November 6, 2009 –
by Brendon
2008-09 in review: The Big 12 fit comfortably in the middle of the major-conference pecking order last season. Lacking an elite team as the flaws of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas revealed themselves, the league still had a depth of quality teams that helped it win all six of its first-round NCAA Tournament teams and send two squads to the Elite Eight.
The Big 12 also boasted the consensus player of the year last season in Blake Griffin. The athletic big man was unguardable down low, drawing more fouls than any other player in the country. He and freshman point guard Willie Warren helped the Sooners to a 25-1 start, but the Sooners stumbled into the NCAA Tournament. They reached the Elite Eight, nonetheless, losing there to national champion North Carolina by 12 points, the smallest margin of victory in UNC’s march to the title.
Missouri was the conference’s breakout team last winter. In Mike Anderson’s third season in Columbia, the Tigers finally got the 40 Minutes of Hell in place, becoming a sweltering pressing team led by DeMarre Carroll. Carroll, Leo Lyons and the rest of the 10-man rotation advanced to the Elite Eight with a 102-point effort against a Memphis team on a 27-game win streak. Read More »
Posted in Big 12
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Tagged 2009-10 season preview, A.J. Abrams, Ade Dagundoro, Austin Johnson, Avery Bradley, Baylor, Bill Self, Blake Griffin, Bryan Davis, Byron Eaton, Cade Davis, Chinemelu Elonu, Cole Aldrich, Colorado, Connor Atchley, Cookie Miller, Cory Higgins, Curtis Jerrells, D.J. Augustine, Damion James, DeMarre Carroll, Doc Sadley, Donald Sloan, Dwight Thorne, Elijah Johnson, Iowa State, J.T. Tiller, Jai Lucas, Jeff Bzdelik, Jeff Capel, Jordan Hamilton, Josh Carter, Jrue Holiday, Juan Patillo, Kansas, Kansas State, Karron Johnson, Keith Gallon, LaceDarius Dunn, Leo Lyons, Marcus Morris, Mark Turgeron, Marquis Gilstrap, Matt Lawrence, Mike Anderson, Mike Singletary, Missouri, Nebraska, Nolan Dennis, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Paul Velander, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Raymond Penn, Rick Barnes, Ryan Wright, Scott Drew, Shawn Williams, Sherron Collins, Steve Harley, Tennessee, Terrel Harris, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Thomas Robinson, Tommy Mason-Griffin, Tony Crocker, Travis Ford, Tyshawn Taylor, Wally Judge, Willie Warren, Xavier Henry
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February 2, 2009 –
by Brendon
Bracketing challenges: The distribution of seeds for the Big East continues to be a major hurdle for creating a balanced bracket. Here are the true seeds for the eight Big East teams in the field — 1, 2, 2, 2, 6, 6, 10, 11. That means that seven of the eight Big East teams should rightfully be placed in the bottom half of the four regions. But with only four spots, that means three teams have to move. This time, I moved two up — Villanova and Syracuse — and one down — Georgetown — at the expense of Minnesota and Dayton and to the benefit of Siena. If the Big East were to earn a ninth bid, then the job of bracketing the teams would actually become easier, because a ninth team would give me the flexibility to place one team in the same half of a region as another team from the league. Until then, though, no two teams from the same conference can be in the same group of eight.
The Bubble: There was a lot of movement on either side of the bubble but very little crossover. Georgetown, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State all stayed just in the field despite losses. All three teams were 0-2 last week and will have a tough time justifying a continuance with another loss. The schedule shifts in the favor of each team, so the three must take advantage. The Hoyas host Rutgers and the look for revenge against Cincinnati on Saturday. VaTech has the mid-week off before hosting Georgia Tech next Sunday. OSU hosts Texas Tech for what should be a brief respite before traveling to Kansas on the weekend. Read More »
Posted in Bracket Junkie, National Perspective
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Tagged A.J. Abrams, ACC, Baylor, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Billy Donovan, Bo Ryan, Butler, BYU, California, Calvin Booth, Chicago State, Cincinnati, Clemson, Connecticut, Connor Atchley, Dayton, Denis Clemente, DePaul, Dino Gaudio, Duke, East Tennessee State, Ed DeChellis, Florida, Frank Haith, Gary Johnson, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Gonzaga, Horizon, Illinois, Iman Shumpert, Indiana, Iowa, Jacksonville, Joe Crispin, John Beilein, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Lon Kruger, Louisville, Luke Harangody, Mark Turgeon, Marquette, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mick Cronin, Mid-Majors, Minnesota, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Mountain West, North Carolina, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Oliver Purnell, Oregon State, Pac-10, Penn State, Providence, Rick Barnes, Rutgers, San Diego, San Diego State, SEC, Siena, South Carolina, South Florida, Stanford, Stephen F. Austin, Steve Fisher, Syracuse, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas Tech, Titus Ivory, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Villanova, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington, Wisconsin, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wright State
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