Robert Griffin III would be on display, but a Bears victory would go down as one of the biggest upsets in the recent history of college football. The same goes for Colorado visiting Texas, and if either Kansas State (at Texas Tech) or Texas A&M (hosting Oklahoma State) won those would be surprises as well. And with the donnybrook that’s on tap the following Saturday, we’ll need all the rest we can get.

Week 7: Oklahoma vs. Texas (October 17^th in Dallas)

The winner of this game almost certainly has the inside track to the Big 12 title…unless they trip up later in the season. Texas won the game 45-35, storming back after falling behind early to the quick-starting Sooners. But they had the misfortune of losing to Texas Tech on November 1^st, a defeat that eventually cost them when the Sooners had a higher BCS ranking at the end of the regular season. OU got to play for (and win) the Big 12 crown while Texas ended up playing in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

In regards to the series the Longhorns have won three of the last four meetings, but it’s the Sooners who enjoy the decisive edge in conference titles (six to Texas’ one), so while this is definitely a big game both teams need to remember that there are more games to be played. Motivation won’t be an issue for either team, treating the nation to the most anticipated game of the season. Besides two turnovers the Sooners also allowed Texas to rush for 161 yards while their backs combined for forty-eight yards. DeMarco Murray and company will need to give offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson more production if the Sooners are to beat Texas.

Other Games Considered: Missouri @ Oklahoma State (10/17), Texas Tech @ Nebraska (10/17)

Week 8: Oklahoma @ Kansas (10/24)

As fun as the Texas A&M/Texas Tech game would be in regards to some comments made in the offseason, the Sooners’ trip to Lawrence could be a Big 12 Championship Game preview. Oklahoma has won the last five meetings, most recently a 45-31 victory in Norman last year in which the Sooners racked up more than six hundred yards of offense. Kansas can put some points on the board, but how much has their defense improved? If they haven’t made significant strides Mark Mangino’s team could be in some serious trouble. Also, Bob Stoops has a very good track record against former assistants who now run programs within the league. Mangino has yet to beat him, and Mike Leach has just two wins over the Sooners since taking over at Texas Tech. Familiarity hasn’t bred contempt, but it has delivered some beatings to former understudies.

Other Games Considered: Texas A&M @ Texas Tech (10/24), Texas @ Missouri (10/24), and Oklahoma State @ Baylor (10/24)

Week 9: Texas @ Oklahoma State (October 31^st)

Halloween gives Big 12 South fans another showdown, with the Cowboys looking to be the interloper that makes sure that Texas and Oklahoma don’t walk away with the division. Oklahoma State needs this win, not just to become a part of the division race but to validate the strides made under Mike Gundy. The Pokes haven’t beaten Texas since 1997, and they’ve lost to the Longhorns in a variety of ways. Simple blowouts, running out to a big lead only to fall victim to an avalanche of points, close losses…you name it they’ve done it in this series. In that time the Cowboys have beaten all the other teams within the division but have yet to challenge for the division title. The visit from Texas may be the first surefire sign of the impact of new defensive coordinator Bill Young, no matter what happens when Georgia visits the first weekend of the season. Is this the year that the streak ends? It just might be.

Other Games Considered: Kansas @ Texas Tech (10/31), Nebraska @ Baylor (10/31)

Week 10: Oklahoma @ Nebraska (November 7^th)

Remember the years when this matchup used to decide who would represent the Big 8 in the Orange Bowl? Well, the combination of down cycles for both programs (OU under John Blake, Nebraska more recently) and the birth of the Big 12 took a little bit away from the magnitude of the game. This season could be a turning point in the series, with the Huskers the pick by the conference media to win the North Division and the Sooners expected to once again be a national title contender. The last time Nebraska won: 2001, when a trick play that resulted in a touchdown pass to eventual Heisman winner Eric Crouch put the Huskers ahead for good. Last year’s game wasn’t much of a contest with the Sooners winning 62-28; in front of the Memorial Stadium faithful expect a better performance from Nebraska.

