With apologies to Boulder radio station KBCO and their "Much Too Early for a Question Question," I present the "Much Too Early for a Prediction" Prediction.

As I see it, there are three distinct tiers heading into the 2010-11 Big 12 basketball season. The upper tier should DESTROY the lower tier, and the middle tier will put on a good show against the upper tier, stealing a game or two but losing the majority.

With that said, considering all departures, signings and returning players, here's how the Big 12 will shake out.

1. Kansas St. Wildcats
2. Missouri Tigers
3. Kansas Jayhawks
4. Baylor Bears
5. Texas Longhorns
6. Colorado Buffaloes
7. Texas A&M Aggies
8. Oklahoma St Cowboys
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders
10. Oklahoma Sooners
11. Iowa St. Cyclones
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Thoughts?

,,, and in case you didnt get a chance to read them, after The Jump are my 2009-10 recaps and brief 2010-11 previews for all 12 teams.

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so... maybe I shouldn't listen to myself too often. Or maybe "myself" wasn't so wrong. Sure Baylor ended up on the losing end of the scoreboard, but in reality the game was winnable until the final 5 minutes, when they forgot to defensively rebound the ball.

Until that magic 5 minute mark it was Baylor's game to lose... and they abided, losing from that point on.

So... now there aren't any more Big 12 teams remaining and Big12Hoops.com is depressed and bored (picture a tumbleweed rolling across your monitor.)

But before we pop the Prozac, after The Jump read a complete wrap-up of the final Big 12 game of the season, including a recap, player of the game and score.

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(3) Baylor vs (1) Duke - 5:05p ET

i had a Duke-Baylor Great Eight match-up in my, now busted, bracket. Initially I had Duke winning and advancing to the Final Four. then I thought to myself, "Self, you write for Big12Hoops.com. You have seen Baylor play umpteen times this season. You know their strengths, weaknesses and ability as good as anyone. Do you really think Duke can beat Baylor when the Bears are playing at the top of their game?"

To that I replied, "You know what, Self? I think you're right." and so I changed my pick to Baylor.

If ther Bears don't win this one, then I will be 0fer the Final Four (KU, K-State, Kentucky were my other picks).

Coming off, possibly, their most dominating performance of the year versus St Mary's, I'm glad that myself told myself to change the pick. I don't think it'll be as masterful of a performance as Friday's affair, but i think that Baylor has the skill to defeat the Blue Devils. If not, I might not ever listen to myself again.

Besides, if the Bears lose, the Big 12 Hoops season will be over. Not a fun time for Big12Hoops.com.

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WOW, was I ever wrong. The Butler Bulldogs held off a late Kansas State charge to make it to their first ever Final Four... played in their hometown of Indianapolis. WOW. Simply WOW.

See a complete wrap=up, including a recap and playuer of the game, after The Jump.

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Before I start, lemme get this off my chest. I used to call this round the "Great Eight." makes sense, right? It rhymes. it is great. There is nothing wrong with that. But apparently because "Final Four" is alliteration, as is "Sweet 16," the powers that be determined that this round should be called the "Elite Eight."

I'm not buying what they're selling, though.

Ok, I feel better. As for the games...

SATURDAY

(2) Kansas St vs (5) Butler - 2:30p ET

Am I wrong or is there no way that Butler wins this game? i mean, come on. Butler? K-State is coming off an epic, almost once a generation, game and have the guard combination to beat anyone left in the tourney. Butler is a great story. A "Hoosiers" tale, if you will. An underdog team from Indiana, coming out and performing on a big stage. Can't you see "Hickory" written across their chests?

But this ain't ollywood. This is the Great Eight (yeah, I said it). this is reality. And for the Butler Bulldogs, reality bites.

I see Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente running the show, setting the tempo. i see Curtis Kelly ans Jamar Samuels using their big bodies to manhandle the undersized Bulldogs.

has this been written about Butler before (especially before the Syracuse game)? Sure, probably before every game they've played against a top team, but this time it'll come true.

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Not much to say about this one, folks. The featured Omar Samhan-Ekpe Udoh match-up turned out to be, well, a dud. Samhan did outscore Udoh, but Udoh had a game high 11 boards to lead the Bears to an easy victory.

Baylor had this one from the opening tip, and although outscored in the second half, they were in cruise control from the get go knowing they would live to see another day.

See a complete wrap-up, including recap and player of the game after The Jump.

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WOW. When I predicted that Kansas State's Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente would have 30 points, I meant combined... not damn close to 30 each. But in an epic Sweet 16 game, the Wildcats pulled through, thanks in large part to the guard combination and Curtis Kelly.

See the score, recap and player of the game after The Jump.

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THURSDAY

(2) Kansas St vs (6) Xavier - 9:37p ET

December 8, 2009. Manhattan, KS. Score: K-State 71 Xavier 56
There is no reason to think that this game will be any different. Sure, Xavier has gotten better, but so has K-State. In that first match-up Jacob Pullen scored 16 pts (14 in the second half) and was followed closely by Curtis Kelly's 15. Denis Clemente was held to 8 pts, his third lowest output of the season.

This time around, tough, I foresee the Pullen/Clemente guard combination pouring in 30+ total points. The Musketeers won't have enough fire power to respond and K-State will be playing again on Saturday.

FRIDAY

(3) Baylor vs (10) St Mary's - 7:27p ET

The face of the NCAA tournament's first weekend might very well be St Mary's Omar Samhan. The center averaged 201.5 ppg and 10.9 rpg during the regular season, as the Gaels went 11-3 in the WCC. But those who haven't been paying attention will notice a different center in this game, Baylor's Ekpe Udoh. Udoh's defense will be the difference in this one.

Forcing Samhan out of his game will make the Gaels run a different style of offense and will make them take ill-advised shots. This all leads to easy looks on the other end from either Tweety Carter, LaceDarius Dunn, or the Bears' other center Josh Lomers.

It has been a nice run for St. Mary's, but Cinderella's slipper will crack against better Baylor team.

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