12 AROUND THE BIG 12
The week ahead
Compiled by Tim Dwyer
GAMETOWATCH Texas vs.Oklahoma State
In a weak slate of conference games, this is the one to keep an eye on. Texas has underperformed in its last four games, and Oklahoma State has been catching teams off guard, including Kansas State, just a game after its victory
against the Longhorns. The Cowboys lean heavily on preseason all-conference swingman James Anderson, who is averaging 22 points per game. If he can meet that average, the Cowboys have a shot at pulling the upset.
THIS WEEK'S BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Texas vs. Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla., 8 p.m. Monday
Kansas State vs. Nebraska Lincoln, Neb., 7 p.m. Tuesday
Kansas State vs. Iowa State Ames, Iowa, 1 p.m. Saturday
Iowa State vs. Baylor
Waco, Texas, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Texas vs. Oklahoma
Norman, Okla., 3 p.m. Saturday
Kansas vs. Colorado Boulder, Colo., 8 p.m. Wednesday
Missouri vs. Colorado
Boulder, Colo., 3 p.m. Saturday
Texas A&M vs. Missouri Columbia, Mo., 8 pm. Wednesday
Baylor vs. Texas A&M
College Station, Texas, 3 p.m. Saturday
Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech
Lubbock, Texas, 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Nebraska vs. Kansas Lawrence, 5 p.m. Saturday
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Big 12 players of the week
Big 12 Player of the Week Cole Aldrich, Kansas C
it took 20 games, but it looks like the Jayhawks preseason All-American center is back in top form. After a breakout 19-point, 11-rebound performance at Iowa State. Aldrich stopped Missouri in its tracks with seven blocks and 16 rebounds, along with 12 points. More impressive than the numbers, though, is the athleticism he's displayed during the last two games that was nowhere to be seen early in the season.
Oklahoma lost its top two scorers, guards Willie Warren and Tony Crocker, for a Wednesday night game against Iowa State. Mason-Griffin picked up the slack and then some, pouring in 38 points and six assists, while playing all 40 minutes. He and Cade Davis (24 points) carried the Sooners to a much-needed win.
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Tommy Mason-Griffin, Oklahoma G
Big 12 Team of the Week Kansas
The Jayhawks could have slid into this spot by default as the only team above them in the national ratings, Kentucky, fell on Tuesday to the Tightin' Devan Downey of South Carolina. Instead, they earned Team of the Week honors with a destruction of arch-rival Missouri in Allen Fieldhouse.
Quick Hitters
- After Texas earned its No.1 ranking, the Longhorns lost both of their games the following week. The Longhorns are now playing better as they prepare to host Kansas next week.
- During Oklahoma's last five games, Tommy Mason-Griffin is averaging more than 40 minutes per game. He's a talented scorer, but he's just a freshman. Coach Jeff Capel should be careful or he'll burn the kid out.
- Cole Aldrich has averaged 15.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks during his last two games. If he's back, Kansas' 56-28 rebounding margin in the Missouri game may be come a trend, rather than an aberration.
- Baylor received no love from Sunflower State teams this year. After playing a great game in Lawrence, the Bears slowed down late and couldn't hold on for the upset. Then Kansas State came to Waco and dropped the Bears on a pair of late Jacob Pullen free throws.
THE WAVE FEBRUARY 1,2010
+
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN