Friday morning tip. With yesterday's 62-57 win over Oklahoma State, the Longhorns clinched the Big 12 championship and the conference's #1 seed in the Big 12 tournament. First up for the 'Horns is a date with the winner of #8 Texas Tech and #9 Oklahoma State. Texas' quarterfinal game will be a Friday, 11:30 a.m. tip, to be televised on ESPN Plus (Big 12 markets) and ESPNU (nationally). If Texas advances to the semifinals, they would play Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The tournament finals are Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
National seeding implications? It's difficult to imagine both Texas' playing up to a #1 seed and falling down to a #3 seed. Were Texas to win the Big 12 tournament, it would certainly get a long look at a #1 seed, but still wouldn't receive one if Tennessee, Memphis, UCLA, and North Carolina all perform well in their own conference tourneys. Likewise, even were Texas to flop against the Tech-OSU winner, Texas is highly unlikely to fall off the two line.
The big question in my mind is what, if anything, would affect the committee's decision to send Texas to the Houston regional. I'm still not totally clear on what the actual procedure is - whether the committee pairs the top #1 seed with the fourth best #2 seed, or whether slotting is determined by some other calculation. Last year #2 seed UCLA was sent to the West Regional where Kansas was the #1 seed. That's obviously the goal here: get sent to Houston.
Big 12 Bubble. Only Texas and Kansas can say with absolute certainty that they're in this year's NCAA Tournament, but with the nation's second best RPI rating, the Big 12 conference is likely to receive at least five, and possibly (for the first time) six bids. The team with the most to prove in this week's tournament? Chip Brown says it's Texas A&M, and I agree. I'll have much more on Big 12's NCAA Tournament situation in a feature that will be running tomorrow at Basketball Prospectus.
Quick Hits. Big12Sports.com has all your conference championship info... Heading into the tournament, Texas is #5 in the RPI... BON's March Madness group has been created... Tim Griffin files his Big 12 football notebook for ESPN.com.
--PB--
0 recs | 13 comments
Seeding
I thought the Big XII tourney championship game was too late in the day to affect seeding?
jimmer - March 10, 2008
I think it depends
The committee may have their mind made up, or they do sometimes plan alternate brackets, depending on the outcome of a game.
Peter Bean - March 10, 2008
I think
The brackets are like a big black box, and no one really knows whats going on.
The only guaranteed way to know where you are going is to be the consensus #1, and be regionally located next to one site, and no where near any other.
Other then that, its my conclusion, that who the hell knows.
Ill be hoping for Houston on Sunday, but before then, who knows what will put us in the best position to get there.
Is it just me, or do you all not really want to face either Tech or OSU again either? Next to KSU and KU, I think those two are the teams Id least like to play again.
BoddickerIsClutch - March 10, 2008
Alright, thanks guys
At least y'all have some thoughts on it.
BiC - I definitely don't want to play either of those teams on a neutral court. I wish we could just go straight into the NCAA tournament.
There was a statesman article quoting Barnes, he said something along the lines of, "We don't want to play anyone in our conference."
jimmer - March 10, 2008
ugh. i love tournament play
but the game times always frustrate me. 1130 AM on a friday does not bode well for those with full time jobs and no tevo.
UTrumbo - March 10, 2008
For those attending the tourney in KC...
...it should be a lot of fun. The Sprint Center is very nice. I've seen 2 games there this year (UCLA vs. Michigan State) and a KU game. There is not a bad seat in the house. While the arena may not have all the bells and whistles American Airlines Arena has, it is state-of-the-art nonetheless.
Attached to the arena is the College Basketball Experience. If you are a fan of ESPN Zone or you love to play pop-a-shot, check out the CBE. Back in December I paid $10 to play as much pop-a-shot I wanted plus test my 3-point shooting and free-throw shooting. There's a free throw shooting game with a video board behind the goal that displays students trying to distract you. There are also goals you can dunk on to test your vertical. (I avoided those hoops. No need to prove in front of everyone that I have no vertical ability.) There's also a nearly full-size court where you can simply shoot baskets if you like. My buddies and I were able to play some hoops, go watch KU play, and then come back for more (make sure you get your hand stamped).
