Trying to Save the Season With No Hits

From the beginning of the season the Longhorns looked a little bit off. While they were ranked in the top 25 nationally and had a solid record, the Horns were playing inconsistent, uninspired baseball and didn't look promising going into conference play. The lackluster play finally turned into a full blown disaster as the Longhorns have been 11-11 since March 28th and have a un-Longhorn-esqe 10-11 conference record.

What was the absolute low point? Probably losing to UT-Arlington and UT-San Antonio during that 22-game stretch has to be near the top. A 3-6 record at home during conference play has been a point of embarrassment, but the worst moment probably goes to that 31-12 drumming at the hands of Missouri. (Yes, that's a baseball score.)

What has been the problem? Well the hitting hasn't been spectacular, but a .284/24/128 isn't far off 2007's .302 average during conference play. The defense has certainly been underwhelming, with 24 errors in 21 games. But one would definitely need to look at the pitching to find the source of the Longhorn's problems. A 6.34 team ERA in conference play is absolutely atrocious, especially compared to last year's 3.19 mark in conference play.

The biggest problem has been the Longhorns inability to find starting pitching. Though the entire staff hasn't exactly been anything other than a big problem. The ace of the staff, Austin Wood has been 1-1 with a 7.26 ERA in conference play, while Riley Boening (7.13) and Kenn Kasparek (6.16) haven't faired much better against the Big XII. Augie Garrido has been trying everything as Cole Green, Chance Ruffin, and Brandon Workman (7.01) have gotten chances to start as well. Green (2.81) and Ruffin (2.93) have been working out of the pen mostly, but the two freshman might have to be what carries this team down the stretch.

The Longhorns might be trying to turn the corner, as Kenn Kasparek threw a complete game no-hitter against Texas State yesterday, but the Longhorns will need to greatly improve as a staff if they hope to turn this season around. Texas has 7 games left and will need to show well to even hope for an at large birth into the NCAA Tournament. The way this season has been going, the safest bet looks to be that that Longhorns will be at home this post season. Which might not be a bad thing, as bad of a disaster as this season has been. But, there is still a hope if the Longhorns can sweep the Baylor (26-20) series and take that momentum into their three game season finale against #6 Texas A&M (38-7). Taking two out of three from the Aggies would put the Horns in good shape with a (33-19)(16-12) mark, and riding great momentum.

But, that is highly optimistic. It might be better off to hope that the Aggies don't drop 31 runs on us, and let this season ride off slowly into the sunset and out of our collective memory

NCAA Bubble Watch: 3/5/08

Texas A&M (21-8, 7-7) v. Baylor (20-8, 8-6): This is easily the biggest game in the Big 12 this week. A&M has played themselves onto the bubble as they have lost 4 of their last 5. The Aggies RPI is 48 and only have a 74 strength of schedule rank. A&M finishes with Kansas, which makes this game a MUST win against the Bear. If Baylor can win tonight they will add a huge notch to what already is a pretty solid tournament resume.

(4) Tennessee (26-3, 12-2) v. Florida (21-8, 8-6): While Florida has won 21 games, the reigning back-to-back champs have a strength of schedule of 104 and are 60 in the RPI. The SEC is not as strong a conference as it usually is. Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi and Arkansas are all looking good for the tournament. It seems unlikely that the SEC will get 5 or more teams in the NCAAs. They really only have one solid win, over Vanderbilt. Florida may have to knock off Tennessee and Kentucky in their last two games to ensure a tournament bid.

Oklahoma (19-10, 7-7) v. Oklahoma State (16-12, 7-7): OU is looking good for the tournament right now. But it would be really nice to have a win over a solid OSU team to pad the resume. The COwboys have been hot of late as they are making a very late run at the post season. A win against the Sooner may put this marginal team near the front of the bubble teams. OSU really needs to win their last 2 games and maybe 1 or 2 in the Big 12 tournament, but a win over the Sooners will be a nice step forward.

South Florida (12-17, 3-13) v. Villanova (17-11, 7-9): Nova needs to finish 9-9 in the Big East and win some in the Big East tournament to make the Dance. That means a win over S. Florida and Providence are a must. Nova is definitely on the outside looking in. They are going to have to win tonight and hope for a great showing in the conference tournament to make it to March.

Central Florida (16-12, 9-5) v. Houston (21-7, 10-4): The Cougars are a very controversial team on the bubble. They have a great record but play in a really weak Conference USA. Their SOS is a unflattering 152 and a 60 RPI. Tom Penders and the Cougs beat Kentucky earlier in the year but lost to a hapless East Carolina team last game. UH is right on the cusp of the tournament, but need to finish really strong to get a look. With Memphis a lock and UAB looking okay, it is unlikely that CUSA will get 3 teams in the tournament.

Boston College (13-14, 4-10) v. Miami (FL) (20-8, 7-7): Right now the Hurricanes and former Texas assistant, Frank Haith, are looking really good for a NCAA bid. They got a big win over Virginia and have wins over Clemson, Georgia Tech, Duke and Maryland. Unless Miami losses to both BC and Florida State to close the year, look for them to be in the Big Dance.

Syracuse (17-12, 7-9) v. Seton Hall (17-12, 7-9): Both of these teams are in serious trouble of missing the NCAAs. In fact, they most likely will not get in. The loser of this game is absolutely eliminated from consideration. Both have to win and and then have A LOT of work to in the Big East tournament. This game will go further in eliminating a candidate than it will in getting someone in the tournament.

Kentucky (16-11, 10-4) v. South Carolina (13-15, 5-9): It has been a tale of two seasons for Billie Clyde and the Wildcats. They have made up for a horrendous early schedule with a great conference record. Kentucky is most likely not getting in, especially with top player Patrick Patterson out for the season. If Kentucky has any hope they will have to win tonight and against Florida to end the season. A 18-11, 12-4 Wildcat team will have to get a long look from the NCAA selection committee. The fact that they are Kentucky won't hurt either.

Thank You Baylor, Oklahoma State....

Sincerly,

Texas Basketball

With Baylor beating Kansas State and Oklahoma State upsetting Kansas, Texas sits very firmly atop the Big 12 Standings.

Big 12 Standings:
Texas 10-2 (23-4)
Kansas 9-3 (24-3)
Kansas State 8-4 (18-8)
Texas A&M 6-6 (20-7)

Texas is now 2 games ahead of the Kansas State Wildcats, who the Longhorns play on ESPN this Monday. Obviously Rick Barnes is not thinking this way, but Texas can still remain on top of the Big 12, even if they don't get out of Manhattan, KS with a victory. And it is now even more clear that Kansas State is not so much of a team as a two man, super duo, as Michael Beasley (44) and Bill Walker (31) scored 75 of K State's 86 points against the Bears.

Kansas also took a tumble, courtesy of Byron Eaton and OK State, as the Cowboys pulled off the biggest upset thus far in the Big 12 season. Kansas was, again, done in by their lack of outside shooting (2-11 from three) and a missing go to scorer and leader. While Kansas may be the most talented team in the country, they seem to be suffering from a lack of offensive leadership, as they do not have a "go to" scorer that they can consistently count on. Much like the Texas loss, Kansas was forced into a last second shot, to win the game. And much as before, it seemed that no one wanted to take the final shot.

Taking a look at Texas' upcoming schedule, they are all winnable.

Mon. @ Kansas State
Mar 1 @ Texas Tech
Mar 4 Nebraska
Mar 9 Oklahoma State


The Wildcats are still a tough matchup in Manhattan and Nebraska and OK State have played better of late. But there is no reason that Texas cannot win all of these games and take the Big 12 title out right. At the very least Texas can still go 3-1 and at worst share the title if Kansas can go undefeated the remainder of the season.

Big XII Bubble Watch

The Big XII race appears to be sorting itself out, as there is starting to be some seperation between the top 6 teams. The question still remains as to how many tournament teams the Big XII can muster. Oklahoma and Baylor remain the biggest question marks on the bubble as to whether the Big XII will get four, five, or six teams into the dance. The postseason outlook for the Big XII...

#5 Kansas (24-2) (9-2) RPI: 6; SOS: 58
W - vs. Arizona, at USC
L - at Kansas State
To Play: vs. #25 Kansas State, at #22 Texas A&M
- Kansas should be able to win the rematch against Kansas State, as the Wildcats have been struggling as of late, and the Jayhawks should be able to contain the Aggies front line. This would give Kansas either the #1 or #2 seed heading into the Big XII tournament and have them at 29-2. While the record is impressive, they haven't played the most difficult of schedules and if they don't win the Big XII they might not garner a #1 seed.

#7 Texas (22-4) (9-2) RPI: 5; SOS: 3
W - vs. Tennessee, at UCLA, vs. St. Mary's, vs. Kansas
L - at Missouri
To Play: vs. Oklahoma, at. #25 Kansas State
- Texas seems in prime position to take the Big XII title. Though they will need to play their best on the road against Kansas State, a game that will test their front line. Texas has played a great schedule and has three wins against the top 6 teams in the country. If they can manage to win out and make it to the finals of the Big XII tournament, they could sneak into a #1 seed, but they profile best as a #2 seed. If they drop two of their last five, they would probably become one of the most dangerous #3 seeds in the tournament.

#25 Kansas State (18-7) (8-3) RPI: 29; SOS: 33
W - at Oklahoma, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Kansas
L - vs. George Mason, at Xavier, at Missouri, at Texas Tech, at Nebraska
To Play: at Baylor, vs. Texas, at Kansas
- Losing to Missouri, Texas Tech, and Nebraska have really hurt Kansas State in conference play. They now have tough trips to Baylor and Kansas with a visit by Texas to close out the season. If Kansas State goes 2-3 the rest of the way, they should still be dancing, but a win over Baylor or Texas would help cement what has been a solid season for the Wildcats behind Michael Beasley. A 21-9 mark for the season could slot the Wildcats as a #5 or #6 seed that no one will want to play.

#22 Texas A&M (20-6) (6-5) RPI: 39; SOS: 80
W - at Ohio State, vs. Texas
L - at Texas Tech, at Kansas State, vs. Oklahoma State, at Texas
To Play: at Oklahoma, at Baylor, vs. #5 Kansas
- The Aggies have not made things easy on themselves with inconsistent play throughout the conference season. They have a tough stretch ahead of them and really need to take one or both of the OU and Baylor games. The Aggies need to win 3 of their last 5 to avoid going 8-8 in conference and putting themselves in a difficult position come tournament time. Even if the Aggies go 23-8, it might not be enough to make them a #6 seed in the tournament. And while this is an Aggies team that is built for close games in the post season, life as a #7 or #8 seed would make life extremely difficult.

Oklahoma (18-8) (6-5) RPI: 26; SOS: 13
W - vs. Arkansas, vs. Gonzaga, at West Virginia, Baylor twice
L - vs. Stephen F. Austin, at Kansas by 40, at Colorado
To Play: at #7 Texas, vs. #22 Texas A&M
- The Sooners have done well as of late and appear to be finally healthy heading down the stretch. They have impressive RPI and SOS numbers that should help them in front of the selection committee. They have been wildly inconsistent this season, looking very good at times, and at other times, far from it. They should win at least 3 of their final 5, which should be enough to get them in the dance, but a win over Texas A&M would be nice to solidify their place in the tournament. They should end up as a #8 or #9 seed in the dance, which would be a nice accomplishment for a young program under Jeff Capel.

