Previews/Recaps
Previewing Saturday's Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship - Predictions and Commentary
by Evan Pfaff on Mar 13, 2010 8:00 AM CST
in Previews/Recaps
1 comment
No. 1 Kansas vs No. 4 Texas A&M - ESPN 5:00 p.m. CST
A great match-up, and a fitting way to end a solid week of play. Intra-state rivals clash in Kansas City, as the Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas St Wildcats meet up for the third time this season. The first meeting was an epic battle that ended with Sherron Collins cementing his Jayhawk legacy. The second meeting, in Lawrence, wasn't as close, as the Jayhawks dominated the Wildcats in all facets of the game.
This one will be somewhere between those two games. Somewhere between overtime and a 17-point blowout. The two-headed partisan crowd, half dressed in red and blue, half dressed in purple will get the Sprint Center a-rockin, but in the end the number one seed will show why they've been the cream of the Big 12 crop all season.
Denis Clemente, Jacob Pullen and Jamar Samuels will put up a good fight, but at the end of the day Collins, Cole Aldrich, the Pick-a-Morris twins, Xavier Henry and company will head into the NCAA tourney as the number one overall seed after getting past K-State in this brutal affair.
1 comment | 0 recs |
Big 12 Tourney Final Four Recap... Scores, Recaps and Players of the Games
by Evan Pfaff on Mar 12, 2010 11:15 PM CST
in Previews/Recaps
0 comments
We're down to two teams left. The number one seed and their intra-state rivals. Both could have lost on Friday night, having trailed in their games, but both found a way to pull through.
After the Jump see complete scores, recaps and players of the games for each of the two games.
0 comments | 0 recs |
Previewing Friday's Big 12 Conference Tournament Action - Predictions and Commentary
by Evan Pfaff on Mar 12, 2010 9:01 AM CST
in Previews/Recaps
2 comments
All four top seeds advanced on Thursday, making for some interesting games on Friday.
No. 1 Kansas vs No. 4 Texas A&M - Big 12 Network 6:00 p.m. CST
I wouldn't say Kansas was close to being upset by Texas Tech, but it was a close game.
I wouldn't say Texas A&M was close to being upset by Nebraska, but it was a close game.
So one might say that both teams are looking for their grove after coming off close games. Luckily for KU, though, they are loaded and playing a virtual home game. Sure Lawrence is still 40 minutes outside of the Sprint Center, but tell that to the completely partisan crowd. There will be more red and blue in attendance than maroon and white. Oh yeah, that and KU is absolutely LOADED. The Jayhawks need to contain Donald Sloan on the perimeter, and Sherron Collins and Xavier Henry will be up for the task. They also need to contain Bryan Davis down low, and they've got Cole Aldrich and the Morris twins to take care of that. And once they've locked those guys down, they might as well start thinking about the breakfast buffet at the Sheraton, because they are spending another night in the City of Fountains.
No. 2 Kansas St. vs No. 3 Baylor - Big 12 Network 8:30 p.m. CST
These teams are stock full of superstars, making this the game of the conference tourney I have been waiting for. K-State has Jacob Pullen, Denis Clemente and Thursday's star Jamar Samules. Baylor has Tweety Carter, LaceDarius Dunn and Ekpe Udoh starting for them. All told you have 5 on the Big 12 Hoops All Big 12 Squads, including the defensive player of the year, and the conference's official 6th man of the year. So this should be a good and close one, one I wouldn't be surprised to see going into overtime. In the end, though, it'll be Udoh's defense that rattles the Wildcats just enough to squeak out the W.
2 comments | 0 recs |
Big 12 Tourney 2nd Round Recap... Scores, Recaps and Players of the Games
by Evan Pfaff on Mar 11, 2010 11:02 PM CST
in Previews/Recaps
0 comments
The headline nationally is that Kansas won its 2000th game, but in local news I don't have to sell plasma to pay off a what I thought would be a breeze of a statement.
Thanks to the Texas A&M Aggies, I am not on the hook for paying all commenters to the tournament preview $100 each, as I said I would if Nebraska won the whole thing. The Corn did scare me on Wednesday when they took out Missouri, but the Aggies gigged 'em and live to see another day.
In the late game, the low seeds also swept, thanks in large part K-State's Jamar Samuels who picked a good time to score a career high and Ekpe Udoh who proved his worth as newcomer of the year.
See all the scores, recaps and players of the games after The Jump.
0 comments | 0 recs |
Previewing Thursday's Big 12 Conference Tournament Action - Predictions and Commentary
by Evan Pfaff on Mar 11, 2010 9:00 AM CST
in Previews/Recaps
2 comments
Let's hope I do better than my predictions on yesterday's games...
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 9 Texas Tech - ESPN2 11:30 a.m. CST
Texas Tech put on a solid showing on Wednesday in their win over Colorado. Four Red Raiders poured in double-digits and defensively they held CU to under 43% shooting from the field. Well, news flash, KU aint CU. For as well as TT played on Wednesday, they will need to triple, or quadruple their effort in order to take down the 1 seed. Not impossible, but considering the Jayhawks won by 26 in their only meeting this season, Texas Tech will need a miracle to win this one. Cole Aldrich, the Morris twins and the guard combination of Sherron Collins and Xavier Henry will be too much, once again, as KU steam rolls.
