New. Different. Surprising. High expectations. These are all terms you’ll hear throughout the season during discussions about the Big XII. There are a lot of new faces, and that’s not such a bad thing. Last season, the common rumblings from around the nation were that the Big XII was down. Not an untrue statement, but there is a lot to be hopeful for this season if you’re a Big XII fan. Plenty of new coaches, and many new faces on rosters across the board. It’s all about youth. Young stars from last season will be go-to-guys this season, and many freshmen will be expected to step right in to lineups and contribute immediately. Regardless of the outcome, it promises to be interesting.
BAYLOR BEARS:
Last Season’s Record: 4-13 (4-12 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 4 (Aaron Bruce, Tim Bush, Mamadou Diene, Curtis Jerrells)
Returning Players: 10
There has to be a place in heaven reserved for Scott Drew. After the murder incident, and all of the blemishes to the Baylor program before he took over, it was a job that very few would have considered. That didn’t scare Scott Drew. He rolled up his sleeves and went to business. Last season, the Bears (4-13, 4-12), weren’t allowed to play any non-conference games due to the sanctions bestowed by the NCAA. The Bears return 4 starters, and they are finally at capacity with their roster. Coach Drew has a solid bunch to work with, in addition to having the 17th ranked recruiting class. (Rivals.com).
Coach Drew’s recruiting efforts are well respected around the league. He was able to land three top 100 targets: Demond Carter, Josh Lomers, and Djibril Thiam. Mix these athletic youngsters with talented returners like Aaron Bruce and Curtis Jerrells, and you have an opportunity to make some noise in the Big XII.
COLORADO BUFFALOES:
Last Season’s Record: 20-10 (9-7 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NIT Tournament, Loss in First Round.
Returning Starters: 1 (Richard Roby)
Returning Players: 6
A shocking announcement just came out that Coach Ricardo Patton will resign at the end of the season. The Buffaloes had a solid season but didn’t make the NCAA tourney last season. They won 20 games. They managed a winning record in the league. So what gives? Their weak out of conference schedule killed them. Unfortunately for Buff fans, star player Richard Roby is the only returning starter. Starting guard Marcus Hall is ineligible for the fall semester (academics). There will be a lot of young faces, and those players must step up for Colorado to have a chance.
It sounds like Roby has a positive attitude and plans to stick around to refine his game. He is picked as a Street & Smith’s All-American, and he’s only a junior. That’s great news for CU, as he provides a block to build around. Now, if the other members will step up and help him out, things could turn out pretty positive for this team.
IOWA STATE:
Last Season’s Record: 16-14 (6-10 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 2 (Jiri Hubalek, Rahshon Clark)
Returning Players: 8
Yet another new coach enters the picture for a Big XII team. This time, it’s Greg McDermott. Coach McDermott is coming off some a great run at Northern Iowa, that saw him take the Panthers to 3 straight NCAA tourney appearances. If Coach McDermott can continue to work his connections in Iowa, he should be able to bring success to the Cyclone program.
Things were looking very positive for the ISU backcourt, as Curtis Stinson and Will Blalock were expected back. Both decided to move on and enter the NBA draft with the coaching change. Only 3 players received quite a bit of playing time last season, so this squad will be inexperienced. Rahshon Clark will need to step up as the leader. He returns from a season in which he averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds a game.
KANSAS JAYHAWKS:
Last Season’s Record: 25-8 (13-3 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NCAA Tournament, Loss in the Round 1.
Returning Starters: 5 (Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Sasha Kaun, Julian Wright, Russell Robinson)
Returning Players: 10
This year’s team is Bill Self’s most talented yet. Coming off a Big XII tourney championship, Kansas is ranked in the top 5 in most major publications. All for good reason, as they return many young players, including their starting 5, from a team that proved to be pretty formidable last season. The knock last year was in regards to costly mistakes from inexperienced youth. This season, the experience is there and that shouldn’t be a problem. Anything less than a Big XII championship and a deep tourney run, with a possible national championship, would be a disappointment for Bill Self‘s crew.