Baylor (17-8) (5-6) RPI: 40; SOS: 38
W - at Notre Dame, at Texas A&M
L - vs. Arkansas, Oklahoma twice, at Oklahoma State
To Play: vs. #25 Kansas State, vs. #22 Texas A&M
- Baylor has CBS executives worried. What once was easily the feel good story of the tournament has fallen on shaky times, as Baylor has free falled the past few weeks as it has forgotten how to play defense. While three easy games will help to turn things around, Baylor really needs to protect their home floor against either one or both of the games against KSU and A&M. A 20-10 record should let the Bears sneak in, but they really need one more big win to cement their resume and not have to rely on mediocre computer numbers. One or two wins in the Big XII tournament wouldn't hurt either.

The Race for the NIT:

Texas Tech (14-11) (5-6) RPI: 62; SOS: 6
- Tough games down the stretch with this Saturday vs. Iowa State as the only one that they will be favored to win. Great computer numbers, but will need to pull an upset somewhere down the stretch.

Missouri (14-12) (4-7) RPI: 86; SOS: 21
- The kindest closing schedule of the NIT hopefulls, with games vs. Colorado, Oklahoma State, and Iowa State looming. Missouri could do the unthinkable if they suspend half their team and then make the NIT. I will be rooting for them.

Oklahoma State (13-12) (4-7) RPI: 111; SOS: 37
- This may come down to the Bedlam Series for the Cowboys as they will probably need to beat Oklahoma at home along with Nebraska at home and Missouri on the road if they hope to have any chance at the NIT. With their sluggish computer numbers, they will need to have a winning record overall and close to .500 in conference.

Nebraska (15-9) (4-7) RPI: 133; SOS: 134
- While the win over Kansas State gave them life, the computer numbers remind you that those 15 wins came against lesser foes. They will need to do some work and get more than just the visit from Colorado. That means beating Oklahoma at home or OSU on the road. Or if they prefer to dream big, A&M or Texas on the road. The computer numbers and the conference record might leave the Huskers at home.

Iowa State (14-12) (4-7) RPI: 135; SOS: 66
- If Iowa State hopes to see a postseason of any sort they will have to do their work away from Ames. Kansas and Kansas State are the only remaining visits they have, but don't count them out as wins are possible at Texas Tech, Missouri, and Colorado. But it may take them two or all three of those road games to make it to the promised land that is the NIT.

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 6, Part 2

Oklahoma (16-8) (4-5) at Texas Tech (13-10) (4-5)

- Both teams are fighting for their postseason life as Oklahoma desperately needs a win to keep their tournament hopes alive and Texas Tech needs the win to keep their NIT hopes a live. Oklahoma looked like they were in good position to be the sixth team to represent the Big XII, but after losing Blake Griffin to an injury, and then Longar-Longar, Oklahoma has played wildly inconsistent, losing their third straight in a devisating loss at Colorado. It was thought that Longar-Longar was out for the year, but apparently used an herbal remedy that had him back for the mid-week win over Iowa State. Oklahoma finally had their full lineup and got contributions from Tony Crocker and Austin Johnson and it showed in a good win against Iowa State. If Oklahoma doesn't have to rely on Blake Griffin on the offense end, this becomes a very dynamic basketball team. Texas Tech proved that even under new coach Pat Knight, they will be extremely tough to beat at home. The win over Kansas State was impressive as they got 30 points from Alan Voskuil? Really? The Oklahoma game will tell if it was just a one game outburst or if the Red Raiders have figured out how to get a full team contribution on the offensive end.

Prediction: Texas Tech 71, Oklahoma 65

#11 Texas (20-4) (7-2) at Baylor (17-6) (5-4)

- The Longhorns work is hardly over as they must recover quickly from their Big Monday win over #3 Kansas. They learned a lot about themselves in the Kansas game, and the biggest lesson is that this Texas team is going to win with their defense. If Texas plays hard on the defensive end, they can play with any team in the country. But Texas still has a few issues they need to resolve. DJ Augustin is still struggling to adjust to the way teams are defending him, and he is still stuck in a bad shooting slump. Texas will need DJ to get back to normal if they hope to win conference games on the road. Texas could also used more improved play out of the post. Connor Atchley and Damion James played great, but Texas still needs contributions out of Dexter Pittman, Clint Chapman, and Alexis Wangmene. While Texas is winning games off their defense, Baylor is losing them from no defense. They are letting opponents score at will. If they defend even just a little bit, their offense is good enough that they will be able to get back to winning games. Offensively Baylor will continue to use their guards to attack. They have one of the deepest and most talented back courts in the country and they will get their points. However, Baylor needs to not forget about Kevin Rogers. Getting Rogers involved makes him more active on the boards as well and gives Baylor some more balanced scoring.

Prediction: #11 Texas 89, Baylor 86

Missouri (14-11) (4-6) at #18 Kansas State (17-6) (7-2)

- Missouri has done a remarkable job staying in the conference race and keeping their team together after all the suspensions. Keon Lawerence has stepped up and provided scoring in the absence of Stefon Hannah. But Missouri needs to keep getting contributions from every man on their roster to have any chance of competing. Kansas State has struggled with consistency since their win over Kansas. They have lost both games on the road to Missouri and Texas Tech. Kansas State is a young team and they need to realize that everyone will be coming out and playing their best games against them. Also, Michael Beasley and Bill Walker can't afford to have off nights. They need to carry their team night in and night out if they want to continue to be at the top of the Big XII.

Prediction: #18 Kansas State 85, Missouri 76

Surprises and Disappointments

Each basketball season there are teams that seem to come out of nowhere and teams that start with high expectations and fall apart. Looking around the major conferences to see who has pleasently surprised and who has left us wanting more...

