College Basketball - Part 5

We are up to the number 3 conference this year. We have the ACC, the Big East and the Big 12 left. All three of these conferences are highly competitive at the top, deep in the middle and all three also provide some strong national title contenders. With that said, I feel the Big 12 is the weakest of the three.

Let's run down, or up I guess, the Big 12 from 12 to 1.

12. Iowa State Cyclones - Here's the low-down on the cyclones. They are having trouble keeping guys in Ames. Coach Greg McDermott is entering his third year as head coach and only one, that's right, one guy is on the team now that was there when he got to Ames. Either from transfers or suspensions, he is losing all of his players. This means this team is young and inexperienced. Last year, Iowa State lost their last six games and 10 of their last 11. It doesn't sound good. Maybe this team will get better throughout the season but it won't be good enough.

11. Colorado Buffaloes - This is going to be another very young team. Lots of Freshmen and Sophomores are going to play for coach Jeff Bzdelik. He runs a Princeton style backdoor offense so a lot of the players who are going to play this year fit this system. I think this program is on the rise. It's going to depend on how this team matures throughout the year. Last year they upset Baylor in the Big 12 tournament. Don't be surprised if the Buffs surprise someone again this year late in the season.

10. Kansas State Wildcats - Let's be honest about one thing here, Michael Beasley and Bill Walker carried this team last year. Both are now playing in the NBA. Coach Frank Martin is counting on the experience of 10 returning players from last year's team that made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Like I said above, how much did those 10 guys produce last year? Not much.

9. Texas Tech Red Raiders - Pat Knight, not Bob Knight is now the coach after taking over 20 games into last season. Under Bob there was always one main top scorer and the rest were role players. Texas Tech doesn't have that this year but the plan is to play a more up-tempo style where scoring from everywhere is the main goal. If it works out this team could finish higher then this but with the limited talent on this roster I think 9th is about all they can hope for.

8. Nebraska Cornhuskers - This team is returning 4 starters from last years team that won 20 games and lost in the second round of the NIT. They were 17-3 at home and with more experience under their belt, I see this team winning more games on the road. I don't, however, see them winning as many at home. I think 20 wins for this team again would be wonderful and if they can win some close games on the road they may even squeak into the NCAA. This is one of the two or three teams that will need a win or two in the conference tournament to get into the big one.

7. Missouri Tigers - They finished 16-16 last year. That's the bad news. The good news is that the two best players on the team are both back and are both seniors now. Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll are going to have to played really well all season for the Tigers to stay in the hunt. If the role players do their jobs also this will be one of the other bubble teams in the Big 12.

6. Texas A&M Aggies - 21, 22, 27, and 25. Those are the total wins this program has had the past four seasons. That's pretty darn good. I know Acie Law was there for most of those but the core of this team that played last year is back this year. That was the 25 win season and a 2 point second round loss to UCLA last year in the NCAA's. Watch out for a kid named Josh Carter. He is a 6-7 swingman that has all conference skills. If he can step in the star role for this team, expect big things. Another trip to the tourney is very likely for this team.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys - Eddie Sutton is not the coach in Stillwater anymore. I think this will be a good thing for both the team and the former coach. It seemed as though Eddie was losing his touch with 3 subpar seasons in a row. This team has the skills to play with every team in the conference. Byron Eaton can make shots and make them from anywhere. He is an all-conference performer and if the other guys on the team can carry their load this team could play deep into March.

4. Baylor Bears - 5 years ago Baylor almost got rid of men's basketball after a murder within the program and an attempted cover-up by former coach Dave Bliss. Last year this team won 21 games and played in the NCAA a tournament. Coach Scott Drew deserves all the credit in the world for turning the program into a respected and solid program. This year the team will be led by all-conference performer Curtis Jerrells and super sophomore Aaron Bruce. I fully expect this program to be a Big 12 powerhouse for years to come.

3. Kansas Jayhawks - Last year's National Champions. This year it's a whole new team. Well, not a whole new team. Sherron Collins is back from last years team as the only returning starter. Cole Aldrich is the only other player that played significant minutes year as well. Bill Self did bring a lot of good players this year but the two big names Marcus and Markieff Morris are both facing possible academic ineligibility. This team is good and part of the third place ranking is Self's ability to coach the kids up and this may be his toughest test yet in Lawrence.

2. Oklahoma Sooners - Blake Griffin is all I really have to say here. This guy is an animal. He has dominated so far this season just like he was hyped up to do. He might be the best NBA prospect in the country is most certainly going to be mentioned in all-American conversations. He is a 6-10 sophomore who can score and rebound against anyone, anywhere. The off-season highlight for the Sooners was landing the Texas high school player of the year in Willie Warren. He will be a freshmen who can certainly contribute right away for this Oklahoma team. On the back of Griffin, this team can go real deep into any tournament they play in.

1. Texas Longhorns - They lost D.J. Augustin to the NBA but they still have A.J. Abrams. This is another guy who can score in bunches. This will be an experience team who will be playing most juniors and sophomores this season. This team won 31 games last year and made it to the regional final before getting thumped by Memphis. All these players know what its like to win and Rick Barnes is one of the nation's top coaches. Dogus Balbay will be the key to this team. He is the guy who is taking Augustin's position at point guard. If Balbay can have a good season this is definitely a final four team.

That's a wrap on the Big 12 and all we have left are the ACC and Big East. See which conference comes in at number 2 tomorrow and then on Saturday I will give my prediction for who is going to cut the nets down in April.