TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2006
BIG 12 TOURNAMENT
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 5B
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Tournament just one step
Conference tournaments are big teases. They mean nothing.
Don't chase the title. The conference tournament only provides false hopes for the K-State's of the world, teams attempting to chase down an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. And for the teams who always get asked to the dance like Kansas, winning the conference tournament means a slip-up ahead.
Since the Big Eight Conference tournament's inception in 1977, the Jayhawks have won seven conference tournament titles. And only in 1986 did that carry over into a Final Four appearance. When Roy's boys were pumping out conference tourney titles like Missouri pumps out NCAA investigations, three straight conference tourney titles from 1997 to 1999, all led to heartbreak in the NCAA tournament.
In 1997, the best team in the regular season was Kansas. Everyone thought the Jayhawks, who lost only one game in the regular season and won the Big 12 tournament, were a lock for the Final Four and probably the national title.
But then Mike Bibby and Miles Simon came along in the Sweet 16 and sent Roy, and myself, home crying. And coincidently, the Pac 10 tournament didn't exist yet. Arizona entered the tournament with fresh legs. The next year Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz again led Kansas to another Big 12 Conference crown and a No. 1 seed in the tournament, which got them to the second round, where traditional powerhouse Rhode Island ended the season. And that wasn't even the biggest shocker scenario for a Jayhawk conference tournament. Back in 1992, Kansas, a No. 2 seed, met with Texas-El Paso in the second round. I know, sounds more like salsa than a basketball
By CJ MOORE
cjmoore@kansan.com
team. But the mighty Miners beat the Jawhaves 66-60.
So you're not convinced yet that a conference tournament championship is the key to doom and gloom in the Big Dance? Well, remember the 1988 team? OK, maybe you don't since you were watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and not the NCAA tournament. But you've heard how Danny and the Miracles won six straight games so they could cut the nets in Kansas City.
In the conference tournament that year, Kansas lost to K-State, when the Wildcats fielded somewhat teams. And in the Jayhawks next two big dance marches to the final game, 1991 and 2003, both teams lost in the conference tournament semi-finals. And in 1993 and 2002, both Final Four trips for the Jayhawks, both came off the coattails of semi-final setbacks in the conference tournament.
So don't worry about chasing the Big 12 postseason crown this week for the Baby Jayhawks. Don't flirt with a tease. My advice: lose on purpose. Get some rest. Because three straight victories down in Dallas won't win you a date with destiny. But three straight games in three straight days does lead most teams to fatigue and primed for an early exit in the NCAA tournament.
Moore is a Shawnee junior in journalism.
Kansas City or Dallas?
Both cities have appeal for Big 12
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
But that time has passed.
Eddie Sutton growled and grimaced on the perennially successful Oklahoma State sideline, the University of Texas version of Luke Axtell knocked down three after three despite the handicap of his curly hair rendering him nearly blind, and the postseason tournament meant Kansas City.
Remember the early days of Big 12 basketball?
Sean Sutton is now grimming and giving hope to a surprisingly mediocre Oklahoma State team, Axtell couldn't overcome his handicap of a bad back and is now living out his dream on a Texas ranch, and the Big 12 tournament means Dallas.
After Kansas City hosted the event for 23 years, the games were moved to Dallas for 2003 and 2004. Kansas City had a shot again last year, and Dallas is the host site once again for this season's tournament. But which city is the better site?
For as basketball-crazy as Kansas City is, the city's NBA franchise, The Kansas City Kings, moved away more than
For a city to have a successful Big 12 tournament, more ingredients need to be present than those in an El Fenix fajita or a slab of ribs at Gate. Some of those necessary aspects include the arenas, nightlife, shopping, food and, of course, basketball.
Current State of Basketball
Right now, there are 17 players from the Dallas area on Big 12 teams compared with only seven players from Kansas City. Also, Dallas' talent has been much stronger in recent years with the likes of current NBA players Chris Bosh, Ike Diogu, Deron Williams, Kenyon Martin, and Desmond Mason. Kansas City's talent has not been nearly as potent as Dallas'. Only Tyronn Lue, Earl Watson, and Kareem Rush are currently representing Kansas City in the NBA, and they are all role players.
20 years ago. As for Dallas, the Mavericks are one of the most successful NBA teams in the win and cash columns.
Deciding Factor: Chris Bosh is really, really good. Dallas.
Fan Interest
When the Big Eight expanded to the Big 12, it was obvious that the state of Texas would get a few of the big events. The only problem is that fans from the original Big Eight schools are more likely to make the trip and Kansas City is closer to most of those schools than Dallas.
Deciding Factor: Cherish the good oie' days. Kansas City.
Kemper Arena has been in Kansas City's West Bottoms since 1974, and since then it has been upgraded only once in 1997. The obsoleteness of Kemper is part of the reason why the tournament has moved to the state-of-the-art American Airlines Arena, which seats 20,000. In addition to the Big 12 tournament, the arena is hosting first-round NCAA tournament games this March.
Deciding Factor: Newer is better in this case. Dallas.
Arenas
For a city to have a successful Big 12 tournament, more ingredients need to be present than those in an El Fenix fajita or a slab of ribs at Gate's.
Dining
Dallas claims to be one of the best cities for Tex-Mex, and some of the best choices include Pappasito's, the upper-class Blue Mesa, and El Fenix, which claims to be the first Tex-Mex restaurant created. Kansas City is known for two foods: steak and barbecue. More than 100 restaurants specialize in barbecue, including the nationally known Arthur Bryant's.
Deciding Factor: Pass over the plate of burnt ends. Kansas City.
Entertainment
Since the tournament doesn't last all day, there's always the matter of finding something to do between games. Kansas City has a few offerings for shopping and activities including the Country Club Plaza, Crown Center and the River Market. But all of them are at least an eight-minute drive away from Kemper. Westport is known for its nightlife as well, but it is five miles from the arena.
The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau boasts that Dallas has more shopping per capita than any other city in the country. Downtown areas such as Deep Ellum, West End, and Uptown offer the aforementioned shopping, plus nightlife opportunities, all located less than two miles from American Airlines Arena.
Deciding Factor: Walking Uptown sounds better than five miles of traffic. Dallas.
Edited by Vanessa Pearson
Red Lyon Tavern
A touch of Irish in
downtown Lawrence
944 Mass. 832-8228
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