Big 12 Hoops Conference Call

This weeks Big 12 Hoops Conference Call questions are below. Find out thoughts on our favorite and least favorite Big 12 moments from 2010 as well as what (if any) big time plans we have going on for the start of 2011.

As usual any and all comments are welcome.

1. Oklahoma vs Texas Tech in a 7 game series. Who wins?

2. Extremely broad question here. What is wrong with Baylor?

3. Favorite Big 12 basketball moment of 2010? Worst moment?

4. Tim Tebow got his first NFL win as a starter in comeback fashion. Small sample size so far but thoughts on how Tebow is going be as NFL QB.

5. Big New Year Eve's Plans?

 1. Oklahoma vs Texas Tech in a 7 game series. Who wins?

MP: Whoever doesn't watch... In truth probably Oklahoma. At least they have a history of success under their coach. Tech is probably the more talented team, but that doesn't matter if you can't take advantage of that talent.

EP: This is one of those “If a tree falls and nobody hears it” scenarios… I’m going with Tech. To Matt’s point they have the talent, just not the coaching (although I’m unsure the Sooners have coaching).

JL: I like that answer Matt, guessing it would not be a highly attended contest right now. I am going to go with Texas Tech for some reason. Still like the seniors in Roberson & Singletary for Tech.

2. Extremely broad question here. What is wrong with Baylor?

MP: The easy answer is they don't have anyone to run their offense. LaceDarius Dunn is a terrific shooter, but he can't create his own shot every possession. A.J. Walton needs to man up and take on the responsibilities of a point guard. They just aren't a good enough defensive team to hold teams under 60 points every game. That said, the Bears could cause major issues for teams in conference still. This is a very athletic, talented team even if they don't maximize their abilities.

EP: I was thinking the other day that not having Lace for the first few games ruined their rhythm. But after mulling it over, I don’t think that’s the case. Baylor had all the momentum going into the season: high expectations, talent, arguably the top freshman, an amazing 2011 incoming class. I wonder if it was all too much, too soon for a program and coach with little to no history?

JL: I am wondering if Baylor is just going through the motions right now after going on a deep run last year in NCAA Tourney to this year starting out with a bad non conference schedule to open. Kind of been hit in the mouth now playing better competition. I think they will still get it together, too much talent to go away. Plus they get 4 games in league play against Oklahoma & Texas Tech.

3. Favorite Big 12 basketball moment of 2010? Worst moment?

MP: My favorite moment was a bad moment for the conference. That moment has a name: Ali Farokhmanesh. That ill-advised three to topple the top-seeded Jayhawks was the most ludicrous shot I've ever seen. It was sort of fitting that only a fluke shot from a very disciplined team was the way the Jayhawks toppled. For my least favorite moment I think I'll take the Texas loss to Wake Forest. That game was absolutely hideous. Neither team wanted to win; both teams turned the ball over constantly; both teams missed foul shots with striking regularity; neither team deserved to head to the second round. And now Wake Forest continues to underachieve its way into the cellar of the NCAA, and Texas looks like a whole new team.

EP: My best and worst are in the same vein. The Big 12 got six teams into the tournament, and had great seeds, they got two (I’m going off memory here) into the Elite Eight, but stalled there. So my best moment was the potential for a Big 12 championship, and my worst was unrealized potential.

JL: My favorite moment was definitely the Kansas State-Xavier Sweet Sixteen game, it was exciting. I will clarify as a fan it was hard to watch at times since I was cheering for K-State, like when the refs refused to call Clemente for a foul and watching Jordan Crawford nail impossible shots. My lease favorite moment as a fan was probably how the Big 12 overall didn't get a team into the Final Four. I thought the Big 12 was the best basketball league in the country and then to not get a team in was frustrating.

4. Tim Tebow got his first NFL win as a starter in comeback fashion. Small sample size so far but thoughts on how Tebow is going be as NFL QB.

MP: Decent until he gets broken. Tebow needs to learn he cannot run in the NFL. If Michael Vick can't run without getting sandwiched, Tebow is asking to get absolutely crushed whenever he runs up the middle. If he can stay healthy though, I think he'll be a solid quarterback largely thanks to that work ethic that made him so obnoxious in college (a la Tyler Hansbrough). The questions about his throwing motion seem to have been solved, but I still think he's a long way from an elite NFL quarterback.

EP: I live in Denver, and love listening to talk radio. All callers same the same thing “TEBOW FOR PRESIDENT!” The guy has one win and most of his 300 yards, against the last ranked pass D in the NFL mind you, came on screen plays that anyone reading this could have thrown. I’m not saying he’s not going to get better, but for now I wouldn’t buy 2012 Super Bowl tickets if I were a Broncos fan. By the way.. if you ever want a good listen, former CU Buff and Denver Broncos is on a 4-6pm drive time sports talk radio show. He is great to listen to, and expresses his unabashed opinion on anything. His current take is that the Broncos needed to tank the season, draft Cam Newton and scrap the Tebow experiment.

JL: Count me as officially being on the bandwagon with Tebow. Maybe with what everyone seems to say that he is just a winner is true. Jeff George had a cannon arm and prototypical size but no one ever thought he cared or was a winner. I agree with the running aspect, but that can be blamed on the coaching staff in Denver who sometimes calls a horrible gameplan with him that is so conservative it's hard to watch. Gonna definitely be some games where he throws like 4 picks but seems like someone who is going to be around for awhile.

5. Big New Year Eve's Plans?

MP: Hopefully not. I'm much more into relaxing on New Years than anything else.

JL: If I make it too midnight it will be a mild upset.

EP: How lame do we sound? No big plans this year. I have a 5-month old future Big 12 hoopster so we are having some friends over and staying in.