Other Games Considered: Baylor @ Missouri (11/7)

Week 11: Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State (November 14^th)

The last time these two met in Stillwater the nation was treated to a pair of postgame pressers that they soon wouldn’t forget. Mike Gundy went off on a columnist regarding an article on QB Bobby Reid (after winning the game) and Mike Leach went off on his own kids, making a statement to the effect that the players were hoping for someone to wipe off their tears and make them feel better. One thing to be guaranteed is offensive fireworks; what the two may say to the press after the game can’t be accurately called at this time. Oklahoma State comes into the 2009 with the established individual parts while the Red Raiders will rely on a system that’s worked from day one for Coach Leach’s program. Expect some fun at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Other Game Considered: Baylor @ Texas (11/14)

Week 12: Kansas @ Texas (November 21^st)

Just like the Oklahoma/Nebraska game two weeks prior this could be a preview of the Big 12 Championship Game. But Kansas has never beaten the Longhorns in a Big 12 conference game, with the closest result being a 27-23 loss in Lawrence back in 2004. All the other meetings have been blowouts, with Texas winning the last two by a combined score of 101-21. A win here could rival the FedEx Orange Bowl over Virginia Tech as the biggest in the recent history of Kansas football, but they’ll have to work awfully hard on both sides of the ball to get the job done. The Texas secondary is a year older and a year better, something that could put a clamp on the Reesing-to-Briscoe combination, and the offensive production from the likes of Colt McCoy goes without mentioning. How much of an impact can the home crowd have? They’ll need to be in full throat if the Jayhawks are to beat the Longhorns.

Other Games Considered: Oklahoma @ Texas Tech (11/21), Colorado @ Oklahoma State (11/19)

Week 13: Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma (November 28^th)

The Sooners punched a ticket to the Big 12 Championship Game with a win in Stillwater last November, and they’ve won the last six in the series between the two rivals after the Cowboys had won two straight. It seems as if ever since former OSU coach Les Miles made the statement that “Oklahoma is the best team in America…or so we’re told” leading up to the 2003 game (final score: OU 52-9) the Sooners have made sure to not lose this game.

Last year’s game featured fifty-two first downs and 1,009 yards of total offense, and was 44-41 Oklahoma with 10:33 remaining following a Parrish Cox kickoff return. Then the Sooners scored the game’s final seventeen points for the final 61-41 margin. The key for the Cowboy defense is to take away the explosive nature of Oklahoma’s offense. They’re going to score; but if you allow Sam Bradford and company to do whatever they want they’re most likely going to pull a “Barry Switzer” and hang half-a-hundred on you.

Other Games Considered: Texas @ Texas A&M (11/26), Baylor vs. Texas Tech (11/28 in Arlington, TX)

Week 14: Big 12 Championship Game (December 5^th in Arlington, TX)

The pick here is that Texas beats Nebraska to win the Big 12 title.

Big 12 Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:31:51 -0400

Got quarterback? The Big 12 does

By Raphielle Johnson

Once again high-powered spread offenses and quarterback play are the calling cards of the Big 12, the league best suited to challenge the SEC for the “best conference in America” tag. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), as is friend and rival Colt McCoy down on the Forty Acres and their showdown in the Cotton Bowl on October 17^th will once again be the game of the season in the conference. But to jump to the conclusion that the winner has a cakewalk to the league crown would be a big mistake.

The winner of the Red River Rivalry may not even be assured of a trip to the Big 12 Championship Game, as we learned last season. The Sooners, despite the 45-35 loss to Texas, represented the South Division in the title game thanks to a higher BCS ranking than Texas or Texas Tech. Also, Oklahoma State takes over for the Red Raiders in the role of title chase interloper thanks to a prolific offense led by QB Zac Robinson and WR Dez Bryant.

But the biggest addition to the program may be new defensive coordinator Bill Young, who returns to the Big 12 after a season in the same role at Miami. Coach Young’s last Big 12 act: leading a defensive revival at Kansas that resulted in a trip to the FedEx Orange Bowl in 2007. How much of an impact that has in fall camp will be noticeable early with the Cowboys hosting Georgia in their season opener.

