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SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Sooners look like team to beat in tournament
No.1 Texas A&M
The Ages enter the conference tournament on the heels of a four- game, winning streak
and their first Big 12 regular season title. Big 12 Coach of the Year Gary Blair's game plan revolves around tough interior defense and a balanced scoring attack. If Texas A&M has one weak spot, it is its pedestrian 6-5 record away from home.
No.2 Oklahoma
Don't let the No. 2 seedling fool you! The Sooners are the best team in the Big 12. Oklahoma lost three
ended up in second place by virtue of a treblebreak, but has the potential to advance deep into both the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA tournament. Center and Big 12 Player of
the year Courtney Paris is certainly the most dominant player in the Big 12, and perhaps in the entire nation.
No.3-Baylor
Baylor has remained a staple in the Top 25 this season because of forward Bernice Mosby.
Florida. Mosby was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and averaged 18.1 points per game. The Bears are not great on defense, but outscored their opponents often enough to finish 24-6 overall.
No.4—Nebraska
The Cornhaskers endured an ugly four-game losing streak late in the season but managed to hold on to the fourth seed. The senior leadership provided by forward Chelsea Aubry and guard Kiera Hardy will be the key for Nebraska in the postseason. The
pair gives Nebraska an inside-outside combination that totaled 25 points per game this season.
No. 5 — Iowa State
Despite guard Lindsey Meddies 35 percent mark from the field, the senior still
managed to make the All Big 12 first team and led the Cyclones to five consecutive wins to close out the season. The late run placed Iowa State in a perfect position: A first place match-up against a Kansas State team that is falling apart at the seams.
No. 6 — Oklahoma State
Oklahoma States 8-8 conference record
does not illustrate how strong the team truly is. The Cowgirls finished the regular season ranked third in the conference in scoring margin. Basically, Oklahoma State either
blew out the opposition or barely lost. Oklahoma State has some additional motivation: An at-large NCAA bid may be possible if they earn a first-round victory.
No.7 Texas
At the beginning of the decade, coach
Jody Conradt had turned Texas into a perennial national title contender. Those days are no longer. Texas stumbled to a 6-10 conference record and will most likely need to win the Big 12 Tournament to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. Based on talent alone, Texas has a shot at advancing deep into the conference tournament.
Colorado managed to win six conference games on the shoulders
No.8- Colorado
of forward Jackie McFarland. The All-Big 12 First Team honoree averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per
contest during the regular season.
Other than McFarland, the Buffaloes do not possess any other threats to speak of.
No. 9 — Texas Tech
After a 5-3 start in conference play, things turned sour for the Lady Raiders. They dropped seven of their final eight games and slid into the bottom-third of the standings. Tech's biggest problem is its inability to score consistently.
No.10 - Missouri
Missouri's 5-11 conference record can be blamed on shaky
guard play. All season long, forwards Tiffany Brooks and EeTisha Riddle have combined to be one of the most physically imposing frontcourt duos in the Big 12. If the Tigers receive any positive contribution from offensively challenged guard Blair Hardiek, they have a chance to be the Cinderella
team.
No.11 Kansas
The story of Kansas season is one of the more intriguing in the conference this year.
After falling to 0-9 in conference, Kansas received boosts from senior guard Shaquina Mosley and a bevy of freshmen during a late stretch that pulled the team from the bottom of the conference standings.
No. 12 — Kansas State
This has been a frustrating year for the Wildcats. They started
the season 15-2 and even entered the Top 25. Then forward Marles Gipson suffered a season-ending knee injury, which effectively ended the team's season as well. They won just two of their final 13 games on the way to the bottom seed in the tournament.
Edited by Joe Caponio
>> NHL
Penguins shuffle closer to moving to Kansas City
BY ALAN ROBINSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH — The Penguins moved a step closer to leaving Pittsburgh, declaring an impasse Monday in their new arena negotiations with state and local leaders and saving they will actively pursue relocation.
"We have made a single-minded effort to bring this new arena to a successful conclusion and keep the team in Pittsburgh," owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle said in a letter to Rendell and local government officials. "... Our good faith ettorts have not produced a deal, however, and have only added more anxiety to what we thought at best was a risky proposition for us moving forward."
The breakdown in arena talks came only three days after Gov. Ed Rendell said he felt an agreement was close. It also increases the possibility the Penguins will be playing in Kansas City next season.
In the letter, Lemieux and Burke put the blame for the impasse on government officials, arguing they agreed to pay $120 million over 30 years to help build a $290 million arena and cover construction cost overruns, yet still have not reached a deal.
NHI commissioner Gary Bettman became involved in the talks several weeks ago, but also has been unable to finalize an agreement.
"We can do no more." Lemieux,
the longtime Penguins star, and
Burkle said in the letter.
The Penguins had an agreement with Isle of Capri Casinos to build the arena at no expense to the team or taxpayers in exchange for a license to build a Pittsburgh slots casino, but a state board in December chose a competing bid.
On Jan. 4, the team, state, city and Allegheny County began negotiating an alternate arena funding plan.
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2007 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship Bracket
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