ACC
Surprise:
Duke (22-1)(10-0)
- Wait, when did that happen? Duke is good again? Sure, they weren't really not good at any point over the past few seasons, but you weren't worried about them winning National Titles. We definitely didn't savor the moment, because don't look now, but Duke might be the best team in the country. A one point loss to Pittsburgh is all that is keeping this team from being unbeaten. Apparently Coach K figured out how to balance Duke and Team USA, and threw in some Phoenix D'Antoni magic for good measure. They still maybe weak inside, but no one has been able to expose it, as Singler has fans around the country sick to their stomachs with his inside and outside play. Though the most frustrating has to be the transformation of Greg Paulus. For two years you could count on Paulus shrinking from the pressure and not coming through for the Dukies, then all of a sudden he looks like one of the best shooters in the country and becoming less likeable with every dead eye three. Duke is back. Shit.

Disappointment:
Teams not named Duke, North Carolina, Maryland, and Clemson
- The ACC might only get four teams into the Dance? Really? What happened to the premier basketball conference in America? Moved north to the Big East or west to the Pac-10, that's what happened. NC State took a major step backwards from last season along with Boston College. Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Florida State still can't escape mediocrity. Virginia Tech didn't really stand a chance thanks to recruits bailing out after the shooting, and they're still making a noble effort. And Virginia? Who knows what happened to them. Sean Singletary might as well be playing one on five. This conference is not that competitive and not that deep. It has been slowly going this direction for a number of years, and I'm not sure if I would take them over the SEC.

Big XII
Surprise:
Baylor (17-6) (5-4)
- They have cooled off in the last week or so thanks to the fact that they don't play any defense, but the Bears have been a success story that will surely get played to death come tournament time. Scott Drew has done a noble job of turning around the Bears and giving fans of that program something to cheer about. It has been a difficult road, but Baylor now boasts one of the deepest backcourts in the country with five really talented guards. And the scary part? Outside of point guard Aaron Bruce, they will all be coming back next season.

Disapointment:
Oklahoma State (12-12) (3-7)
- This one reeks of nepotism as 800-win club Eddie Sutton's son, Sean has quickly unraveled all that his father built. Sutton still looks for his first conference road win in two seasons, and recruiting isn't going as well either. Maybe his dad didn't tell him the secret of going after players with questionable character. Either way, the Cowboys season has been a big disappoinment thus far, and Sutton might not get to stick around to see if he can turn it around.

Big East
Surprise:
Notre Dame (18-5) (8-3)
- In what is the deepest and toughest conference in America, Notre Dame has proven that they are up to the challenge in an area that they have struggled in recent years. Led by sophomore forward Luke Harangody (20.8 ppg/10.4 rpg) the Fighting Irish have surprised many by sitting in a third place tie in the conference. Mike Brey's teams have always been around the bubble come NCAA tournament time, but this season, they are one of the teams that will surprise some people come March.

Disappointment:
Villanova (14-9) (4-7)
- Expecting to build off of a successful freshman campaign by Scottie Reynolds, many expected Nova to continue to be a factor in the Big East. But conference season has been one big headache for Jay Wright's crew. A recent five game losing streak probably dashed the Wildcats tournament hopes. But if you lose to last place Rutgers and then get beat by 22 by Isaiah Thomas' other team St. John's, you don't deserve to be dancing in March.

Pac-10
Surprise:
Stanford (20-3) (9-2)
- Trent Johnson has done quite the turnaround job at Stanford as he has the program back at the top of the Pac-10 sooner than anyone expected. Sure it helps to have two 7 footers, but Johnson has the Cardinal exceeding all expectations. They have won seven straight and may be looking at an end of season trip to UCLA to decide the conference title.

Disappointment:
Washington State (18-5) (6-5)
- Not a complete disappointment and they are starting to turn things around, but much more was expected out of the Cougars. Most thought they would be neck and neck all season with UCLA and in the top 10 in the country. But following a stretch where they lost 4 of 5, the Cougars are three games out of the race for the conference title. They still have time to turn it around, but Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver have not lived up to preseason expectations.

SEC
Surprise:
Mississippi State (16-7) (7-2)
- The biggest surprise for the Bulldogs is definitely the 7-2 conference record. Not much was expected out of them out of a 9-5 out of conference mark, but the Bulldogs have turned it on and were unblemished before losses to Arkansas and Tennessee. Jamont Gordon has led the way for Mississippi State averaging 18.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 4.7 apg. But he's not alone as three other Bulldogs are scoring in double figures. Mississippi State has hit their stride and should be able to ride it into the tournament in March.

Disappointment:
Alabama (14-11) (3-7)
- The SEC conference season has not been kind to Alabama, as things have come unraveled. The season might cost coach Mark Gottfried his job as the Tide has stumbled their way to a 3-7 conference mark. Defensively the Crimson Tide have struggled, giving up over 72 points a game. They have a talented group coming in for next season, but there's no telling whether Coach Gottfried will be around to coach them.

Big Ten
Surprise:
Purdue (20-5) (11-1)
- The Boilermakers have surprised everyone this season. They have won 10 straight in conference including two wins over Wisconsin and one over Michigan State. Coach Matt Painter has his team playing solid Big Ten defense and is getting contributions from his entire team on the offensive end. With Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio State still left on the schedule, they are not in the clear yet, but they are definitely the favorite to win the Big Ten.

Disappointment:
Illinois (11-14) (3-9)
- The Illini came into the season with many expecting them to have a down season, but I don't think anyone expected this under Bruce Webber. It has been all downhill since losing Eric Gordon and Illinois is having an extremely difficult time rebounding on the recruiting trail. Things don't appear like they are going to improve anytime soon in Champaign, and the clock might start ticking on an extremely talented coach.

Did They Think to Cancel His Service?

ESPN.com is reporting that Indiana could be facing more NCAA sanctions on top of the already self imposed sanctions that Indiana placed on themselves for hiring a dirtbag...err, I mean Kelvin Sampson.

Indiana was forced into self imposed sanctions last year when they discovered that Kelvin Sampson had made 577 impermissable phone calls from 2000-2006 at Oklahoma. While the phone calls were disturbing, Indiana later revealed that the biggest problem was that no one liked the SOB...okay, maybe not, but it's possible.

