"Big 12 Loaded" in basketball

[St810s]

Next year's season has been talked about a lot, but here are some articles detailing what appears to be a tough Big 12.

Gottlieb has Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma in his top 5. He also has TAMU at 16, Okie State at 21, and Kansas State at 24. And at the bottom, he has ISU as a team that will make a "major jump" in wins next year and refers to Brackins as "a beast" and states that "Mac can coach." Though he does mention it will be hard in a loaded Big 12.

Gottlieb: A way-too-early Top 25 - ESPN

Here are Andy Katz rankings. They are a little less Big 12 friendly.

Andy Katz: A revised look at the way-too-early top 25 - ESPN

Fran's take on Katz and Gottlieb's rankings.

Fran Fraschilla: Taking a red pen to my colleagues' rankings - ESPN

And, just for good measure, a draft decisions article. Apparently Iowa State was a winner.

Andy Katz: Sorting through the underclassmen decisions - ESPN

So, the question is... Big 12 Loaded? Yay or nay?

 

[Erik4Cy]

Big 12: Always loaded

 

[IcSyU]

So, the question is... Big 12 Loaded? Yay or nay?

Kansas alone is loaded enough for an entire conference.

 

[CarolinaCy]

No chance that Oklahoma even sniffs the top 10 w/o Griffin.

 

[gocubs2118]

Eh, I think there will be 4 to 5 good to very good teams in the Big XII. Then the 4 teams will be decent, including us. I wouldn't say its loaded but it won't be bad either.

 

[hursts]

Spots six through twelve will be wide open as usual in the Big 12 next season. Next year must be the year we go at least 7-1 in Hilton in the conference season. I am sick of dropping 4+ conference games at home every year. If we go 8-0 or 7-1 in the conference at Hilton next season we only have to pick up a couple of wins on the road to have a chance at the postseason.

 

[St810s]

I guess I am most surprised by how high Texas is being projected, at #2 and #3. They were good, not great, this year and they lose their key offensive player in Abrams. They must have a heck of a recruiting class...

 

[ce1]

No chance that Oklahoma even sniffs the top 10 w/o Griffin.

Don't know that i agree with that assessment. They have a loaded recruiting class, probably the best in the Big 12, a proven coach, and an explosive scorer in Willie Warren. Despite Brackins return, I'd put the early favorite for Big 12 POTY as Warren.

They will be a force next year.

 

[Melvin]

Correction:

The Big XII South is Loaded.

Half of our conference games (8) are against (Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas State). We need to win at Colorado and at Nebraska - No excuses.

The other Half (8) will be very tough (Kansas (2), OSU, OU, TU, TAM) ok Baylor and Tech aren't very tough. We must defend the HOME COURT, something we have not been very good at the last couple of years.

If Hilton Magic returns and we can beat BAD teams on the Road. I see ISU finishing 5th.

 

[Clones85']

No chance that Oklahoma even sniffs the top 10 w/o Griffin.

Tiny Gallon may disagree

 

[WalkingCY]

I don't see OU in the top 10 either. Both Griffin's are gone and that is huge. I see them more of 20-25 ranked caliber team.

 

[WalkingCY]

Also, is Eaton from OSU gone too? I like our chances against the pokes if he is gone. I agree that the Big 12 is tough.....it always is and that is how it should be. But we have the Best player in the conference in Brack...and McDermott knows that his seat is getting really hot. He is sick of losing, and having his main man come back has to pump him up for a successful year in 09-10. I see us getting in the Top 6 of the Big 12 and seeing a vast improvement in guard play this year.

 

[ZCyclone]

Kinda have to question the Warren for POY. I understand last year he was great from the perimeter, but that essentially came from teams crowding the paint to stop Griffin (Cyclones included). Without that force down low to occupy the defense, I don't see him getting the looks he was able to get this year.

 

[kansascy]

Kinda have to question the Warren for POY. I understand last year he was great from the perimeter, but that essentially came from teams crowding the paint to stop Griffin (Cyclones included). Without that force down low to occupy the defense, I don't see him getting the looks he was able to get this year.

Wow! I've seen people post hundreds of times here before they said anything this intelligent!!

Excellent point and welcome to the board.

 

[trajanJ]

Ask KU how good Warren is without Griffin? He's a player and usually players make their biggest jump from their freshman to sophomore season. He could be really good. POY good? I doubt it, but very good. The South will be very tough and if Baylor gets Wall they will be even tougher. KU, KSU and ISU all should be better in the North and MU still should remain pretty good - their young players had a great NCAA tourney. That makes the Big 12 a very strong conference next year.

 

[isuno1fan]

Correction:

The Big XII South is Loaded.

Half of our conference games (8) are against (Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas State). We need to win at Colorado and at Nebraska - No excuses.

The other Half (8) will be very tough (Kansas (2), OSU, OU, TU, TAM) ok Baylor and Tech aren't very tough. We must defend the HOME COURT, something we have not been very good at the last couple of years.

If Hilton Magic returns and we can beat BAD teams on the Road. I see ISU finishing 5th.

Yeah...we'll win at Colorado...no problem

 

[jaretac]

Loving the love

Expect these teams to see a major jump in wins from last season:

Iowa State: For the first time in the Greg McDermott era, every important player is back. Craig Brackins is a beast and Mac can coach. It will still be tough for the Cyclones in a loaded Big 12, but they should see a marked improvement in the win column from last season.

 

[Clone9]

I don't think OU will be top 5 either. They have a lot of great players, but it will be difficult without Griffin.

As a side note, I saw Jeff Capel at lunch today on Duke's campus. He was eating with Duke assistant coaches Wojo and Chris Collins.

 

[Frak]

Despite Brackins return, I'd put the early favorite for Big 12 POTY as Warren.

Ummm....Sherron Collins...

 

[gocubs2118]

Doug Gottlieb gives us props

Iowa State: For the first time in the Greg McDermott era, every important player is back. Craig Brackins is a beast and Mac can coach. It will still be tough for the Cyclones in a loaded Big 12, but they should see a marked improvement in the win column from last season.

Gottlieb: A way-too-early Top 25 - ESPN

Though I wouldn't take his word for it since he says Mac can coach. He must not know what he is talking about.