Big 12 Basketball Tournament 2011 Bracket Predictions: Kansas or Texas?
Although Kansas has won or shared the Big 12 title seven seasons in a row, history shows that it doesn't necessarily mean the tournament title is in the bag as well.
It all depends on who shows up to Kansas City this week ready to compete as hard as each team has been over the course of the season.
The Big 12 conference is quite possibly the strongest it has ever been in basketball this season, meaning one thing:
Anyone can take home the tournament title.
And as the last Big 12 tournament as we know it approaches, let's take a few shots in the dark on events that should transpire over the course of this week!
Let's go!
For all of Kip's Kansas and Big 12 coverage, follow him on Twitter @ KipReiserer and become a fan on his Sportswriters Profile Page!
10. Pat Knight's Tenure with the Red Raiders Officially Ends on Wednesday
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All good things must come to an end.
In this case, I'm not exactly sure that I'd consider Pat Knight's tenure as the Texas Tech head coach a "good thing," but it is most certainly coming to an end.
News broke yesterday that Knight would be relieved of his duties as leader of the Red Raiders, but he would continue to coach through the Big 12 tournament.
Tech, who is the 11 seed, will play Missouri on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. The two teams played each other on Feb. 14, which led to Missouri walking away with a 92-74 victory.
It's a pretty gross ending to a season that looked to be promising with so many contributing seniors. Tech kept it in the family with the last coaching change, and I think it's time for a breath of fresh air.
TTU's hopes of making the NIT are pretty slim, so count on this game to be the last time we see Pat Knight as the head coach of Texas Tech.
9. Nebraska Beats Oklahoma State by 15 or More
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Some may flinch at this prediction, but I'm giving the serious edge to Nebraska here.
Oklahoma State has come up way short of expectations this season and Nebraska has played well over expectations.
Nebraska and Oklahoma State, the eight and nine seeds respectively, had a bit of a role reversal this season as the Cornhuskers actually have a chance to make the NCAA tournament.
Nebraska has already beaten the Cowboys this season at home, 65-54. Nebraska plays some of the best defense in the conference and will continue to do so as I believe this game can be put away early.
OSU certainly has some talent in Keiton Page, Matt Pilgrim and Marshall Moses, but things just didn't click this season. If OSU wants to be competing in March Madness, they'll have to win the tournament.
And that's not happening.
Nebraska is on the NCAA tournament bubble and needs to make sure not to get bounced early. I feel Nebraska comes out with tenacity and doesn't let up, winning by at least 15.
8. LaceDarius Dunn Puts Up 30 on Oklahoma
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Another team who has to win the entire tournament to make the big dance is Baylor.
So if you're a Baylor fan, you should be fairly concerned. But not about BU's first contest.
Although OU did beat Baylor once this season, I really don't see the Sooners pulling off the upset. Baylor just hasn't been consistent as opposed to the lack of overall talent OU is facing.
If Baylor wants to secure a win they'll want a lot of production from the Big 12's all-time leading scorer, LaceDarius Dunn.
Dunn averages 19.8 points per game and has scored north of 24 points eight times this season, including a 43-point performance.
He only averaged 15.5 points in BU's two games against OU this season, so I'd say he is due to add another incredible game to his resume.
When it comes to LaceDarius Dunn, 30 points is nowhere near impossible.
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7. Iowa State Will Upset Colorado in the First Round
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If you love upsets, Iowa State has the best chance in the Big 12 tournament this season.
The Cyclones may have finished in last place in the conference, but they played a lot better than many thought they would.
Fred Hoiberg seems to be steering the program in the right direction, as Iowa State was able to steal one of two games from the Buffaloes this season.
Iowa State beat Colorado last week by a slim margin, 95-50. That said, Colorado is also a team that is on the NCAA tournament bubble because of impressive wins over K-State (twice), Mizzou and Texas.
If you base this first-round matchup on talent alone, the advantage goes to Colorado. Alec Burks and Cory Higgins are NBA material and should be heading that way after this season.
Colorado is a good team, but Iowa State proved its ability to hang with and defeat the Buffs last week in Ames.
It will be an interesting matchup and probably the most exciting game on opening day. For the main reason we all love March and college basketball (upsets), if a higher seed falls it will be the Buffs at the hands of the Cyclones.
6. Josh Selby Has a 20-Point Plus Performance
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Despite having impressive games to start off his season, Josh Selby has become relatively quiet over the past month-and-a-half.
In his debut against USC, Selby scored 21 points and hit the game-winning three-pointer. The freshman then suffered a foot injury in early February, which sidelined him for three games during the middle of conference play, and he hasn't seemed to bounce back yet.
Selby, who was one of the top-ranked recruits in the nation before coming to Kansas this season, has seen his teammates step up and fill the hole that he has left. I've said it multiple times, but I'll reiterate the fact that Kansas lost an incredibly talented athlete and didn't miss a beat.
Some people say Kansas doesn't need him to win a national championship. I say they would prefer he is playing well by the time the big dance starts, but I see him getting a boost in the Big 12 tournament.
It seems as if he shines when he's on the big stage, so we'll see if he takes over any games. Although he hasn't scored in double-digits since Feb. 1, I'm counting on him to have at least one 20-point performance in this tournament.
5. Jacob Pullen Averages 25 Points or More Throughout Tournament
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It's not really the assumption that Jacob Pullen could average more than 25 points per game throughout the Big 12 tournament.
It's the fact that if K-State wants to win it all, he has to averaged at least 25 points per game.
After a rugged start and publicly criticized meltdown, the Wildcats have come storming back towards the end of this season. KSU ended conference play winning six straight including impressive victories over Kansas, Missouri and at Texas.
Over the past six games, Pullen is averaging 25.5 points per game. During the first six games of conference play, Pullen averaged 19.2 points per game and KSU lost four of those contests.
That's a tall order to fill, but it has been true that if Pullen isn't posting well over 20 points, then the Wildcats are prone to losing.
Pullen averaging 25 points during the Big 12 tournament is absolutely possible and absolutely necessary for Kansas State.
4. Texas Faces Missouri, Not Texas A&M, in the Semifinals
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Missouri and Texas A&M are both very good teams.
Although Missouri can't win on the road (1-7 in conference play), the neutral site of Kansas City will serve as an advantage for the Tigers.
Most likely these two teams will face each other in the quarterfinals, and I believe Missouri will walk away with the victory.
Texas A&M plays good team basketball, but it doesn't have that one star who can take over a game. Khris Middleton is a heck of a player, but he isn't known for his Jacob Pullen-esque domination of basketball games.
On the other hand, Missouri has plenty of guys who can take over a basketball game. Guards Phil Pressey and Marcus Denmon have the ability to drain multiple three-pointers and extend leads quickly.
In the frontcourt, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Ricardo Ratliffe has the ability to hang with David LouBeau and other Aggies big men.
If these two teams play each other, which most likely they will, it may be the most exciting game of the tournament. The game between these two programs was decided by two points in favor of Texas A&M earlier in the season.
I think Missouri has more riding on the Big 12 tournament than Texas A&M (NCAA tournament seed wise), and I like the matchup favoring MU.
3. The Morris Twins Both Average a Double-Double
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The Morris twins have proved to be two of the best players in the nation this season.
When playing together, the Morris twins can dominate from both in the paint and outside the three-point line.
Heading into the Big 12 tournament, the Morris twins both average double-digits leading KU in scoring and rebounding. Fortunately for Kansas, they actually have some depth if the Morris twins are playing poorly (which doesn't happen often).
Kansas should be favored to win the Big 12 tournament after winning the Big 12 season title outright. The Jayhawks have the tools to get the job done, but need continued production out of the twins to do so.
Unlike the Pullen situation, the Kansas Jayhawks don't necessarily need the Morris twins to average double-double performances throughout the Big 12 tournament.
But Kansas fans will take it if they happen to do so, and the Philadelphia natives are more than capable of getting it done.
If KU wins the Big 12 tournament, except the Morris twins to average double-doubles in points and rebounding.
2. Tristan Thompson Is the Most Impressive Freshman
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The Canada native was recently named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year this week and he has deserved it.
A lot of people knew the talent that Thompson possessed, but few thought that Rick Barnes could have him competing with the nation's best by the end of the season. And when I say competing, I truly mean it.
Thompson has been solid for the Longhorns and is a huge part of their success this season.
The true freshman is averaging 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game for UT. His inside game has developed quickly, and he is looking great as an NBA prospect (although I see him coming back to Texas for at least one more season).
Along with his freshman counterpart, guard Cory Joseph, Thompson has been pretty consistent in terms of production. Considering Texas doesn't utilize its bench all that often, I'm sure Rick Barnes is counting on this kid to be huge in the Big 12 tournament.
While there are other candidates like Baylor's Perry Jones III, Mizzou's Phil Pressey and Kansas' Josh Selby, I full expect Tristan Thompson to be the most impressive freshman in the tournament this year.
1. Kansas and Texas Square off on Saturday at 6
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OK, these are the one and two seeded teams.
But seriously, this is the best possible matchup because these two teams desperately want to play each other again.
On the Kansas side, Texas came into Allen Fieldhouse and ended the nation's longest home winning streak back in January.
Many Kansas fans claim that the reason KU (who was up by double-digits) experienced a meltdown in the second half was because of exhaustion. In their defense, this was the day after Thomas Robinson and the team were informed about the passing of his mother.
According to reports, the team was up until five or six o'clock that Saturday morning. Nonetheless, Texas came into Allen Fieldhouse and won.
Not an easy task no matter the situation.
On the Texas side, they want to prove that they are the best team in the Big 12. It certainly seemed that way until about three weeks ago when Texas was undefeated and Kansas had two losses.
Then, almost right on cue, the Longhorns experienced a rough patch and lost three of its last five games to hand the Big 12 title back over to Kansas.
Not only do these two teams have something to prove, but the matchup would be pretty exciting to watch.
Like I said earlier, so many teams are good in the Big 12 this season that it could possibly end up completely different in the final matchup.
But let's get real, the most realistic matchup on Saturday will be Kansas and Texas.
And it shall be a blood fest.
For all of Kip's Kansas and Big 12 coverage, follow him on Twitter @KipReiserer and become a fan on his Sportswriters Profile Page!
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