It's December! That means the rust has been scraped off most college basketball teams, ahem Colorado, and real hoops is beginning to shine through. It is the prelude to the most wonderful time of the year!
If you have any thoughts, enter them in the comments.
1. The "Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series" kicked off with a Nebraska win over USC on Saturday. Who wins the series and which game are you most excited for?
2. President Obama took in an Oregon State-Howard basketball game over the Thanksgiving weekend. Given how bad Colorado has played, what in the world could convince the President to go to Boulder to attend the Beavers-Buffaloes game?
3. Oklahoma lost to Division II Chaminade. Is that the worst Big 12 basketball loss in recent memory?
4. Since it's the holiday season, what should Big 12 basketball fans be most thankful for?
5. What should Big 12 basketball fans be least thankful for?
1. The "Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series" kicked off with a Nebraska win over USC on Saturday. Who wins the series and which game are you most excited for?
Joe Loyd: Well I don't think there is too much debate that the Big 12 is a better basketball conference and should win the series as Nebraska beating USC the other night proved. The one game that I am really interested in watching is Missouri at Oregon. The Tigers should win but tough game to predict, interested to see how good Missouri is this year, I am not sold on them yet.
Matt Patton: Calling this a series is generous: the Pac 10 has two (maybe three) at-large tournament teams (Washington, UCLA, and Arizona). Other than Washington's games against Texas A&M and Texas Tech, I think the Big 12 should be favored (or the games will be toss-ups). I'm pretty excited to see how Iowa State handles Cal. So far I've been very impressed with the Cyclones so far (congratulations if you bet they would start out 6-0), but Cal beat a talented Temple team.
Evan Pfaff: The Big 12 wins the series, easily. I even suspect they'll outdo their 9-3 record last season. Hell, if Nebraska can get the party started then there is no telling where this will go. As for the game, I think it is funny Matt chose the Cal-ISU match-up. That isn't who I have. There really isn't a game on the slate I'd scalp tickets to see, but you can never go wrong with two of the winningest programs in history, UCLA and Kansas, square off.
2. President Obama took in an Oregon State-Howard basketball game over the Thanksgiving weekend. Given how bad Colorado has played, what in the world could convince the President to go to Boulder to attend the Beavers-Buffaloes game?
JL: Basically because his wife might make him since his brother in law is the Oregon State coach correct?? So even though President he still has to listen to his wife some of the time like the rest of us.
MP: Beautiful Boulder? Colorado has a long way to go. I can't believe I thought they were a sleeper NCAA team. Outside of Higgins and Burks (who aren't even playing that well) they really don't have anything going for them.
EP: Either he wants to come out and try and campaign to keep Colorado a Blue state or he is secretly a hippie. Other than that, there is no reason for him to waste taxpayer money on $4 nachos and $2 sodas in Boulder.
3. Oklahoma lost to Division II Chaminade. Is that the worst Big 12 basketball loss in recent memory?
JL: For regular season losses I would have to say so, nothing else is popping into my head right away, I am sure K-State has had some bad ones in fairly recent memory. KU has had some bad tournament losses but those were to obviously good teams.
MP: I really don't know what to say... Oklahoma never looked like they would beat Kentucky, but they made it relatively close. I never expected them to "rebound" from that loss with a couple bad losses to Virginia (who suddenly looks like they might not be a total ACC bottom-feeder after they beat Minnesota on the road, but still) and Chaminade. That's certainly the worst loss I can think of...
EP: Yes, it most certainly is the worst loss in Big 12 history.
4. Since it's the holiday season, what should Big 12 basketball fans be most thankful for?
JL: Well the biggest thing I can think of is that the conference still exists and can expect to have one helluva schedule next year. For this year going to be very exciting watching top teams battle it out: Missouri, KU, K-State & Baylor and can watch some new coaches at Iowa State & Colorado.
MP: Amen to that. I was sure the conference was collapsing this summer. But the Big 12 also has four teams in the top ten teams of the Coaches' poll! That's unbelievable... This is really a great conference (at the top, especially), and I know I'm just thrilled to be able to see Kansas, K-State, Mizzou, and Baylor battle it out for the conference title this season.
EP: I agree with both the guys, first that the conference is around and second that the conference is so top heavy. I also think we, as fans, should be thankful that besides great team play we get to see some of the most elite players in the country. In recent years we have had players of the years in Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley and Blake Girffin. Last season we had seven guys go in the first round. This season the conference reloads with Josh Selby, Perry Jones, Tristan Thompson maybe even Tony Mitchell.
5. What should Big 12 basketball fans be least thankful for?
JL: Hmmm nothing really popping into my head, least thankful that Big 12 games still come on after earlier games on ESPN and you never get to see the first few minutes of a Big 12 game. Always have to watch the last few minutes of those games where a team leads by 30 points but ESPN refuses to switch games.
MP: How about cupcakes? I hate that Baylor and Missouri still haven't played real teams yet (and Kansas could be added to that list, discounting Arizona). I mean it's nice to get some wins, but, as far as I'm concerned, the more bigtime nonconference games, the better.
EP: As good as the top is, the bottom is that bad. I would say that in addition to the crappy non-conference games there are some conference teams which are a little unbearable to watch night in and night out.
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