Each time the Big 12 Conference holds its basketball tournament in Kansas City, my mind floods with the good ol’ days of the Big Eight Christmas Tournament at Municipal Auditorium. Geez, that was so much fun as a sports writer to cover.
Then the coaches mingled with the writers and generally it was all about enjoyment. Ideas exchanged. Old stories drew guffaws. Booze in the press room flowed. Good times were had by all.
That doesn’t mean good times are lacking now. But I betcha that the sports writers don’t have as much fun as we did back in those days. Back then it was free-wheeling; now it is more corporate and aloof. But fans still have outlets for the good times, from enjoying the games at the Sprint Center to quaffing $10 beers at the Power & Light District.
Yeah, yeah, the games. Got it. So how do you think they will go? Will Kansas, the No. 1 seed, please their many fans in the area? Will Kansas State last long enough to impress the NIT?
Well, let’s take a look at the action.
Wednesday
- 7 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 TCU. Interesting contrast in coaching situations. Tech’s Tubby Smith is drawing accolades as the conference coach of the year; Trent Johnson could be on the hot seat. The players will decide this one and the Red Raiders are playing well, winning six of their last eight games. If Johnson is in trouble, he will be in more trouble after the Horny Frogs lose.
- 8 Kansas State vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State. Is the Sprint Center like a home court for Kansas State? If it isn’t, chalk off another loss to the non-road warrior Wildcats. How Travis Ford has kept his job with the Cowboys must be locked up in some sort of mystic alliance made at Stillwater’s Eskimo Joe’s. By the way, K-State won at home 89-73 but lost at Oklahoma State in overtime 58-55. Cats will win.
Thursday
- 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 Kansas State. The Jayhawks will make this a three-game sweep. They just have way too much talent for the Cats. Although seemingly inconsistent at times, KU has won 10 straight conference games. Coach Bruce Weber will be as frenetic as ever on the sideline and once again lose to Bill Self.
- 2 West Virginia vs. No. 7 Texas Tech. The Mountaineers grope, shove, slap, nudge and perform all sorts of physical intimidation on defense. And it works. The refs apparently run out of air to blow their whistles. Tech has 38 turnovers in the two games against West Virginia this season. The Mountaineers win.
- 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Iowa State. One conference analyst said the Sooners looked as if they were playing tired. With run and gun Iowa State on the floor, they need to be rested. The Cyclones should have quite a following for the game and they can pull this one out, despite the presence of probably the best collegiate player, Buddy Hield, in OU’s starting lineup. Upset!
- 4 Texas vs. No. 5 Baylor. An intriguing matchup. Baylor’s zone oftentimes becomes lazy on the road, allowing easy mid-range jumpers. However, the Longhorns are a slash-to-the-basket team and a zone could be bothersome. The Bears’ Jonathan Motley has scored just two points in the last two games. He scored 24 in his team’s win over Texas but just five in the loss. The Bears have such a talent in Taurean Prince but they don’t seem to get the most out of him. Texas has the better coach and will win.
Friday
- 1 Kansas vs. No. 4 Texas. Zowie, it appears KU has the Longhorns kneeling as believers. The Jayhawks beat Texas 76-67 at home and then blew them away 86-56 in Austin. Perry Ellis will go wild inside in this tournament and KU will advance to the finals.
- 2 West Virginia vs. No. 6 Iowa State. Yes, you would pay to see this game instead of being all comfy in your easy chair at home. Georges Niang is so much fun to watch with his deft passing, spinning moves and quick-release shots. The Cyclones have won the last two tournament titles. The Mountaineers have too much physical presence and will win this game.
Saturday
- 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 West Virginia. Oh, a chalk prediction, huh. Go with the favorites, yeah. Hey, Kansas, playing in its friendly environs, won’t let an upstart way-out-of-the-neighborhood team come away with the championship trophy. However, Bob Huggins is one tough coach and he can fire up his team. Self is the best coach in college basketball and will find a way for his Jayhawks to win their tenth Big 12 tournament title.
There will be a lot of talent on the floor for the tournament. You expect that when six of the Big 12 teams are ranked in the Associated Press’ Top 25 — No. 1 Kansas, No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 9 West Virginia, No. 21 Iowa State, No. 22 Baylor and No. 23 Texas.
The players? Well take a look at the AP’s all-Big 12 first and second teams:
First
- Ellis, Kansas, Sr., 6-8, 225, Wichita, Kansas.
- Hield, Oklahoma, Sr., 6-4, 214, Freeport, Bahamas.
- Monte Morris, Iowa State, Jr., 6-3, 175, Flint, Michigan.
- Niang, Iowa State, Sr., 6-8, 230, Methuen, Massachusetts.
- Isaiah Taylor, Texas, Jr., 6-3, 185, South Hayward, California.
Second
- Rico Gathers, Baylor, Sr., 6-8, 275, LaPlace, Louisiana.
- Frank Mason III, Kansas, Jr., 5-11, 185, Petersburg, Virginia.
- Jaysean Paige, West Virginia, Sr., 6-2, 210, Jamestown, New York.
- Prince, Baylor, Sr., 6-8, 220, San Antonio.
- Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma, Sr., 6-8, 234, Bridge Creek, Oklahoma.
- Devin Williams, West Virginia, Jr., 6-9, 255, Cincinnati.