Brandon Rush is the big name on the team, as he won first team All-Big XII last season, but don’t forget about Julian Wright and Mario Chalmers. These sophomore sensations are going to wreak havoc on teams. Throw in super recruits Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur, and you have one of the most talented rosters in the nation.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS:
Last Season’s Record: 15-13 (6-10 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 4 (Cartier Martin, David Hoskins, Akeem Wright, Clent Stewart)
Returning Players: 8
“Huggieville”, “Got Huggs?” , etc…. The t-shirts go on and on. Bob Huggins is in town, and Manhattan is abuzz. The Wildcat Nation has accepted Bob Huggins with open arms, and the expectations have already begun. For starters, the recruiting scene has already changed dramatically. Recruits that never would have considered KSU are now committing, or considering commitment. Just like that, it’s all going to be different. The Wildcats (15-13, 6-10) lost several games by 5 points or less last season, and that falls back to coaching. With Huggins, one of the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history, that shouldn’t be an issue this year. This team had the talent to make The Big Dance last year, and few players are gone. With the returning talent, and with the new recruits Huggins has brought in, an NCAA bid is the expectation.
Cartier Martin just might be the most underrated player in the Big XII. Sure, he made 2nd team All-Big XII a year ago, but an argument could be made that he should have been first team. He was in the top 10 in the league in several major categories by season’s end, and should only be better this year. Although undersized, David Hoskins (6’5”) proved to be a respectable player in the post last year. The only starter gone from last year played at the center position, where 5 star recruit Jason Bennett (7’3”) aims to be a factor. The word is that he lacks skill on offense, but is a solid defender. He should be able to create some problems in other team’s game plans. A recent bit of news is that ‘07 5 star recruit Bill Walker will be joining the team after the fall semester ends, in December.
MISSOURI TIGERS:
Last Season’s Record: 12-16 (5-11 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 2 (Marshall Brown, Jason Horton)
Returning Players: 7
After several 20 win seasons, the Tigers took a dip last year and it ultimately was the straw that forced head coach Quin Snyder out the door. In comes Mike Anderson, former coach for University of Alabama-Birmingham. In his 4 seasons at UAB, all Mike Anderson did was take his teams to 3 NCAA tourneys and an NIT berth. He also accumulated an 89-41 record in those 4 years at UAB. He’s proven to be a pretty good coach.
Missouri will miss leading scorer Thomas Gardner, who left early to enter the NBA draft, but they return quite a bit of experience. There are only 2 freshmen listed on the roster. 11 out of 15 players are upperclassman. There are some Juco transfers, such as Stefhon Hannah, that could get extensive playing time, and look for freshman Keon Lawrence to possibily get minutes as well.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
Last Season’s Record: 19-14 (7-9 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NIT Tournament, Loss in the Round 1.
Returning Starters: 3 (Aleks Maric, Charles Richardson Jr., Jamel White)
Returning Players: 9
Barry Collier moved on to Butler to fill an administrative position, and in enters Doc Sadler. Coach Sadler was able to make some waves at his previous stop, UTEP. We’ll see if he’s able to bring that success to the Huskers, who’ve remained a mediocre program for some time. His first hurdle was to keep his star player Aleks Maric. Maric planned to leave the program, but Coach Sadler convinced him to come back.
After a few NIT appearances, Husker fans will be expecting to reach the next level soon. An NCAA tourney appearance would be a nice gift. There isn’t a lot of returning experience down low, but with Maric back and some talent coming back at the guard positions, this team has a little to work with. Don’t expect anything big, though.
OKLAHOMA SOONERS:
Last Season’s Record: 20-9 (11-5 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NCAA Tournament, Loss in the first round.
Returning Starters: 2 (David Godbold, Austin Johnson)
Returning Players: 8
Another new situation. Kelvin Sampson is out (to Indiana) and Jason Capel (former Duke player) is in. Coach Capel had some success at Virginia Commonwealth, and now he looks to transfer that success over to the Sooners’ hardcourt. The bad news is, Kevin Bookout and Taj Gray are gone. There goes the presence in the front court. Not to mention, a few top recruits backed out of their commitments once Sampson left. The good news is, Michael Neal is back (last year’s Top Newcomer of the Year). He should give Coach Capel a nice starting block with this team, but they will struggle.
OU is loaded with guards, but as mentioned, their front court will be lacking. Unless someone steps up in the paint, this could be a long season for Oklahoma. Their fans are used to success, as Coach Sampson went to the NCAA tourney 11 out of 12 years. This will be a transition year, so there are a lot of unpredictable variables out there.
