big daddy russ
03-02-2006, 02:06 PM
Wow. The conference should be loaded. KU and OSU were two of the youngest teams in the nation, and both seemed to be coming together right now.
OSU's been a tough out all year, but they turned a corner when they beat UT a couple of weeks ago. Now they know how to finish games, and have gone 2-2 since then, with two of those games against top 25 teams (lost to #17 OU by one the other night).
The rest of the conference should be loaded again, too. It looks like we'll only have three possible early entries (CU's Roby, UT's Aldridge and Gibson IF they do leave) so most teams return their studs.
UT and OU stand to lose the most. Buckman and Paulino leave the 40 Acres with walking papers this year, and Aldridge and Gibson may go into the NBA. But with all those loaded recruiting classes the Horns have put together should reload and be in the thick of things again next year.
OU's not sitting quite as pretty, as they have to find a way to replace two of the best, most experienced post players in the Big XII, along with a great wing. But they've had a couple of nice recruits here and there, and should be eyeing the postseason again next year as well.
TAMU, KSU and a few others return the house, too. I think Kansas State will be the surprise team of the year next season.
OSU and KU should easily be top 10-caliber teams. UT should be right on their heels. TAMU, KSU, Mizzou, Tech (not a single senior on the team) and Iowa State should all see some time in the top 25, too, but they'll beat each other up in conference play.
Oh, and I can't forget my boys over in Waco. The Bears will give teams fits, too.
OSU's been a tough out all year, but they turned a corner when they beat UT a couple of weeks ago. Now they know how to finish games, and have gone 2-2 since then, with two of those games against top 25 teams (lost to #17 OU by one the other night).
The rest of the conference should be loaded again, too. It looks like we'll only have three possible early entries (CU's Roby, UT's Aldridge and Gibson IF they do leave) so most teams return their studs.
UT and OU stand to lose the most. Buckman and Paulino leave the 40 Acres with walking papers this year, and Aldridge and Gibson may go into the NBA. But with all those loaded recruiting classes the Horns have put together should reload and be in the thick of things again next year.
OU's not sitting quite as pretty, as they have to find a way to replace two of the best, most experienced post players in the Big XII, along with a great wing. But they've had a couple of nice recruits here and there, and should be eyeing the postseason again next year as well.
TAMU, KSU and a few others return the house, too. I think Kansas State will be the surprise team of the year next season.
OSU and KU should easily be top 10-caliber teams. UT should be right on their heels. TAMU, KSU, Mizzou, Tech (not a single senior on the team) and Iowa State should all see some time in the top 25, too, but they'll beat each other up in conference play.
Oh, and I can't forget my boys over in Waco. The Bears will give teams fits, too.