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.
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