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS:
Last Season’s Record: 17-16 (6-10 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 5 (Mario Boggan, Kenny Cooper, JamesOn Curry, Bryon Eaton, Terrel Harris)
Returning Players: 8
Legendary coach Eddie Sutton stepped down. In comes his son, Sean Sutton. Don’t bet on Oklahoma State (17-16, 6-10) being a non-factor this season. Eddie has been at the helm, but it could be argued that Shawn has been coaching this team as much as his father, if not more. Oklahoma State has been a mainstay in the upper half of the Big XII for some time, and should continue this tradition. All of the late season starters are returning, as this team only has 2 freshmen. This is one of the few rosters in the Big XII with primarily all upper classmen.
Mario Boggan is the top return man for the Cowboys. He led the team in points and rebounds, and figures to be a force again. Look for recruit Obi Muonelo to contribute early on this team. He was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Oklahoma last year.
TEXAS LONGHORNS:
Last Season’s Record: 30-7 (13-3 in the BigXII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NCAA Tournament, Loss in the Elite 8 round.
Returning Starters: None
Returning Players: 4
Poor Rick Barnes, right? I mean, the poor guy lost his entire starting lineup. What in the world will he do now? Reload. That’s what Coach Barnes will do. The roster is very young, with 7 freshmen listed, but don’t let that fool you. Coach Barnes is a superb recruiter and hasn’t disappointed again. He managed to land the number 3 recruiting class, according to Rivals.com. This Texas team, despite it’s youth, will be good. Sorry, Texas haters, but this doesn’t look to be a down season for the Longhorns (30-7, 13-3). Just like in football, there are no down years. The ability to lock and load year in and year out is what makes this program the envy of many, and for good reason. Expect another solid year out of Barnes’ crew, even if they don’t put together another 30 win season.
Texas managed to land Kevin Durant, one of the top recruits in the nation, who would have gone into the NBA draft had they not instilled the new 19-year-old age limit. He will come onto the Big XII scene in a hurry, and will show athleticism many teams have never seen before. Also keep an eye on Damion Jones, who signed with Oklahoma but bailed when Kelvin Sampson took the Indiana University job. He will be a strong presence down low for the Horns.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES:
Last Season’s Record: 22-9 (10-6 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NCAA Tournament, Loss in the second round.
Returning Starters: 4 (Joseph Jones, Acie Law, Marlon Pompey, Dominique Kirk)
Returning Players: 9
Want to know how to resurrect a team from oblivion? Just ask Billy Gillespie. What Coach Gillespie has done at Texas A&M is nothing short of remarkable. In the 3 seasons prior to his arrivale, the Aggies (22-9, 10-6) had won 9, 14, and 7 games respectively. Since taking over the Aggies, Gillespie has led them to a 43-19 record…not to mention a 2nd round showing at the NCAA tournament (where they eventually lost on a last second shot to LSU, who went on to the Final Four). Look for big things out of this team. There isn’t any reason why they can’t challenge for the Big XII title, and also make some more noise at the NCAA tournament.
It all starts at the point guard position, with senior Acie Law leading the way. Acie is one of the best shooters in the Big XII, and can take over games when he’s on. The perfect complement to Acie is A&M’s bruiser in the paint, Joseph Jones. Jones always seemed to step up in big games (31 pts and 11 bds against Texas) and provided some much needed presence in the paint for this team. Jones can’t do it alone, though, and that’s where star recruit Bryan Davis comes in. He should provide some help on the boards, where the Aggies struggled.
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS:
Last Season’s Record: 15-17 (6-10 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 5 (Jarrius Jackson, Darryl Dora, Jon Plefka, Michael Prince, Martin Zeno)
Returning Players: 10
For only the second time in his coaching career, one of Bob Knight’s teams finished with a losing record. Don’t expect that trend to continue. Coach Knight figures to be the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history this season. He stands only 10 wins behind the legendary Dean Smith. Once Bob Knight steps down, his son, Pat, will succeed him…but for now, The General isn’t ready to call it quits. Despite the Red Raider’s (15-17, 6-10) losing record last season, they should bounce back and challenge for another Big Dance berth.
The leader of this team is All-Big XII performer Jarrius Jackson., the league’s scoring average leader from 2005-2006. 4 other starters join him on this squad, along with newcomer/Juco transfer Rogdrick Craig (yes, that last name looks familiar…he’s former NFL great Roger Craig’s son). With more experience, and many transfers on the roster, this team should be improved over last season.