So Indiana trying to rebuild their program through the assistance of those that break the rules, my favorite way to return to glory, personally, but strict limitations on Sampson trying to avoid any trouble from the NCAA. This included making no off-campus trips, limited phone calls, and no three-way phone calls. Which really, I don't think any coach should be participating in any three-ways, well except maybe Larry Eustachy.

Well apparently the NCAA sent a letter to Indiana saying that their investigation turned up more wrong doings, and possible MAJOR (oh yes, major) violations by the Indiana program. Apparently as has been the case from 2000 until 2007, Kelvin Sampson has been doing whatever the hell he pleases. And though it apparently takes nine years, karma will eventually catch up to you.

Not that it helps Bruce Webber at all. Bad guys may get caught, but nice guys still finish last. But really, I think Indiana deserves anything that comes there way. They knew Sampson was a shady character, but they hired him anyways. They know that he consistently breaks the rules, and yet they still didn't monitor his activities. They knew he had to be breaking rules and violating his Indiana mandated probation. So Indiana deserves whatever penalties the NCAA hands down. But let us not get too carried away. Indiana is a storied, big time basketball program. I smell a slap on the wrist. (Insert Baylor fans thinking unbaptist thoughts towards the NCAA here).

Sampson will continue to break the rules wherever he goes because it helps him win, and helps him make more money. There are no real consequences that will ever be given to him, so why not break the rules. If Indiana gets fed up and fires him, some school desperate to win will take a chance on him. Translation: Some school will welcome his rule breaking tactics for a shot at winning.

But this whole incident begs the question, why didn't anyone just cancel his phone service, take away his cell phone, and ground him to his office? Oh, because then you wouldn't be 20-3 and have Eric Gordon. Now I get it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3243325

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 5, Part 2

Texas Tech (12-9)(3-4) at Nebraska (13-7)(2-5)

- Pat Knight's debut fell just short as his team hung tough on the road in Waco. But almost still leaves the Red Raiders where they were before the game. Winless on the road. The tough thing about being a head coach, is that there's nothing that can adequately prepare you for it. All coaches are going to learn from being a head coach, making mistakes, and learning from them. Fortunately, most coaches learn those lessons at smaller schools before working their way up to the big time. Pat Knight will get to take his lumps in the Big XII Conference, and as Sean Sutton is learning, it's not the smoothest ride. Nebraska has shown some signs of life winning two out of their last three. They have been getting some mediocre guard play as of late and that's about all they can ask for. This team still lives and dies behind the play of Aleks Maric. If he can dominate the paint in front of the home crowd, the Cornhuskers can pull the upset.

Prediction: Nebraska 62, Texas Tech 57

Oklahoma State (11-11)(2-6) at #20 Kansas State (16-5)(6-1)

- Oklahoma State knows what they have to do to win this game, but the question remains as to whether they can contain Michael Beasley or Bill Walker. Marcus Dove will have his toughest assignment of the year as he has to guard Beasley. It should go over about as well as covering Kevin Durant did last year. (Not well) On offense, the Cowboys need much more of it, and it needs to come from their guards Muonelo and Terrell Harris. Teams are keying on James Anderson and his teammates haven't stepped up. Sean Sutton is another coach that is learning that road wins in conference are hard to come by, as the Cowboys are winless this season on the road. For the Wildcats, Jacob Pullen is the key. If the freshman point guard plays well, takes care of the ball, and provides a third scoring option, this Wildcats team is tough to beat. If he doesn't play well, Beasley and Walker will still be able to carry them on any given night. Kansas State should have learned their lesson against Missouri about overlooking weak opponents, they shouldn't make that mistake twice.

Prediction: #20 Kansas State 77, Oklahoma State 69

Baylor (17-4)(5-2) at #4 Kansas (22-1)(7-1)

- The Bears need to play a complete game to have a chance to knock off the Jayhawks at Allen Field House. They have the guards to be able to dictate the pace of play and control the backcourt, but they need everyone playing a good game. The biggest thing they will need to do is defend. Baylor can score with anyone in the conference, but they need to put together better defensive efforts on the inside and outside if they hope to win some of their big games. The Jayhawks need to attack the Bears inside. They need to get Darell Arthur and Jackson back on track and getting the Baylor front line in foul trouble. Also, they need Russell Robinson and Sharron Collins to win the point guard battle against Aaron Bruce and Tweedy Carter. If Kansas can dictate the pace they can keep the crowd in the game and keep the Bears off their game. The Jayhawks also need to keep Kevin Rogers and Curtis Jerrells under wraps. Both players are capable of going on a run and keeping their team in the game.

Prediction: #4 Kansas 87, Baylor 76

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 4, Part 1

A wild Wednesday was the big story, as Kansas State jumped to the front of the Big XII with their upset win over #2 Kansas. Texas A&M also thrust itself back into the mix in the conference with a trouncing of the #10 Longhorns on their home floor. A few teams have fallen out of the conference race, but eight teams still remain in the thick of the conference race.

#22 Kansas State (15-4) (5-0) at Missouri (12-9) (2-4)

- With two games against Missouri and Nebraska, and one each against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, 11-0 in conference can be classified as definite possibility as opposed to good possibility. The win against the Jayhawks turns Kansas State into a team with the confidence to make a run during March. They also are a team I don't think anyone wants to see during March. If point guard, Jacob Pullen's 20 point outburst is a sign of maturity out of the freshman, then the Wildcats suddenly become a very dangerous team. Lost in all of the excitement of Wednesday night was Missouri's loss at home to Nebraska. It was confirmation that Missouri will have a slow and painful fall to the bottom of the Big XII. And this season will be hard to watch for Tigers fans.

