It's no secret that the Big 12 had one of the bigger conference RPI's in America. But, depending on who you read, they will tell you that the conference (ESPECIALLY Kansas) got the raw end on a lot of selections. Lets go through each team and see what the future holds for them. Lowest seeds first.
MISSOURI TIGERS
First Round: Vs. Clemson, Buffalo, NY, 2:45 Friday
The fact that the Tigers even got into the tournament with how bad they played against Nebraska on the first day of the Big 12 tourney speaks volumes about what they thought about the conference in general. You wouldn't have heard anyone argue that a team like Virginia Tech got the Tigers spot. But I know Mike Anderson will not trade it for anything in the world right now. But, this team has to be realistic. Clemson isn't exactly a pushover, and IF they could get past the other Tigers, they face Huggy Bear and a WHITE HOT West Virginia team that took a lot of punches in NY at the Big East tourney and shelled them out tenfold back. For a team that had a tournament bid to play for last Wednesday, they sure fell flat on their face against the worst team in the conference. Bottom line is that Mizzou should hope to play Sunday, because that will be a feat in itself.
TEXAS LONGHORNS
First Round: Vs. Wake Forest, New Orleans, 8:30 Thursday
Poor Rick Barnes. I do feel for this team, because it shows how important one player can be in the new world of College Basketball, where you get great teams for MAYBE two years if you're lucky. Before their game against K State, they were unbeatable and bulletproof (remember how they ran UNC out of Cowboys Stadium? Seems like that was 2 years ago). Then, once Dogus Balbay went down after Varez Ward went earlier in the year, this team became very very pedestrian. You can have a lot of studs like Dexter Pittman and Avery Bradley, but if someone can't run the point and let them do work like they need to, you don't have a chance to have a consistent offense, period. That being said, they do have a good chance to play a Kentucky team that seems to have a hard time focusing for 40 minutes at a time. Their chance for the Sweet 16 is better than you think, but a lot of stars have to line up. One thing that can help is a crowd that arrives for their games, they are one of the few teams that can prevent New Orleans Arena from becoming Rupp South.
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
First Round: Vs. Georgia Tech, Milwaukee, 6:15 Friday
When James Anderson is on your team, you are a scary proposition in a one-and-done tournament. OKST is one team that nobody wants to play, primarily because of how this team has played against great teams this year. The only problem is that every time the Cowboys play great, the next game seems to be a dud or worse. Travis Ford's teams have not really done great in the tournament, but this could be his best chance to get far. A Second Round match up against the other OSU (Ohio St.) is a great thing to aim for, but they can not look past GT in the first round. I wouldn't be surprised if this team made it to the elite 8, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a first round flame out.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
First Round: Vs. Utah State Aggies, Spokane, WA, 3:45 Friday
Mark Turgeron is one of the most solid coaches in America. How Bill Byrne has kept him in College Station boggles my mind, but that's another article. Dash Harris is definitely a Turgeron-guy on the court. He doesn't take chances he doesn't think will work out on the court. Passing to Donald Sloan will make you smart too. The only thing that could keep this team from going far is free throw shooting (66%) and the lack of 3 point shooting (33%). The defense will be solid and no way will Turgeron be out coached, but will it be enough against Purdue and possibly Duke? That will be the ultimate test of this solid program.
BAYLOR BEARS
First Round: Vs. Sam Houston, New Orleans, 1:45 Thursday
I think it's a great story on where this program has gone to and come back in a decade. How Scott Drew has stayed in Waco and not gone to a bigger school in the Big 10 (Indiana, are you listening?) boggles my mind more than Turgeron. This team is definitely my choice to reach the Final Four out of Houston. There is ZERO reason that this team can not fill Reliant Stadium for the Sweet 16, and they have three studs in the middle (Lomers, Jones, and Udoh) that can play with Harangody against Notre Dame. The only team that will not suprise me if they do beat Baylor is Villanova. This team is worthy of the Final Four pick.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
First Round: Vs. North Texas, Oklahoma City, 1:40 Thursday
I can not tell a lie, even being a Big 12 guy, I had zero idea on who Frank Martin was before the season started, but now I know this guy was good enough to be the conference coach of the year. And now I know that he has the Roy Williams mentality of every possession being a fast break drill. That being said... I honestly can't tell you what this team could do in this tournament. Free Throw percentage isn't great (66%), and when they go cold, they are downright Siberian. As Dennis Clemente and Jacob Pullen go, so goes the Wildcats. You could literally pick them from the Elite Eight to not even making the Sweet 16. But mentally tough teams do very well in the tourney. Expect them to make it to Salt Lake City against Syracuse, but how that game would transpire is any one's guess.
KANSAS JAYHAWKS
First Round: Vs. Lehigh, Oklahoma City, 8:30 Thursday.
Excellent coach, CHECK. Great fan base who will travel to each game within a 8 hour distance, CHECK. Senior leader who attacks every time down the floor, CHECK. How could you not like this team to cut the nets down? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU. It's because the NCAA showed the #1 team in all the land their gratitude with the toughest top 4 in their region. Ohio State, Georgetown, and Maryland? I mean, they really didn't fit there, tournament committee? If you believe Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star, it's because Duke pulls in more televisions that KU ever will. http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/13/1813273/ncaa-caves-to-tv-pressure-by-going.html I buy it to a degree, with the Coach K theory, but at the same time, if Kansas can win it all, it will just prove how great this team is. I do think they will play Kentucky in the title game, but do not ask me how it will turn out. That is definitely a game I would just rather watch and enjoy.
I hope your brackets work out well for you, personally I finish as close to last as possible in every single one I fill out. Maybe I'll switch it up this year, as there is only one with my name on it. (yea, right)
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