Predicted Finish
1. Kansas
2. Texas A & M
3. Texas
4. Kansas State
5. Oklahoma State
6. Texas Tech
7. Baylor
8. Oklahoma
9. Colorado
10. Missouri
11. Iowa State
12. Nebraska
BAYLOR BEARS:
Last Season’s Record: 4-13 (4-12 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 4 (Aaron Bruce, Tim Bush, Mamadou Diene, Curtis Jerrells)
Returning Players: 10
There has to be a place in heaven reserved for Scott Drew. After the murder incident, and all of the blemishes to the Baylor program before he took over, it was a job that very few would have considered. That didn’t scare Scott Drew. He rolled up his sleeves and went to business. Last season, the Bears (4-13, 4-12), weren’t allowed to play any non-conference games due to the sanctions bestowed by the NCAA. The Bears return 4 starters, and they are finally at capacity with their roster. Coach Drew has a solid bunch to work with, in addition to having the 17th ranked recruiting class. (Rivals.com).
Coach Drew’s recruiting efforts are well respected around the league. He was able to land three top 100 targets: Demond Carter, Josh Lomers, and Djibril Thiam. Mix these athletic youngsters with talented returners like Aaron Bruce and Curtis Jerrells, and you have an opportunity to make some noise in the Big XII.
COLORADO BUFFALOES:
Last Season’s Record: 20-10 (9-7 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NIT Tournament, Loss in First Round.
Returning Starters: 1 (Richard Roby)
Returning Players: 6
A shocking announcement just came out that Coach Ricardo Patton will resign at the end of the season. The Buffaloes had a solid season but didn’t make the NCAA tourney last season. They won 20 games. They managed a winning record in the league. So what gives? Their weak out of conference schedule killed them. Unfortunately for Buff fans, star player Richard Roby is the only returning starter. Starting guard Marcus Hall is ineligible for the fall semester (academics). There will be a lot of young faces, and those players must step up for Colorado to have a chance.
It sounds like Roby has a positive attitude and plans to stick around to refine his game. He is picked as a Street & Smith’s All-American, and he’s only a junior. That’s great news for CU, as he provides a block to build around. Now, if the other members will step up and help him out, things could turn out pretty positive for this team.
IOWA STATE:
Last Season’s Record: 16-14 (6-10 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 2 (Jiri Hubalek, Rahshon Clark)
Returning Players: 8
Yet another new coach enters the picture for a Big XII team. This time, it’s Greg McDermott. Coach McDermott is coming off some a great run at Northern Iowa, that saw him take the Panthers to 3 straight NCAA tourney appearances. If Coach McDermott can continue to work his connections in Iowa, he should be able to bring success to the Cyclone program.
Things were looking very positive for the ISU backcourt, as Curtis Stinson and Will Blalock were expected back. Both decided to move on and enter the NBA draft with the coaching change. Only 3 players received quite a bit of playing time last season, so this squad will be inexperienced. Rahshon Clark will need to step up as the leader. He returns from a season in which he averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds a game.
KANSAS JAYHAWKS:
Last Season’s Record: 25-8 (13-3 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NCAA Tournament, Loss in the Round 1.
Returning Starters: 5 (Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Sasha Kaun, Julian Wright, Russell Robinson)
Returning Players: 10
This year’s team is Bill Self’s most talented yet. Coming off a Big XII tourney championship, Kansas is ranked in the top 5 in most major publications. All for good reason, as they return many young players, including their starting 5, from a team that proved to be pretty formidable last season. The knock last year was in regards to costly mistakes from inexperienced youth. This season, the experience is there and that shouldn’t be a problem. Anything less than a Big XII championship and a deep tourney run, with a possible national championship, would be a disappointment for Bill Self‘s crew.
Brandon Rush is the big name on the team, as he won first team All-Big XII last season, but don’t forget about Julian Wright and Mario Chalmers. These sophomore sensations are going to wreak havoc on teams. Throw in super recruits Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur, and you have one of the most talented rosters in the nation.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS:
Last Season’s Record: 15-13 (6-10 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 4 (Cartier Martin, David Hoskins, Akeem Wright, Clent Stewart)
Returning Players: 8
“Huggieville”, “Got Huggs?” , etc…. The t-shirts go on and on. Bob Huggins is in town, and Manhattan is abuzz. The Wildcat Nation has accepted Bob Huggins with open arms, and the expectations have already begun. For starters, the recruiting scene has already changed dramatically. Recruits that never would have considered KSU are now committing, or considering commitment. Just like that, it’s all going to be different. The Wildcats (15-13, 6-10) lost several games by 5 points or less last season, and that falls back to coaching. With Huggins, one of the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history, that shouldn’t be an issue this year. This team had the talent to make The Big Dance last year, and few players are gone. With the returning talent, and with the new recruits Huggins has brought in, an NCAA bid is the expectation.