Prediction: #22 Kansas State 87, Missouri 73

#25 Baylor (16-3) (4-1) at #10 Texas (16-4) (3-2)

- Both teams come off a game where their weak interior defense was exposed. Baylor had a week to think about their home loss to Oklahoma at the hands of the Griffin brothers, and a week to get ready to take on the Texas Longhorns. This game is full of intreaguing matchups as Damion James will face off against Kevin Rogers, DJ Augustin against Aaron Bruce, and Curtis Jerrells will try and stop AJ Abrams on one end, and score against Justin Mason on the other end. Baylor relies on their guard play to win games, and Curtis Jerrells has emerged as the go to player for the Bears. The Austin product has come close to beating the school that spurned him each of the last two years, and they have the talent this year to finish the job. The Longhorns come off an embarrasing defeat against the Aggies in College Station. Texas needs Damion James to reassert himself offensively and exploit mismatch problems against the Bears. The only positive out of the Texas A&M might be the play of Dexter Pittman, as the sophomore scored 14 points and pulled down 7 rebounds. Time will tell however, whether it was one game or a turning point.

Prediction: #10 Texas 75, #25 Baylor 74

Oklahoma State (10-10) (1-5) at Texas Tech (11-8) (2-3)

- Oklahoma State has managed to lose five straight in conference, most in close games. Their one win came against the Red Raiders in Stillwater. They have been able to play with anyone during the streak, but haven't been able to get over the hump late in close games. James Anderson has played well, but the Cowboys have relied too much on the outside shot. Terrell Harris needs to find his confidence and Ibrahim Thomas needs to find a way to stay on the court if this team is going to be successful. Texas Tech is winless on the road in conference and unbeaten at home. Lucky for them, they get to try for redemption in the rematch against Oklahoma State in the tropical oasis of Lubbock*. Martin Zeno has to play well for this team to win as he opens up everyone else on the floor. Freshman guard John Roberson continues to improve each game, and is a huge boost for the Red Raiders when he is playing confidently on his home floor.

Prediction: Texas Tech 64, Oklahoma State 57

Last Week: 5-1
Overall: 14-4

Every Rebuilding Story Isn't a Fairy Tale

Much of the talk in the Big XII this season has been upon the Disney quality turnaround that is going on under Scott Drew down in Waco. He has managed to build Baylor up from the ashes and get that program into the top 25, for the first time since the Old Testament. He deserves every ounce of credit and recognition that he is receiving. Unfortunately, another, less publicized rebuilding story in the Big XII isn't going as well as planned.

Missouri head coach Mike Anderson was brought to Columbia after the 2006 season to rebuild the Tigers tainted program. While building a formidable program at UAB with his high full court pressure system, Missouri called on Anderson to not only get their program back to an NCAA caliber program, but to also clean up the mess created by Quin Snyder.

Under Snyder, Missouri had become a program that brought in questionable character, and had questionable discipline along with suspect NCAA compliance. Snyder did everything the wrong way, and it was quickly becoming unraveled around him. Anderson not only had to get the program back on a winning track, but he had to clean up a program that had quickly become a constant in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Anderson instituted a new zero tolerance policy in his first season, and had a successful year on and off the court. Off court issues were limited and the Tigers had a surprising 18-12 finish. Hoping to build off that success this year, the Tigers endured some ups and downs, but looked like they had turned a corner in a big 97-84 home win against the #13 Texas Longhorns. A few uninspired performances later it was obvious that Missouri hadn't turned the corner, but it was the off the court problems that was more disappointing for Missouri.

This past weekend, the team leader in scoring and assists, senior Stephon Hannah was hospitalized with a broken jaw after an altercation at a local night club. Hannah had been one of the bright spots this season averaging 28 minutes, 14.7 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3 rpg, and 1.9 spg. Losing him for the season will be a serious blow, but yesterday the other shoe dropped, as Anderson suspended all the players involved in the incident indefinitely. In doing so he has ended any hopes Missouri had of making the NIT this season. They will lose two starters and two reserves that make up 24.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, and 1.2 spg. Not to mention losing 5 players out of their 9 man rotation. For Missouri, the season is over, and it is a waste.

However, Anderson should be applauded. The suspension isn't fair for the guys on the team that had something to play for. It's a shame. But he did what needed to be done. He sent a message that the old culture of Missouri will not fly. He said he will not stand for it, and he will win only if it means winning the right way. He made the hard decisions and in today's college landscape that is rarely seen. It is difficult for any coach to make monumental decisions that effect the result in the wins and loss column. He was brought to Missouri to win, and he has made a decision that will make that impossible.

But what he showed is integrity and a determination to accomplish his goals his way. Hopefully this season will not jeopardize his future with Missouri, because while Scott Drew will be hailed with national accolades throughout the month of March, Mike Anderson will be sitting at home, fighting to get Missouri back on the right track. But before he can get it back on the right track, he has to finish cleaning out the skeletons from the Quin Snyder era. He isn't there yet, but the fortitude he has shown in the past week leaves no doubt in my mind that he will get there. And one day, he will get recognized for his efforts. He's a coach of the year in my book. We need more like him in this game.

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 3, Part 2

Oklahoma (13-5) (1-2) at #25 Baylor (16-2) (4-0)

- Oklahoma avoided going 0-3 to start the conference season with a two point win over Texas Tech on Wednesday. With Blake Griffin out injured, the Sooners turned to his older brother Tony who responded with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Longar-Longar also had a big game as the Sooners attacked Texas Tech in the paint. Oklahoma will need to do that again if they have any hope of pulling off the upset. Oklahoma's guards have let them down so far this season, and it showed against Tech, shooting 29% from three point range. Baylor continues their ride of success as they are planting the seed to become America's Cinderella story for the season. Their 5 OT win at #18 Texas A&M is a milestone win for the program. Curtis Jerrells established himself as the go to player on this team. Also, this team can't afford for Kevin Rogers to get into foul trouble as he is their only reliable interior player. Baylor's weakness is their interior play, but if they can manage to limit opponents inside, their deep and talented guard play will carry them through a lot of games.