Texas Tech adds Taylor Potts to the pipeline of prolific quarterbacks, a position in which head coach Mike Leach seems to simply plug in the next guy and produce another high-powered attack. But with running back Barron Batch going down early in camp (expected to miss 3-6 weeks) with an arm injury, even more pressure could fall upon Potts’ shoulders. The Red Raiders should be 2-0 heading into their trip to Austin on September 19^th, but they weren’t done many favors with the draw of both Kansas and Nebraska in their crossover games. Tech may not be in the top three of the division, but do not be surprised if they pick one of those three off.

Baylor mad significant strides in the first season under Art Briles, who has a rising star in QB Robert Griffin III. Griffin is a game-changer who rarely (if ever) showed up at a school like Baylor in the past, and he’s the kind of player that can get you an extra two or three wins in a given season. The Bears open with a tough pair of games, visiting Wake Forest and then hosting Connecticut. They’ll also have to replace standout left tackle Jason Smith (Danny Watkins will take over), but the defense has an all-conference candidate in LB Joe Pawelek.

Baylor should be able to finish ahead of rebuilding Texas A&M, which will lean upon sophomore quarterback Jerrod Johnson. Johnson has plenty of experience, filling in for the injured Stephen McGee last season. The question for Mike Sherman’s offense is whether or not they have the requisite playmakers on the outside needed to take some pressure off of Johnson. Defensively, the Aggies must improve a pass defense that was one of the nation’s worst in 2008. If you can’t defend the pass in the Big 12, you’re in serious trouble. With A&M going to a three-man defensive line, look for more of an impact from the linebackers. Can fans expect the return of the “Wrecking Crew” days? Hardly, but there will be some improvement on defense for the Aggies.

In the North, the favorite essentially comes down to experience at quarterback. Kansas has been the pick of many, with senior QB Todd Reesing leading an offense that is more than capable of putting points on the board. And a scare was averted in the off-season with WR Dezmon Briscoe getting the necessary grades in summer session to ensure his eligibility this season. Look for that combination to rank among the nation’s best in 2009.

As for the most likely challenger to the Jayhawks, that would be Nebraska. The Cornhuskers hope that Zac Lee will perform well in replacing Joe Ganz at quarterback, and they also have one of the better defensive units in the conference with defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh leading the way. Suh, who finished 2008 with a team-high 76 tackles and 16 TFLs, is thought by many to be a high-first round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft.

But back to the offense, which is a rather young unit overall. Young wide receivers will need to step up as well, and three new starters will be asked to protect Lee and open holes for Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille up front. With enough development on offense the Huskers could make their way to the Big 12 Championship Game, but they do have to visit both Missouri and Kansas within the division.

Missouri undergoes the tough task of replacing three of the greatest players in the history of the program. QB Chase Daniel, WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Chase Coffman have all moved on, and head coach Gary Pinkel hands the keys to the offense to Blaine Gabbert. The Tigers also have a new offensive coordinator in David Yost, who takes over for the departed Dave Christiansen (new head coach at Wyoming). The Tigers will have a lot of players getting significant playing time for the first time in their careers this season, but while it may be tough to put them atop the division there’s still enough talent to make things interesting within the North Division.

The wildcard in the North has to be Colorado, and it’s anyone’s guess what could happen there. The Buffaloes lost their best playmaker in Josh Smith, who decided to transfer to USC. The running back position is in good shape with Demetrius Sumler, Rodney Stewart and Darrell Scott and tight end Riar Geer is one of the best in the Big 12, but what about the quarterback position? Cody Hawkins had a tough go of it last season, so much so that the job was in doubt for a short period. But Cody goes into the season as the starter and the Buffaloes will need to find more playmakers if they’re to improve offensively (dead last in the Big 12 in total offense in 2008).

The bottom two shouldn’t change, even with the return of Bill Snyder to the Kansas State sidelines. Paul Rhoads takes over for the departed Gene Chizik at Iowa State, and although he has a solid young quarterback in Austen Arnaud the Cyclones find themselves well behind the pack when it comes to Big 12-caliber talent. The Wildcats have an easy schedule to start the season, time that will be used to boost the players’ confidence while getting them better acquainted with Coach Snyder’s desires and expectations in a gameday environment, but expect a rude awakening once they hit conference play.