Cartier Martin just might be the most underrated player in the Big XII. Sure, he made 2nd team All-Big XII a year ago, but an argument could be made that he should have been first team. He was in the top 10 in the league in several major categories by season’s end, and should only be better this year. Although undersized, David Hoskins (6’5”) proved to be a respectable player in the post last year. The only starter gone from last year played at the center position, where 5 star recruit Jason Bennett (7’3”) aims to be a factor. The word is that he lacks skill on offense, but is a solid defender. He should be able to create some problems in other team’s game plans. A recent bit of news is that ‘07 5 star recruit Bill Walker will be joining the team after the fall semester ends, in December.
MISSOURI TIGERS:
Last Season’s Record: 12-16 (5-11 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 2 (Marshall Brown, Jason Horton)
Returning Players: 7
After several 20 win seasons, the Tigers took a dip last year and it ultimately was the straw that forced head coach Quin Snyder out the door. In comes Mike Anderson, former coach for University of Alabama-Birmingham. In his 4 seasons at UAB, all Mike Anderson did was take his teams to 3 NCAA tourneys and an NIT berth. He also accumulated an 89-41 record in those 4 years at UAB. He’s proven to be a pretty good coach.
Missouri will miss leading scorer Thomas Gardner, who left early to enter the NBA draft, but they return quite a bit of experience. There are only 2 freshmen listed on the roster. 11 out of 15 players are upperclassman. There are some Juco transfers, such as Stefhon Hannah, that could get extensive playing time, and look for freshman Keon Lawrence to possibily get minutes as well.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
Last Season’s Record: 19-14 (7-9 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NIT Tournament, Loss in the Round 1.
Returning Starters: 3 (Aleks Maric, Charles Richardson Jr., Jamel White)
Returning Players: 9
Barry Collier moved on to Butler to fill an administrative position, and in enters Doc Sadler. Coach Sadler was able to make some waves at his previous stop, UTEP. We’ll see if he’s able to bring that success to the Huskers, who’ve remained a mediocre program for some time. His first hurdle was to keep his star player Aleks Maric. Maric planned to leave the program, but Coach Sadler convinced him to come back.
After a few NIT appearances, Husker fans will be expecting to reach the next level soon. An NCAA tourney appearance would be a nice gift. There isn’t a lot of returning experience down low, but with Maric back and some talent coming back at the guard positions, this team has a little to work with. Don’t expect anything big, though.
OKLAHOMA SOONERS:
Last Season’s Record: 20-9 (11-5 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NCAA Tournament, Loss in the first round.
Returning Starters: 2 (David Godbold, Austin Johnson)
Returning Players: 8
Another new situation. Kelvin Sampson is out (to Indiana) and Jason Capel (former Duke player) is in. Coach Capel had some success at Virginia Commonwealth, and now he looks to transfer that success over to the Sooners’ hardcourt. The bad news is, Kevin Bookout and Taj Gray are gone. There goes the presence in the front court. Not to mention, a few top recruits backed out of their commitments once Sampson left. The good news is, Michael Neal is back (last year’s Top Newcomer of the Year). He should give Coach Capel a nice starting block with this team, but they will struggle.
OU is loaded with guards, but as mentioned, their front court will be lacking. Unless someone steps up in the paint, this could be a long season for Oklahoma. Their fans are used to success, as Coach Sampson went to the NCAA tourney 11 out of 12 years. This will be a transition year, so there are a lot of unpredictable variables out there.
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS:
Last Season’s Record: 17-16 (6-10 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 5 (Mario Boggan, Kenny Cooper, JamesOn Curry, Bryon Eaton, Terrel Harris)
Returning Players: 8
Legendary coach Eddie Sutton stepped down. In comes his son, Sean Sutton. Don’t bet on Oklahoma State (17-16, 6-10) being a non-factor this season. Eddie has been at the helm, but it could be argued that Shawn has been coaching this team as much as his father, if not more. Oklahoma State has been a mainstay in the upper half of the Big XII for some time, and should continue this tradition. All of the late season starters are returning, as this team only has 2 freshmen. This is one of the few rosters in the Big XII with primarily all upper classmen.