No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 12 Nebraska - Big 12 Network 2:00 p.m. CST
Nebraska's win over Mizzou got me one step closer to having to downgrade the size of my house as my cockiness made a promise my checkbook can't cash. Luckily for me, though, Nebraska has to face a stubborn A&M team led by Donald Sloan and Bryan Davis. The Huskers, a respectable 11 point loser in College Station to open Big 12 play, will need another defensive game like they displayed on Wednesday, holding Mizzou to hitting only 1 of every 3 shots the Tigers took. If this happens, I may need to ask people for recommendations on selecting a religion that pays the quickest dividends.
No. 2 Kansas State vs. No. 7 Oklahoma St - Big 12 Network 6:00 p.m. CST
The Cowboys finally let me peel my hands from my face, which were cemented in a "Home Alone" pose for the first two games. Sure the Red Raiders victory was just a 9 over an 8, but it was an upset none-the-less. The other one before the Cowboys? Well, let's not talk about that one. But finally the stars aligned and all seemed right again in the universe after Ok State dismantled their intra-state rivals, the Oklahoma Sooners. Now they face a tough K-State team, poised to rebound after an end-of-the-season loss to Iowa St. And rebound they will. Behind the guard play of Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente and inside play of Jamar Samuels, the Wildcats will be able to fend off a James Anderson onslaught well enough to prolong the short drive back to Manhattan at least one more day.
No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 6 Texas - ESPN2 8:30 p.m. CST
The final game of the night provides a good match-up. The former #1 team in the nation vs the team a lot of folks think can win the whole tournament. Texas looked good in beating 11-seed Iowa State, led by Damion James' 28 pt, 16 reb performance. James might not get the looks he got at the basket in this one though. Baylor's Ekpe Udoh, who a lot of folks feel is the best defender in the league, will make it harder for James and Co. to score as easily as they did vs the Clones on Wed night. Texas' lack of a PG will allow Baylor's Tweety Carter to run his style, freeing up the likes of LaceDarius Dunn for good looks at the basket. All told, Baylor will come out with this victory and continue their march to a second straight championship game.
2 comments | 0 recs |
Big 12 Tourney 1st Round Recap... Scores, Recaps and Players of the Games
by Evan Pfaff on Mar 10, 2010 10:59 PM CST
in Previews/Recaps
0 comments
I'm not going to lie, I have been investigating get rich quick schemes and also been looking into day trading after Nebraska toppled Mizzou Wednesday afternoon. Three more victories and I owe all commenters $100 each... If anyone knows of a way to quickly round up several thousand dollars, I am all ears. If need be, we can deal legality of the proposal after the fact.
So it is with shaking hands that I submit scores, recaps and players of the games for all of Wednesday's First Round Big 12 Tournament action. See all the info after The Jump.
0 comments | 0 recs |
Previewing Wednesday's Big 12 Conference Tournament - Predictions and Commentary
by Evan Pfaff on Mar 10, 2010 9:30 AM CST
in Previews/Recaps
4 comments
The first day of the Big 12 Tournament! Exciting times for everyone. From top seeded Kansas to 12th seeded Nebraska, everyone's NCAA tournament hopes start here.
No. 8 Colorado vs. No. 9 Texas Tech - Big 12 Network 11:30 a.m.
Colorado is playing its best basketball of the year and just defeated Texas Tech in a high scoring affair in Boulder. While I don't see the Buffs breaking the 100-point barrier in this one, the tandem of Alec Burks and Cory Higgins will again be too much for the Red Raiders to handle. CU will take this one and face top seeded Kansas on Thursday.
No. 5 Missouri vs. No. 12 Nebraska - Big 12 Network 2:00 p.m.
Mizzou loses when its shots don't fall and their opponent capitalizes on long, sustained scoring droughts. I cannot tell you if Mizzou's shots will be dropping in this one, but what I can tell you is Nebraska isn't talented enough to capitalize if they don't. Mizzou wins and will face A&M on Thursday.
No. 7 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 Oklahoma - Big 12 Network 6:00 p.m.
Two words: James Anderson. The third meeting between these bitter rivals will be one that Sooner fans will try and erase quickly out of their minds. Anderson has my vote as league MVP and will put on a show, both because it is against the cross-state enemy but more importantly because he can.
No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Iowa State - Big 12 Network 8:30 p.m.
The intriguing match-up of the night rounds out the day. You look at these teams on paper and think that ISU finished 11th in conference and won only 4 conference games. Also in the back of your noggin you remember that UT was once ranked #1 in the country. Well, you can forget everything you know. ISU is coming off a huge victory in Manhattan, KS over 5th ranked Kansas State. Texas is struggling and has lost 8 of its last 14, and lost starting PG Dogus Balbay for the season. The interior play of Dexter Pittman will be limited because of the energy he must exude to guard Clone big men Craig Brackins and Marquis Gilstrap. In every other preview I've written I always say something like "ISU is good, but will come up a wee bit short in this one." Well, I'm changing my tune here, as a good ISU team will have enough to sneak out an upset victory.
4 comments | 0 recs |
Big 12 Tournament Previews - Why Each Team Can Win It... and Why They Can't
by Evan Pfaff on Mar 9, 2010 9:00 AM CST
in Previews/Recaps
31 comments
Want to know why each Big 12 team will win the tournament? Or why each will lose it?
After The Jump, we breakdown all league teams, from the top seeded Kansas Jayhawks to the bottom dwelling Nebraska Cornhuskers, and explain, in detail, why you can see the nets being cut down by any of the 12 conference teams (well, truthfully 11 have a legit shot)
31 comments | 0 recs |
Showing 1 - 8 of 48 Older
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