Outside the arena (literally), there's a brand new bar/restaurant area called the Power and Light District. Not all the bars and restaurants will be open in time for the tournament but most will.
There is also a big parking garage right outside the arena and next to the Power and Light District. Back in December they were charging $10 to park there. I hope they don't jack up the price this weekend.
Weather will be okay in KC. Wednesday will be in the mid to upper 60's however the temp is expected to drop to the lower to mid 50's on Thursday and Friday with a chance of rain.
Here's to hoping we have another KU/Texas final. I want another shot at you guys. I don't really care if KU is a 1 or a 2 seed as long as we're not the 2 seed in the East (don't want to play UNC in Charlotte) or the West (don't want to be in UCLA's region).
KU Lew - March 10, 2008
Thanks for the info
Much appreciated
Peter Bean - March 10, 2008
Good Feeling
As winners of 10 of our last 11 (still hot), and especially on a neutral court (we're a better road team than most), I really think we handle both TT or OSU. OU seems like an easier team to beat for the third time rather than Baylor, despite Barnes mastery of the Bears. Should we win, by Sunday at 2:00 our ticket will already be punched so the outcome of that game will be less important.
Keys for the weekend (IMO):
*get Connor going - he's been really quiet of late. I feel like Rick said something to him at the half yesterday cause we went right to him for a pretty hook to start the second, but then he faded again.
*same w/ GJ. Put the mask back on and mix it up!! Gary and Atch are the X factors of this team. Everyone knows about DJ, AJ and James. It's up to these 2 to put us over the top against top flight opponents.
*Last call for Dex, WingMan and Chap. Will they contribute any meaningful minutes in the Dance? This is the last chance to prove to Rick they can be counted on. I don't know what Dexy did, but he's been buried on the bench for the last 2 weeks. When Chap and Wingman can contribute 5-10 solid minutes a game, it takes a lot of pressure off our Main Six.
*I think Barnes should be the Nat'l Coach of the Year. Let's see the proof by game planning a tough assigment - beat 2 teams 3 times in one season (OSU/Baylor, me thinks).
Horndogger - March 10, 2008
Barnes named Big XII Coach of the Year
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...
Well deserved, congratulations to Coach Barnes!!
DJ made 1st team all-Big 12
AJ and Damion - 2nd team
JUSTIN MASON - all defensive team. so yeah. let's not bench him.
SelimSivad - March 10, 2008
KU and Texas Still Have A Shot at #1 Seed?
I still think if KU or UT win the B12 they will get a #1 seed. The B12 is the 2nd best league according to RPI and #1 according to many other computer rankings. Going 16-3 in the B12 has got to be more valuable than Tennesee's record in the SEC which is the worst of the major conferences. KU was ranked #9 or worse in the RPI last year and still got a #1 seed. Texas with its wins over St. Mary's, UCLA, and Tennesee, and close losses to MSU and Wisconsin, I just don't see how they don't get it.
Blackjackhawk - March 10, 2008
That's why
It depends on how the others perform, as well. At least if you accept the conventional wisdom that TN, Memphis, UCLA, and UNC are the current top dogs.
Lot of hoops left, though. We'll see.
Peter Bean - March 10, 2008
Need Tennessee to lose in SEC tournament?
I'm inclined to think that Tennessee can lock up a #1 seed if it wins the SEC tournament. I'm not so sure KU or UT will overtake Tennessee if TN wins the SEC.
I think KU would need Tennessee to lose in order to get a #1 seed. Since UT owns a win over TN already, it may not be necessary for TN to lose provided UT beats KU for the Big 12 championship. UT beating a lesser team in the Big 12 final might not be enough to overtake Tennessee if TN wins the SEC.
That said, even if UT does get the last #1 seed, it might not be in the coveted South region where Memphis may have that seed already locked up. I would think UT fans would rather be a #2 in the South and play in Houston than be the #1 in the Midwest and play in Detroit.
KU Lew - March 10, 2008
That has been the subject
Of much previous debate.
Personally I'm rooting for Houston as our best chance no matter the seed, but without a concrete answer on how to make that happen, Ill just root for winning out!
BoddickerIsClutch - March 10, 2008
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