Prediction: #25 Baylor 75, Oklahoma 71

Iowa State (12-7) (2-2) at Kansas State (13-4) (3-0)

- Coming off a game where they had no chance against Kansas, the Cyclones will try and rebound on the road at the other Big XII surprise, Kansas State. Iowa State will need to attack inside with Wesley Johnson and Craig Brackins and try to get Bill Walker and Michael Beasley into foul trouble. It would also help Iowa State if they could get some consistent guard play, but most of all they need Rashon Clark to step up and be a leader for this team. As for Kansas State, it all depends on the two-headed monster. If you stop Beasley and Walker, you will beat Kansas State, but that's where people are having trouble. Beasley and Walker are averaging a combined 47 points and 14 rebounds a game in conference play. But as was the case in the Colorado game, that's all that Kansas State had going for it. The rest of the Wildcats combined to shoot 32% against the Buffaloes. Beasley and Walker are a force, but if either player is off or gets in foul trouble, this becomes a decidedly weaker team.

Prediction: Kansas State 77, Iowa State 68

Texas Tech (11-7) (2-2) at #12 Texas (15-3) (2-1)

- Martin Zeno is coming off of a career high 33 points against Missouri and will look to continue attacking a Texas team that has looked like anything but the #12 team in the country. Texas Tech is a guard oriented team which should allow them to match up well with Texas. Zeno is the best of their four starting guards, but freshman point guard John Roberson has come on strong as of late and gives the Red Raiders another offensive weapon. Knight teams are always scrappy and well coached, and with Zeno, they have one potent scorer. It is well known that Texas goes as far as DJ Augustin takes him. This has been even more true as of late as Texas has struggled to develop any inside presence. Damion James needs to have a big game and be active on the boards, but most of all Texas needs to develop their bench. All five starters played over 35 minutes in the Oklahoma State game, and they didn't get much of any contribution from their three freshman power forwards on the bench. It also wouldn't hurt for AJ Abrams, shooting 22% from 3 point range in conference play (32 attempts in 3 games), to get back on track. But regardless, if DJ Augustin plays well, Texas will be in the game at the end.

Prediction: #12 Texas 76, Texas Tech 72

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 2, Part 2

Baylor (14-2) (2-0) at Nebraska (11-4) (0-2)
- In a game where confidence and momentum play such a role in a team's season, this is exactly the start Baylor was hoping for, and exactly what Nebraska did not need from the start of conference play. Baylor has played solid and taken advantage of two winnable road games. Their experience has led the way has Henry Dugat has averaged 19 through the first two games and Aaron Bruce and Kevin Rogers have played well. Baylor needs to continue to rely on their experience until their talented youth can start to exert themselves in conference play. Nebraska's loss to Kansas was expected, but the loss at Colorado kills their early season hopes of being relevant in the Big XII. Aleks Maric needs to do even more than his 16.5 conference ppg for this Nebraska team if they hope to do anything. They will also need more consistent play from their entire roster and someone to step up and be the second and third scoring option on this team.

Prediction: Baylor 77, Nebraska 69

#3 Kansas (17-0) (2-0) at Missouri (11-6) (1-1)
- Missouri of course followed their upset win over #13 Texas by losing at Iowa State this week. Missouri is learning a new system and trying to endure a change in culture for a program warped with scandal. Winning will make it an easier process, but to do that, you need to win the games you can. DeMarre Carroll and Stefhon Hannah are going to produce every game, but the team needs to play consistently to succeed in the conference. They've proven they can beat a good team in Texas, but they need to follow those up by beating teams like Iowa State. And instead of heading into this game sitting pretty at 2-0, they will face an uphill battle after Kansas beats them. This Kansas team has bigger fish to fry as they will be a favorite to win the National Title. They can score inside with Arthur and Jackson, have a premier swing man in Brandon Rush, a great two guard in Mario Chalmers, two great point guards in Russell Robinson and Sherron Collins, and even solid role players in seniors Sasha Khan and Roderick Stewart. This team is dangerous. The only potential road block is the fact that this team underachieves on the biggest stage, but they don't have to worry about that until after Conference play.

Prediction: #3 Kansas 91, Missouri 76

Colorado (9-7) (1-1) at #19 Texas (13-3) (0-1)
- Colorado got a big win against Nebraska this week, but will have a tough time building on it on the road in Austin. What they do have going for them is a disciplined system from Coach Bdzelik, that when followed will cause the Longhorns problems on the offensive and defensive ends. While they only play two players over 6'6", Colorado boasts a stable of big guards (3 starters at 6'5" or 6'6") that will cause match up problems for the Longhorns' small back court. It also helps that Texas has played uninspired basketball over the past month, culminating in an uninspired and atrocious defensive display in Columbia last weekend. With a week to think about the 97 points given up, the Longhorns should come out hungry to play. But the uninspired play is the least of their worries. DJ Augustin has played sloppy over the past several games and he needs to refine his decision making on the court. More importantly, the introduction of Gary Johnson has not gone as smoothly as hoped. It has affected Johnson's play (19 min, 0-4 vs. Missouri) as well as Connor Atchley's play. Atchley has seemingly regressed from the early season form he showed, and much of it can be attributed to the Longhorns once again trying to figure out every one's offensive roles. Equally worrisome has been the inability to find any consistency from the bench. Wangmene has provided solid minutes with his hustle and defense, but the inability of Dexter Pittman, Clint Chapman, and JD Lewis to contribute in any significant way has been disappointing. But we all know the biggest disappointment. It has been the struggles of sophomore guard Justin Mason who's minutes keep dwindling as he loses more confidence, his shot worsens, and his defense begins to slip. Mason needs to find some sliver of hope soon, or he will be lost for the season, and probably out of the rotation. Texas needs to take advantage of these winnable early conference games and get back on track as a team. The first step will be getting back to outworking their opponents, and the rest will come.

