[Husker] Big XII Hoops Cranks It Up

[NUStLNorris at aol.com]

Six new coaches throw an interesting variable into the mix this year.   
Kansas and Texas are still Kansas and Texas, but there’s sure to be a lot of  
unexpected drama unfold this winter.  Based on what we’ve seen so far this  year 
from first-year Coach Doc Sadler’s Nebraska Cornhuskers, I think there’s  
reason for guarded optimism.  The optimism is based on how we’ve seen the  Huskers 
respond to and buy in to Sadler’s way of doing things.  The  optimism is 
guarded when you consider the lack of depth in the frontcourt and  the continuing 
injury concerns.  But the Huskers -- at 11 up and 3  down -- sure have exceeded 
most expectations early on.  
 
Nebraska’s 82-71 non-conference win over Western Kentucky last night and  
Kansas’ win over South Carolina today accounted for the only non-league action  
this weekend.  Interesting developments already in the Big XII:
 
IOWA STATE 66, MISSOURI 65 IN COLUMBIA:  First-year Coach Greg  McDermott’s 
Cyclones came from down 16 in the second half to shock Mizzou and  first-year 
coach Mike Anderson.  Wesley Johnson scored on a tip with 1.4  seconds to play 
to bring the ‘Clones (10 and 5 overall) all the way back.   Nebraska visits 
Ames Wednesday.
 
OKLAHMOMA STATE 81, BAYLOR 77 IN STILLWATER:  Considering that OSU is  rated 
#12 and ran their record to 15-1, Baylor must have played them pretty  tough 
on the road.  Mario Boggan and JamesOn Curry have and will continue  to carry 
OK State (coached this year by first-year guy Sean Sutton, Eddie‘s  kid).
 
TEXAS A&M 69, KANSAS STATE 65 IN COLLEGE STATION:  Acie Law had 18  points 
for A&M, who is ranked #11 in the country.  Law and their post  guy, Joseph, are 
the straws that stir A&M’s drink.  K-State (I hate to  admit this because, let
’s just say I’m NOT a K-State fan) is going to eventually  be pretty good 
with first-year Coach Bob Huggins, I would think.  They’ve  been inconsistent 
thus far, but they might be pretty good sooner as opposed to  later.  However, I 
just heard that one of Huggins’ new studs, Bill Walker,  hurt his knee last 
night.  Haven’t heard any confirmation yet as to the  severity.  
 
TEXAS 102, COLORADO 78 IN BOULDER:  All-Conference pick Richard Roby  
returned for the ’Buffs this year, but I sure thought it was odd that their  coach 
Ricardo Patton announced he was leaving at the start of the year, then  stuck 
around to “lead them” this season.  Has to be the weakest team in the  league.  
6-foot-9 Texas freshman Kevin Durant scored 37 points, had 16  rebounds and, i
n the brief time I saw him yesterday, looked real scary.   Even-money to go 
pro after this year.  Very impressive young player.
 
TEXAS TECH 68, OKLAHOMA 54 IN LUBBOCK:  First-year Coach Jeff Capel is  going 
to have a tough time, in my opinion, filling the void left by Kelvin  
Sampson.  I always thought Sampson was one of the best coaches in the  league (now he’
s at Indiana).  
 
It’s all league action all-the-time from this point out (with a few  
exceptions).  Here’s what this week looks like:
 
Big Monday:  Texas Tech at Kansas State
Tuesday:  Texas  A&M at Baylor
Wednesday:  Colorado at Oklahoma, Missouri at Texas,  Nebraska at Iowa State 
and Oklahoma State at Kansas.
 
The Cornhuskers and Cyclones will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest in the  
state of Nebraska beginning at 7 p.m.
 
Dave Norris