12 AROUND THE BIG 12
The week ahead
Compiled by Tim Dyer
GAME TO WATCH Missouri vs. Kansas
Regardless of the rivalry that everyone keeps talking about, this is the game of the week in the Big 12. Missouri can hang with anyone in the conference, and will likely be the most ferocious defensive team the Jayhawks face in conference play. Missouri guard Kim English has blossomed into a real threat in his sophomore year, and senior J.T. Tiller is the best perimeter defender in the conference, bar none.
Tiller, though, will be tasked with locking down Sherron Collins, who's been exceptionally hot of late. Collins' playmaking ability carried Kansas to a win Wednesday when the Baylor Bears came to Lawrence, but it's not going to be so easy against Tiller. Kansas will have to take advantage of the recent play of Marcus Morris. Morris is averaging more than 20 points per game in conference play, and the Missouri front court should be one that he can dominate.
THIS WEEK'S BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Missouri vs. Kansas Lawrence, 8 p.m. Monday
Kansas State vs. Baylor Waco, Texas, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Oklahoma vs. Nebraska Lincoln, Neb., 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Texas A&M & Oklahoma State
Stillwater, Oka; 6:30 a.m. wednesda
Oklahoma State vs. Missouri Columbia, Mo., 1 p.m. Saturday
Texas Tech vs. Texas
Austin, Texas, 8 p.m. Wednesday
Iowa State vs. Oklahoma Norman, Okla., 8 pm. Wednesday
Baylor vs. Texas
Austin, Texas, 3 p.m. Saturday
Nebraska vs. Colorado Boulder, Colo., 9 p.m.
Kansas vs. Kansas State Manhattan, 6 p.m. Saturday
Colorado vs. Iowa State Ames, Iowa 8 pm. Saturday
Texas Tech vs. Texas A&M College Station, Texas, 8 p.m. Saturday
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Big 12 players of the week
Big 12 Player of the Week Marcus Morris, Kansas F
Morris worked Texas Tech for 20 points and eight rebounds in the Jan. 16 game against the Red Raiders. For an encore, he scored 22 points and had eight against a massive Baylor frontline. Morris is playing error-free basketball. He's 12-of-13 from the free throw line over the last week, and 15-of-21. That's good for a ridiculous 71 percent from the field. Bill Self called him the most improved player on the Kansas roster.
Kelly was relatively tame in the Wildcats' victory at Colorado, but when the No. 1 team in the country came to Bramlage Coliseum, Kelly had 17 points and eight rebounds. His play, along with fellow big Jamar Samuels, was instrumental in dropping Texas 71-62 in Manhattan. Bigger than his offensive numbers, though, was the defensive effort he laid down on Texas center Dexter Pittman, who was held to six points and seven rebounds.
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Curtis Kelly, Kansas State F
Big 12 Team of the Week Kansas State
There's a pretty good rule of thumb for a team to get this slot. Knock off the No. 1 team, and it's in. K-State did just that, dismantling Texas at home, 71-62. Coach Frank Martin wasn't satisfied stopping there, though. "We are going to go in on Wednesday for practice," he said, "and if they do not compete, I am going to destroy them." It's that mentality that will make the tackle a tough out in any game this year. They just never let up.
Quick Hitters
- Texas was undefeated and No.1 in the country heading into the week. Then they went to overtime in Austin against a solid Texas A&M squad before falling to Kansas State in Manhattan. It was the Longhorns' first top ranking, and they were obviously uncomfortable playing with that kind of target on their backs.
- LaceDarius Dunn is averaging more than 25 points per game in conference play. He was a major factor in the Bears' near upset of Kansas, pouring in 27 points.
- Kansas (3-0) is the only team left without a conference loss. Just three or four games into the conference season, that says quite a bit about the Big 12's depth.
THE WAVE JANUARY 25,2010
- Kansas State held Texas stars Damion James and Dexter Pittman well below their season averages in the Wildcats' win. James managed just nine points and Pittman had just six.
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN