2010-11 college basketball preview: The Big 12
This may be the final year of the Big 12, as the conference is losing two teams at the end of the 2010-11 season. The Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Colorado Buffaloes have chosen to leave the conference for new homes. Fortunately, the two clubs are considered
football schools and are not known for their basketball programs. Nevertheless, this season the Cornhuskers and Buffaloes join a group of teams, who will once again be chasing the Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State Wildcats for the conference title.
Below is a list of the five teams who are expected to lead the conference this season and challenge for a spot in the NCAA Final Four Tournament.
Kansas Jayhawks
The Kansas Jayhawks once again have an incredibly skilled team and are expected to not only challenge for the Big 12 title but also for the national championship. The Kansas roster is deep and full or plenty of talent. The success of the Jayhawks will start
with Josh Selby, who is the number one ranked freshman in 2010-11. Selby is capable of scoring and should make an immediate impact on the Jayhawks roster.
In addition, the club also boasts 6’8” 225-pound forward Marcus Morris, who is expected to have an All-American calibre season. The balance between Morris up front and Selby in the backcourt should be a deadly combination for Kansas.
Kansas State Wildcats
Once again nipping at the heels of the Jayhawks will be the Kansas State Wildcats, who bring back an impressive line-up for 2010-11. The club has a bona-fide offensive threat in guard Jacob Pullen,. The senior is poised to lead the offence after a season
in which he averaged 19.3PPG.
Outside of Pullen, the club is full of players who seem to bring a little something extra every night. Defence will once again be the calling card of the Wildcats and their size should help them control the backboards in the majority of their contests.
Baylor Bears
The Baylor Bears are once again blessed with a very strong team, but one that is sure to fall just short of the Wildcats and Jayhawks. The Bears will have to do it with freshmen this season after losing their starting point guard Tweety Carter and team leader
Ekpe Udoh. However, the club has managed to put together an impressive recruiting class and should be able to contend in the difficult Big 12.
The prize of their 2010-11 class is Perry Jones. The 6’10” freshman from Mesquite, Texas is able to play forward and centre and should work well with fellow centre/forward J’mison Morgan. However, leading the club will be guard LaceDarius Dunn, who is expected
to build on a 2009-10 season in which he averaged 19.6 PPG. The Bears will once again be big and strong and capable of competing in perhaps the nation’s toughest conference.
Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers are hoping to get it done with a slew of impressive guards in 2010-11. The club is still waiting on the eligibility of forward Tony Mitchell, who is transferring from the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Nevertheless, a strong freshman class at the guard position should help the Tigers compete throughout the year, even with injuries. Juniors Kim English and Marcus Denmon are expected to lead the way at the back end, while freshman Phil Pressey is considered
an elite passer and should see a great deal of floor time.
Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns are expected to bounce back after a season which saw the team finish sixth in the conference. The Longhorns will be counting on two Canadian freshmen to fill big holes early, as guard Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson were brought in to
make room for J’Covan Brown, who is expected to a have a break-out season at the guard position.
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