- HOME
- NEWS
- SPORTS
- BUSINESS
- FYI/LIVING
- ENTERTAINMENT
- OPINION
- JOBS
- CARS
- REAL ESTATE
- RENTALS
- CLASSIFIEDS
- SHOPPING
- EXTRAS
Posted on Fri, Jan. 09, 2009 10:15 PM
Three-pointers | Secret to Big 12 success: Stay away from Arkansas
More News
A clear-cut favorite has emerged in Big 12 play: Arkansas.
In an eight-day span, the Razorbacks, picked to finish sixth in the SEC West, defeated Big 12 top dogs Oklahoma and Texas in games at Fayetteville, Ark.
After Arkansas thumped the Longhorns 67-61 on Tuesday, Texas coach Rick Barnes extended the Razorbacks an invitation to join his family.
“This school should be in the Big 12,” Barnes said after the game. “That’s where they should be. It would make our league better, and it would be better for them.”
And stick them in the North, while you’re at it, Barnes said, suggesting the colder-climate programs could use a dose of competition.
Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said the Razorbacks were happy in their neighborhood, so don’t look for relocation soon, but Barnes is right about the North schools needing a jolt of energy.
Several ratings and computer-based power rankings have teams from the South in the top three spots with the Sooners, Longhorns and Baylor leading the way.
At the bottom are Colorado, Iowa State and Nebraska.
But when Barnes waved the conference flag later in the week, presumably he folded in all 12 teams.
“Everybody’s going to make a case for their league,” Barnes said. “But I think your record speaks for itself. We’re around 80 percent right now.”
The Big 12 has won 79 percent of its nonconference games with only a handful remaining as league play begins with five games today. That’s a record pace for the conference, but it’s hard to get excited about the success when it has run up a 43-1 record against traditional one-bid conferences like the SWAC, Southland, MEAC and Atlantic Sun.
The reality-check numbers — records against similar-sized conferences — offer better insight, and the Big 12 is holding its own. The league is 7-7 against top-25 opponents, and only the Big East (10-9) is better.
Against the five other BCS conferences, the Big 12 is a respectable 19-20.
What it means is the conference is shaping up about as expected. Oklahoma and Texas stand at the top with Baylor and Kansas at the next level, and if there’s a surprise it’s Missouri, not in the NCAA Tournament since 2003, building credentials for a run.
But there may be a change at the top when it comes to the favorite’s role.
Go with Arkansas.
Three best victories
•Texas 68, UCLA 64
Only victory over team currently in top 10.
•Missouri 83 , Southern California 72
Established Tigers as a turnaround team.
•Kansas 92, Tennessee 85
Jayhawks had to have it.
Three worst losses
•South Dakota State 65, Iowa State 58
Jackrabbits have sixth best RPI in Summit League.
•Montana State 85, Colorado 82, OT
But the Buffaloes have defeated Harvard.
•Massachusetts 61, Kansas 60
Minutemen are 5-8.
Three midseason awards
•Top player: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
•Top coach: Mike Anderson, Missouri
•Top freshman: Willie Warren, Oklahoma
Three good ideas
•The Oklahoma-Davidson game
•The Oklahoma-Davidson game
Terrific showcase of potential All-Americans Griffin and Stephen Curry.
•The extended three-point line
Shooting hardly has been affected. It should have happened years ago.
•Oklahoma State’s five-guard lineup
Sometimes it comes to that for the Cowboys, who didn’t have many big men to start with before losing forward Ibrahima Thomas, who quit and has since transferred to Cincinnati. Going small has provided Oklahoma State with intensity, but without a marquee win in the nonconference season, the Cowboys need to pull off a surprise or two in conference play.
To reach Blair Kerkhoff, college sports reporter for The Star, call 816-234-4730 or send e-mail to bkerkhoff@kcstar.com
Posted on Fri, Jan. 09, 2009 10:15 PM
@Nyx.CommentBody@