THE
UNIVERSITY DAILY LUNAR
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2006
SPORTS
3B
BIG 12 BASKETBALL
Defending champions lead poll
Preseason players of the year highlight Kansas roster; Texas A&M steps into second
BY DREW DAVISON
Kansas is the clear-cut favorite to win the Big 12 Conference for the second consecutive year this season. With traditional powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma on the down swing, it appears Texas A&M will be the team to beat in the South division. Here's a look at every school and where they stack up (in order of Big 12 preseason rankings).
Kansas
2005 record (25-8, 13-3)
Coach Bill Self
With Big 12. Preseason
With Big 12 Preseason Players
of the Year Brandon Rush and Julian Wright, the Jayhawks have an opportunity to run
the table in conference play. The backcourt also returns 2005 Big 12 All-Defensive team players Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers. Self, the reigning conference coach of the year, also brought in two McDonald's All-Americans with freshman Darrell Arthur and Sherron Collins. The Jayhawks are not just Big 12 contenders, but have national championship aspirations as well.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M
2005 Record (22-9, 10-6)
Coach Billy Gilpisie
A&M came within one point of knocking out last year's run-up-
Louisiana State in the NCAA tournament Gillipie led the Aggies to their first tournament appearance
since 1987. The Aggies return Big 12 First Team candidates, senior Acie Law and junior Joseph Jones.
The Aggies meet the Jayhawks Feb. 3 in Lawrence, when ESPN's College Gameday will be broadcasting live from Allen Fieldhouse.
Coach Sean Sutton
Oklahoma State
Sutton takes over for his first full season, replacing his dad, Hall of Fame Coach Eddie Sutton, who retired just four victories shy of 800. The Cowboys had a sub-par season last year and missed the NCAA tournament. But look for returning 2005
Big 12
Honorable
Mention
winners
Mario
Boggan
n d
Jameson Curry to lead the team back to the upper-tier of the conference. Kansas will play Oklahoma State Jan. 10 in Lawrence.
Texas
TEXAS
2005 Record (30-7, 13-3)
Coach Rick Barnes
The Longhorns lost 2005 Big 12 Player of the Year P.J. Tucker and LeMarcus Aldridge, a first team All-Big 12 selection to the NBA. UT also loses start.
ers Brad
Buckman
and Daniel
Gibson
from
a year ago.
With everyone leaving, it will be up to incoming freshman Kevin Durant to carry the Longhorns.
The Jayhawks and Longhorns face off in Allen Fieldhouse March 3 in the final conference game before the Big 12 tournament.
Kansas State
Kansas State
2005 record (15-13, 6-10)
Coach Bob Huggins
Huggins, known as "Huggy Bear," has brought excitement back to Manhattan because the Wildcats
a c t u l y might make the N C A A tourn e nt. Huggins is known for turning around basketball programs with blue-chip recruits — like 7-foot-3 freshman Jason Bennett — and competitive scheduling. The leader of the Wildcats this season will be senior Cartier Martin, who earned second team All-Big 12 last year. The Sunflower Showdown will be Feb. 7 in Lawrence and Feb. 19 in Manhattan.
Texas Tech
Texas tech
2005 record (15-17, 6-10)
Coach Bob Knight
Knight turned around the Red Raiders basketball program in his first year, taking them from eleventh in the conference to a tie for third. Last season, his team failed to make the tournament but should bounce back. Senior Jarrius Jackson scored 20 points or more in 18 games last
s e a s o n
en route
to being
n am e d
All-Big 12
first team.
M ar t i n
Zeno, a 6-5
junior
guard.looks
to be another key player this season. The Jayhawks and Red Raiders face off in Lubbock Jan. 20.
Bavlor
2005 record (4-13, 4-12)
Coach Scott Drew
Coming off a season where they were banned from nonconference play, Drew and the Baylor Bears will be in much better position come conference play this season. Baylor returns both starters in the back-court with sophomore Curtis Jerrells and junior Aaron Bruce. In the post, look for Mamadou Diene, a 7-0 sophomore center from Senegal who
has the size to become a force in the down low. Baylor and Kansas square off in Waco on Jan. 24.
The infamous Quin Snyder was finally fired at Missouri, and Mike Anderson took the job coming from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The Tigers' leading scorer from last season, Thomas Gardner, will not return. The top returner for Missouri will be Jason
Missouri
2005 record (12-16, 5-11)
Coach Mike Anderson
Horton, a 6-2 guard. The Border Showdown between Kansas and Missouri will
lege. Maric is a force down low for the 'Huskers, and guard Jamel White should have a solid sophomore season after a nice freshman year. The 'Hawks and 'Huskers meet each other Jan. 29 in Lincoln and Feb. 17 in Lawrence.
be Jan. 15 in Lawrence and Feb. 10 in Columbia.
Oklahoma
When former OU coach Kelvin Sampson bolted for Indiana, OU lost one of the premier coaches in the country. Capel, 31, coached at Virginia Commonwealth before moving to Oklahoma. The Sooners return Michael Neal, senior guard.
who was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year last season. Kansas and Oklahoma meet on Feb. 26 in a Big Monday game in Norman.
Iowa State
Okianoma 2005 record (20-9, 11-5)
Coach Jee Canel
Nebraska
Former coach Barry Collier left, which may be a good thing for Nebraska. Sadler coached University of Texas- El Paso the past two seasons, making an NCAA appearance
2005 record (19-14, 7-9)
Coach Doc Sadler
2005 record (16-14, 6-10)
Coach Greg McDermott
McDermott replaces Wayne Morgan as head coach after coaching at Northern Iowa. Morgan's team looked poised to have a strong season last year with former guards Curtis Stinson and Will Blalock but never lived up to its potential. McDermott
and an NITT appearance. Junior Aleks Maric thought about entering the NBA draft after 10 double
doubles last season, but opted to come back for another year of col-
comes into Ames, Iowa, with few players coming back. Junior Rahshon
Kansan sportswriter Drew Davison can be contacted at ddavison@kansan.com.
Clark 16 the team's top returner. Kansas plays Iowa State Jan. 13 in Ames, Iowa, and Feb. 24 in Lawrence.
Colorado team that meets Kansas on Jan. 27 in Lawrence and then on Feb. 14 in Boulder, Colo.
Colorado
2005 record (20-10, 9-7)
Coach Ricardo Patton
After missing the tournament the past two seasons, Patton is on the hot seat to get Colorado back to
— Edited by Catherine Odson
the tournament. Junior R i c h a r d Roby, All-Big 12 Team in 2005, will lead a young
lead a young
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