Once again the Big 12 is poised to be the nation’s most exciting conference, with the nation once again being treated to weekly primetime matchups that will have an impact on both the conference and national title races. As for the title of best overall conference, that likely won’t be decided until the bowl season, with the conference hoping to get the better of the SEC is the few head-to-head matchups they leagues have.

Storyline: Defense. As good as the quarterbacks and spread offenses are in the Big 12, whichever team plays the best defense will likely win the conference. Personal picks for the top three defenses (in alphabetical order): Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas.

Players of the Year: QB Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) and DL Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)

How they’ll finish

North 1. Kansas South 1. Texas

2. Nebraska 2. Oklahoma

3. Missouri 3. Oklahoma State

4. Colorado 4. Texas Tech

5. Kansas State 5. Baylor

6. Iowa State 6. Texas A&M

Next: Big 12 North and South Ultimate Schedules

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Basketball Preview: #135

Joel Welser — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:15:25 -0400

Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders

Overall Rank: #135

Conference Rank: #2 Southland

2008-09: 18-15, 11-5

2008-09 postseason: none

Coach: Perry Clark (27-35 at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 277-234 overall)

Coach Perry Clark certainly turned around this team after a dismal 2007-2008 campaign that ended with a mere nine wins. Last year his squad went 11-5 in conference play and looked very good at times. With just one key player departing, the Islanders are prepared to make a run at a Southland title. It helps that Stephen F. Austin, who has dominated the conference over the last couple of years, is decimated by graduation.

Key Losses: G Tim Green

Key Newcomers:

Coach Clark will not ask much from any of the newcomers. However, Terrance Jones could play an important role off the bench in a backcourt that lacks bodies. After not being cleared to play by the NCAA last season, Jones was forced to sit on the bench and watch. The 6-2 Baltimore native is a decent scorer and can also handle the ball so it is quite likely that he will be asked to steal some minutes off the bench every once in a while.

Backcourt:

The star on the perimeter is Kevin Palmer. The 6-6 wing came in from Cecil Community College and simply took over the team. He averaged 18.2 points per game and was the only player to average double digits in scoring. He is a capable outside shooter, but will do most of his damage by using his large frame to attack the basket. At the least he gets to the foul line and he shot nearly 81 percent from the stripe last year. Palmer does more than score though; he also ranked second on the team in rebounds and assists, tallying 5.2 and 2.8 per game, respectively. The Baltimore, Maryland product is even a superb defender and tallied 2.6 steals per contest. And all of that was during his first year with the team. If you are looking for the Southland Conference’s next Player of the Year, look no further than Palmer.

Frontcourt:

The frontcourt lacks a superstar like Palmer, but Demond Watt could be that player. As a sophomore last year he averaged 8.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Ideally, Watt should be playing the four spot, but he might have to slide down to the three with this personnel. That would allow Justin Reynolds and Horace Bond to remain in the starting lineup. Reynolds is the better scorer of the two and can even step outside and hit the occasional three-pointer, but Bond will do the dirty work in the paint. Filip Toncinic, a 7-0 senior, started 20 games a year ago and could work his way back into the starting lineup if he can hold off Reynolds or Bond. Toncinic had an up and down season, but at the least he is an imposing presence under the basket.

Who to Watch:

The unsuccessful season two years ago was partly due to the now departed Tim Green being forced to run the show. Shamar Coombs and LaMarr Drake both missed some time last year, but between the two of them they did a decent job of handling the ball and finding their teammates. Both committed too many turnovers, but Coombs can be a quality scorer who can play at the two spot when needed and Drake is a solid defender.

Final Projection:

Having both Coombs and Drake around for an entire season is going to help out a lot. One of them should emerge as the team’s starter and it is feasible that they could both be on the floor at the same time quite a bit. That would allow Palmer to move to the three spot and give the team a couple ball handlers on the floor at the same time. That sounds nice, and it will be nice at times especially if Watt has trouble defending the three spot, but that would force some really talented big men onto the bench.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Shamar Coombs, Senior, Guard

Kevin Palmer, Senior, Guard

Demond Watt, Junior, Forward

Horace Bond, Junior, Forward

Justin Reynolds, Junior, Forward

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