Mario Boggan is the top return man for the Cowboys. He led the team in points and rebounds, and figures to be a force again. Look for recruit Obi Muonelo to contribute early on this team. He was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Oklahoma last year.
TEXAS LONGHORNS:
Last Season’s Record: 30-7 (13-3 in the BigXII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NCAA Tournament, Loss in the Elite 8 round.
Returning Starters: None
Returning Players: 4
Poor Rick Barnes, right? I mean, the poor guy lost his entire starting lineup. What in the world will he do now? Reload. That’s what Coach Barnes will do. The roster is very young, with 7 freshmen listed, but don’t let that fool you. Coach Barnes is a superb recruiter and hasn’t disappointed again. He managed to land the number 3 recruiting class, according to Rivals.com. This Texas team, despite it’s youth, will be good. Sorry, Texas haters, but this doesn’t look to be a down season for the Longhorns (30-7, 13-3). Just like in football, there are no down years. The ability to lock and load year in and year out is what makes this program the envy of many, and for good reason. Expect another solid year out of Barnes’ crew, even if they don’t put together another 30 win season.
Texas managed to land Kevin Durant, one of the top recruits in the nation, who would have gone into the NBA draft had they not instilled the new 19-year-old age limit. He will come onto the Big XII scene in a hurry, and will show athleticism many teams have never seen before. Also keep an eye on Damion Jones, who signed with Oklahoma but bailed when Kelvin Sampson took the Indiana University job. He will be a strong presence down low for the Horns.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES:
Last Season’s Record: 22-9 (10-6 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: Qualified for NCAA Tournament, Loss in the second round.
Returning Starters: 4 (Joseph Jones, Acie Law, Marlon Pompey, Dominique Kirk)
Returning Players: 9
Want to know how to resurrect a team from oblivion? Just ask Billy Gillespie. What Coach Gillespie has done at Texas A&M is nothing short of remarkable. In the 3 seasons prior to his arrivale, the Aggies (22-9, 10-6) had won 9, 14, and 7 games respectively. Since taking over the Aggies, Gillespie has led them to a 43-19 record…not to mention a 2nd round showing at the NCAA tournament (where they eventually lost on a last second shot to LSU, who went on to the Final Four). Look for big things out of this team. There isn’t any reason why they can’t challenge for the Big XII title, and also make some more noise at the NCAA tournament.
It all starts at the point guard position, with senior Acie Law leading the way. Acie is one of the best shooters in the Big XII, and can take over games when he’s on. The perfect complement to Acie is A&M’s bruiser in the paint, Joseph Jones. Jones always seemed to step up in big games (31 pts and 11 bds against Texas) and provided some much needed presence in the paint for this team. Jones can’t do it alone, though, and that’s where star recruit Bryan Davis comes in. He should provide some help on the boards, where the Aggies struggled.
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS:
Last Season’s Record: 15-17 (6-10 in the Big XII)
Post Season Achievements: None.
Returning Starters: 5 (Jarrius Jackson, Darryl Dora, Jon Plefka, Michael Prince, Martin Zeno)
Returning Players: 10
For only the second time in his coaching career, one of Bob Knight’s teams finished with a losing record. Don’t expect that trend to continue. Coach Knight figures to be the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history this season. He stands only 10 wins behind the legendary Dean Smith. Once Bob Knight steps down, his son, Pat, will succeed him…but for now, The General isn’t ready to call it quits. Despite the Red Raider’s (15-17, 6-10) losing record last season, they should bounce back and challenge for another Big Dance berth.
The leader of this team is All-Big XII performer Jarrius Jackson., the league’s scoring average leader from 2005-2006. 4 other starters join him on this squad, along with newcomer/Juco transfer Rogdrick Craig (yes, that last name looks familiar…he’s former NFL great Roger Craig’s son). With more experience, and many transfers on the roster, this team should be improved over last season.
Predicted Finish
1. Kansas
2. Texas A & M
3. Texas
4. Kansas State
5. Oklahoma State
6. Texas Tech
7. Baylor
8. Oklahoma
9. Colorado
10. Missouri
11. Iowa State
12. Nebraska