Big 12: Kansas stays on top
|
By Albert Lin, CNN/SI
Ryan Robertson is one of the main reasons the Jayhawks should stay on top.
(John Biever) | |
| Projected Order of
Finish
|
| Team | Comment |
| 1. Kansas* | Still loaded with prep
All-Americas. |
| 2.
Oklahoma
State* | Eddie Sutton is a defensive
genius. |
| 3. Texas** | Rick Barnes should revitalize
'Horns. |
| 4.
Missouri** | Great athletes; any
chemistry? |
| 5. Oklahoma** | Soph PF Ryan Humphrey becomes go-to
guy. |
| 6.
Iowa
State ** | Young team a year
wiser. |
| 7.
Nebraska**
| Can Tom Osborne coach
hoops? |
| 8.
Kansas
State | Needs to learn how to
win. |
| 9.
Colorado | How many years until Rodney Billups, Chauncey's brother, reaches college? |
| 10.
Texas
Tech | Wealth of talent now
depleted. |
| 11. Texas
A&M | New coach Melvin Watkins begins building
process. |
| 12. Baylor | If you don't have anything nice to
say.... |
*NCAA Tournament lock;
**NCAA Tournament bubble team/NIT
bound. |
|
| |
|
|
All-Conference
Team |
|
Kris
Clack, G/F, 6'5", Sr.,
Texas
| | 1997-98 Stats: 17.3 ppg, 6.5
rpg |
|
Manny
Dies, F, 6'9", Sr., Kansas State
| | 1997-98 Stats: 15.7 ppg, 7.6
rpg | |
Marcus
Fizer, F, 6'8", So., Iowa State
| | 1997-98 Stats: 14.9 ppg, 6.7
rpg | |
Chris
Mihm, C, 7'0", So.,
Texas
| | 1997-98 Stats: 12.4 ppg, 8.0
rpg | |
Adrian
Peterson, G, 6'4", Sr., Oklahoma
State
| | 1997-98 Stats: 17.7 ppg, 6.7
rpg
|
|
|
Player of the
Year |
| Kris Clack, G/F, 6'5", Sr.,
Texas
| | Great athlete and defender who has improved his offense
every
year.
| |
|
Coach on the Hot
Seat
|
| Harry Miller,
Baylor 5th year, 1997-98 record:
14-14
| | Bears finished .500
with
NBA first-round pick Brian Skinner. Without Skinner? Don't
ask.
| |
|
Newcomer of the
Year |
| Victor Avila, C, 6'10", Jr.,
Oklahoma
| | Polished transfer from Scottsdale (Ariz.)
CC will will step right in for graduated Evan
Wiley.
| |
|
Top Three
Storylines to Watch
|
| Ames
High
| | Tim Floyd had Iowa State on the right track before heading
to Chicago. Can new coach Larry Eustachy continue the
progress?
|
| Double
Jeopardy
| | How will Kansas fill the shoes of All-Americas Raef
LaFrentz and Paul
Pierce?
| | Changes
Pend-ing
| | After last year's mess, will new coach Rick Barnes guide
the 'Horns back into the
tournament?
|
|
| The Bandwagon |
| Keyon
Dooling |  |
High-flying Missouri freshman will have fans
jumping |
| Kansas |  | Should still win league, but dominant no
longer |
| Oklahoma
State | | Eddie Sutton keeps doing it with
mirrors |
|
|
Games to
Watch |
|
Texas at Arizona, Nov.
25
| | Barnes' club is tested by a reloading Wildcats
team.
|
|
Kansas vs. Kentucky (in Chicago), Dec.
1
| | Great matchup pitting two of NCAA's three alltime
winningest
programs.
|
|
Oklahoma State vs. UCLA (in Anaheim, Calif.), Dec.
5
| | Cowboys get an early look at nation's best recruiting
class. |
|
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