Who Says I'm Not Diverse? Big XII North BBall Preview
Posted: December 2nd, 2008, 3:33 am
Juan on Juan basketball.
It's that time of the year again. The time when men get disgusted with college football as the BCS ruins yet another season, and that time when their wives are gullible enough to think their husbands cannot possibly sit through four months of basketball after four months of football. Joke's on you, ladies. After the nice four month tease, its time to watch a sport where the champion actually earns it on the playing surface.
Man, every team getting a fair shake. Why do we force ourselves into making this an alien concept?
College basketball is here again, and it is time to drag Dick Vitale out of the attic and replace the batteries in his cyborg brain. As conference play seems to already be right around the corner, it is imperative for teams to take care of the early-season gimmes and get their legs under them. In no other sport are a team's newcomers as important as they are in college basketball, which seems to have an 80% turnover rate from season to season. This of course makes recruiting far more critical than the rabble probably understands. The Big XII North is no anomaly to that fact. Greenhorns are not only expected to be productive, but in many cases they are almost expected to carry the load altogether.
KANSAS STATE
The Wildcats are going to find that besting their 2007 accomplishments is an uphill battle. Last year, K-State won their first NCAA tourney game since 1988. The only problem, a year later, is that the vast majority of that team has departed, including Michael Beasley, who becamse the 2nd pick in last year's pro draft. The two starting guards are gone, never something you want your team to have to replace. Taking those two spots in 2008 figures to be Denis Clemente, a Junior transfer from Miami who did not play last season because of the transfer rule. Opposite him is Sophomore Jacob Pullen, who averaged almost 10 points a game as a Freshman. Also figuring into the backcourt rotation is Bushi Awaji, who developed a serious knack for scoring while playing at Citrus College. Dominique Sutton appears to be the main man in the frontcourt for Frank Martin's Cats. As his Freshman season progressed, so did Sutton, who ended the year a starter with the promise of a big upside. The team is currently 5-2, with those losses to two good squads in Kentucky and Iowa.
MISSOURI
Mike Anderson's Missouri Tigers finished .500 last season, and look to be finally getting the pieces together to run this quick-strike offense. The number one question mark for this team in 2008 is who is going to run it. Two candidates seem to be vying for that lead role, Zaire Taylor and Miguel Paul. The Freshman, Paul, is heralded for his speed. Taylor on the other hand, already has some experience at the collegiate level, having transfered from Delaware. If the nod goes to Taylor, it could be because of his stronger defensive potential, based on his height and wingspan. Missouri wants to run a smothering defense, and that kind of discipline comes with repetition and practice. Although they are indeed adding needed depth, the Tigers took two big hits when Stefhon Hannah was booted off the team and Keon Lawrence transfered to Seton Hall. After being in Columbia, I don't know why he didn't transfer much sooner. 5-1 so far on the year, with a loss to Xavier.
COLORADO
Was not a real strong year in 2007 for the Buffs, as they ended up dead last in the Big XII with an overall record of 12-20. Of those 12 wins, only three were in conference play. You have to score to win, and unfortunately for Colorado, the top three scorers are gone from last year's team. In their place steps in three kids who are either new, or might as well be. The incoming class does however have some bright spots. Australian Freshman Nate Tomlinson figures to be the new point guard, and has impressed some folks with his leadership skills. But I will say with almost complete certainty that there is a 0% chance he turns this 2008 Colorado team into the basketball equivalent of the Light Horse Brigade. Down low is another Freshman, Toby Veal, a 6'8" power forward, who looks like he will greatly improve Colorado's defense and rebounding. Sophomore Cory Higgins returns after a strong initial year in which he started in all 32 games. Colorado is looking to get out of the cellar, and currently sits at 3-2. Only bad thing is that one of those losses came to Montana State.Yes, it was in overtime. My response to you is, what where you doing in overtime with Montana State?
NEBRASKA
Coming off an NIT bid, the Cornhuskers are sitting in a strange position in 2008. Last year's squad was basically centered around big man Aleks Maric, who did all the scoring and all the rebounding. This year, the guards are really going to have to step up. But what they do not lack is depth there, or experience. Running the point for the Children of the Corn will be Sophomore Cookie Miller, a strong passer who is neither edible nor Bozo the Clown's assistant. Ryan Anderson returns as well, a kid who will be relied upon to add much needed rebounding. Doc Sadler, which I will say is an excellent name for a coach, is going to urn into potential problems in the front court. Junior forward Chris Balham looks to take over as the big man, but will be pushed by Freshman Chris Niemann from Germany, a 6'11" prospect that has many believing he has unlimited upside. The Cornhuskers are 5-0 so far on the season.
Tell it like it is, Cookie.
KANSAS
Kansas won the national championship in case you live in a cave, and if you didn't know that, I really don't understand why you are reading this preview, other than the fact that I am dashingly handsome and extremely intelligent. Six kids off that team last season were drafted, and that will make even the biggest yuppy prude say "aye carumba." Even with a program that does as well as Kansas, it is a huge testament to the level of incoming talent when a Freshman or JUCO can crack the starting five. But that's what we are seeing here with the 'Hawks, as Freshman Quintrell Thomas steps in as forward, and JUCO transfer Mario Little lines up at guard. If Junior guard Sherron Collins can stay healthy, he should have a monster season for Kansas. But the sleeper on this starting five is Travis Releford, a 6'5" Freshman who seems to be constantly getting better, by accounts. The Jayhawks should be the easy favorite in the North, and are 5-1 on the year thus far, with that lone loss to a very underrated Syracuse squad.
IOWA STATE
They didn't exactly break the bank last year in Ames, as the Cyclones finished the Big XII race 4-12 and 14-18 overall. Things are getting better, though. When third-year coach Greg McDermott took over the program, he didn't have a whole lot to shake a stick at. ISU is putting a very young team out there. And things got even more interesting for 2008 when team captain, and top returner, Wesley Johnson decided to transfer to Syracuse. At point guard looks to be Diante Garrett, with Bryan Petersen, a Senior walk-on, providing needed depth. The shooting guard spot should be filled nicely by Lucca Staiger, who missed last season due to his alledged illegal participation on a German club team. Underneath, ISU has themselves a very strong presence in Sophomore forward Craig Brackins, who will probably end up the team's top offensive weapon. The Cyclones are currently 4-1 on the year, with a loss to Hawaii. I still have not gotten a straight answer out of anyone as to why the Iowa State logo was a little red bird, and I guess I'm going to have to just wait and ask God when I'm dead.