PAGE 8
FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
COMMENTARY
Texas in the tourney: no representation, no excuse
If you type, "Division I Basketball Schools" into Google, there are a few suggestions for your search, per the norm.
The number: 21.
The fourth suggestion is an innocent note that sends a big message about what's happened in college basketball this season.
"Division 1 Basketball Schools in Texas"
There are 21 Division I schools in Texas, and none — zero. zilch. nada
— made the field of 68 in the NCAA Tournament. Not only that, but the South Regional, the host of the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, is in Texas. And not only is it in Texas, it's in the epitome of what Texas seems to stand for. This is Jerry's World, otherwise known as Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, where the video board stretches longer than the court and a bronze statue of Tom Landry greets you at the front.
this isn't just any host for the regional final. This is the biggest and best stadium in sports. Why doesn't Texas basketball keep up?
The answer isn't easy, but the few that have seen the changing landscape of high school and college sports seem to have an idea. Take Tom Inman, coach at Grand Prairie High School in Dallas, for example.
Mr. Inman won the 2006 SA State Championship at Plano Sr. High School, and he has seen the talent born and raised in the football land that is Texas.
"It's as good as anywhere," Inman said. "If not the best."
Yes, Texas is home to some of the best basketball in the United States. Yet, there isn't a single Texas team in the NCAA Tournament. It just doesn't make sense. It's really not acceptable.
There are the big money programs like Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor who have no excuse. They have the opportunity to recruit talent like no other.
Names like Grant Hill, Chris Bosh, Deron Williams, Mookie Blaylock and DeAndre Jordan are just a few that can be plucked from the seemingly endless list of professional talent from the Lone Star State.
So, the players are there, but they don't seem to stay in Texas. Inman has seen cases where Duke, Kansas or Kentucky can come into a recruit house and offer national appeal thats too much to turn down. "They're gone." Inman said.
Inman used Julius Randle as an example of Texas' recent collegiate basketball struggles. Randle goes to high school in Dallas and is the No. 3 prospect in the country according to ESPN.com. He recently picked Kentucky over Kansas and Texas among other schools.
"It's hard when a Julius Randle goes national," Inman said. "They get picked out."
Everything is bigger in this state. right? It's supposed to be better too. For a regional game that's in Dallas
They may get plucked away onto bigger and better programs, but still, that doesn't give Texas any excuse to be shut out of the tournament.
SO, WHERE ARE THESE DIVISION I SCHOOLS ANYWAY?
Baylor University Bears Waco Big 12 Conference
University of Houston Cougars Houston Conference USA
Houston Baptist University Huskies Houston Great West Conference
Lamar University Cardinals Beaumont Southland Conference
University of North Texas Mean Green Denton Sun Belt Conference
Prairie View A&M University Panthers Prairie View Southwestern Athletic Conference
Rice University Owls Houston Conference USA
Sam Houston State University Bearkats Huntsville Southland Conference
Southern Methodist University Mustangs University Park Conference USA
Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks Nacogdoches Southland Conference
Texas A&M University Aggies College Station Southeastern Conference
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Islanders Corpus Christi Southland Conference
University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks Arlington Western Athletic Conference
University of Texas at Austin Longhorns Austin Big 12 Conference
Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Fort Worth Big 12 Conference
University of Texas at El Paso Miners El Paso Conference USA
University of Texas—Pan American Broncs Edinburg Great West Conference
University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners San Antonio Western Athletic Conference
Texas Southern University Tigers Houston Southwestern Athletic Conference
Texas State University—San Marcos Bobcats San Marcos Western Athletic Conference
Texas Tech University Red Raiders Lubbock Big 12 Conference
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