Prediction: #19 Texas 71, Colorado 61

Life After Baylor

What does one do when they are fired as head football coach of the Baylor Bears? Do you take some time off? Do you look for another, lower profile head coaching job? Do you look to become an assistant coach somewhere and start working your way back to the top?

For recently axed head coach Guy Morriss the answer is apparently b.) Look for another, lower profile head coaching job. How low profile you ask? How about Boyle County High School in....well Boyle County, Kentucky.

Reports from the Lousiville Courier-Journal were confirmed by none other than Morriss' wife Jackie. She confirmed that he was interviewed for the job and also believes that, "He would do a great job there.”

All of Boyle County is excited about the possibility of the former UK coach that helped rebuild Kentucky after the scandal filled era of Hal Mumme....you know before he made the horrible decision of accepting the head coaching job at Baylor University. But now he has a chance to encounter a new challenge. But it won't be easy, he'd have to overcome cross county rival Danville and their legendary head coach Sam Harp.

No word on whether Coach Morriss would be expected to teach any classes. Perhaps a course in Home Economics or possibly a Religion course?


Thanks to Meaningful Collateral via Deadspin

Handing out the Grades: Baylor

With the end of each college football season, there comes the hiring and firings as schools evaluate their program and whether they meet their expectations. Hiring a new coach is a dicey process and making the right or wrong hire will determine the success of the program over the next 10 years. Let’s look at this winter’s changes and hand out the grades.

Baylor (3-9)
- Guy Morriss is the perfect example of a school making the wrong hire and the program sinking further into depression. After some short, moderate success at Kentucky, the Bears brought in Morriss to resurrect their struggling program. 18 wins and 40 losses later, it is obvious that that is not the case. It leaves the Bears exactly where they started, in the bottom of the Big XII, needing to rebuild.

The Bears turned there attention to their most famous alum, Mike Singletary. Singletary, however, was smart enough to avoid a career land mine. Left without option #1, the Bears made a savvy hire in Houston head coach Art Briles. Briles boasts over a decade of coaching Texas High School football, and also the last five years turning around a Houston program that had come on some tough times. Briles is known for his high octane offense, as well as mentoring Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Kevin Kolb.

The task ahead of Briles is daunting, but Texas is a state full of talent, and Briles has over 20 years of experience in the state of Texas. He is a hire that will allow Baylor to beat out Rice, TCU, SMU, and Houston for recruits, something they hadn’t done in previous years. He should also be able to improve the Baylor offense that couldn’t seem to come together in Morriss’ spread attack. Briles may not be able to turn around this Baylor program, but he certainly is one of the best candidates that Baylor could come up with, with a job that is currently so undesirable.

Grade: B

Baylor Finds Their Man! It's Guy Morriss! Okay...Not Really

Baylor has apparently found their new head coach and it isn’t Guy Morriss, which is more than I thought they would be able to pull off. The new man will be Houston head coach Art Briles, who after five seasons in Houston, will take over the suffering Bears program.

The move could end up being a shrewd one for the Bears as Briles history as the head coach of Stephenville High School, and then his successful transition with Houston. He rebuilt a suffering program at Houston using a high octane passing attack. He initially took the job at Houston and immediately signed quarterback Kevin Kolb (a 2nd round pick for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007) whom he built the Houston program around. No word on whether he has any NFL quarterbacks he can bring with him to Baylor.

Even after Kolb left, Briles lead the Cougars to an 8-4 record this season. Familiar with the Texas recruiting scene Briles may help give Baylor a much needed boost in the Texas recruiting wars. While he doesn’t have the star power that Baylor had hoped for like a Mike Singletary, he might have a chance to bring the program back to respectability.

That being said, it is Baylor. They play in the Big XII and are the only private university in a conference full of large public universities. They just don’t seem to fit, and it seems like the only way they can succeed is if they do more with less.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3131738

Talk About Your All-time Backfires....

So Baylor doesn't have a coach. Oh yeah, and the guy they wanted, doesn't so much want them. Oops! Baylor legend, Mike Singletary, has announced he is not interested in the job opening at his alma mater.

Singletary Says No Go in Waco

And a final memo to the Bears.... Get used to it.

Baylor Bears 'Sic Guy Morriss

The Baylor Bears have officially shown Guy Morriss the exit. It's not like anyone did not see the writing on the wall. In his five years as coach, Baylor has posted an 18-40 record and a 7-33 Big 12 record. This season the Bears are winless in conference play.

GUY MORRIS FIRED

But, is Baylor even a job worth taking? What do fans expect from the Bears? Honestly, Morriss has at least made playing Baylor a harder win than they used to be. They may have a had a down year, but is bringing in a new coach really going to make Baylor a powerhouse or a attractive spot for recruits? The Bears aren't even competing with the Texas' and A&M's of the world. They usually fight for prospects with TCU, SMU and the like.

But I don't see that changing fast. The best thing Baylor can do is change it's schedule, not its coach. The best thing they can do is schedule four cupcakes in preseason play and if they can pull out just 2 conference wins, they can be bowl eligible. Baylor need not have delusions of grandeur of sustained success. But then again, who thought Kansas would be #2 in the nation after going 11-29 in conference play from 2002-2006?

Baylor First Big XII Team to Drop the Axe

It is being reported that Guy Morriss won't be returning after the season to coach the Baylor Bears. Morriss inherited a program in 2003 that had been notoriously atrocious in the Big XII, that went (3-9) (1-7) in 2002. Morriss struggled to turn around the program going (3-9) (1-7) in '03 and (3-8) (1-7) in '04. It appeared that he might be turning around the program winning 5 games in 2005, and 3 conference games in 2006, both highs during his tenure. However, this season, forced to break in a new quarterback, Baylor has struggled and remains winless in conference this season.

With no conference wins in sight, and Baylor desperate to contend among large public universities in the Big XII, most figured that Morriss wouldn't return. The report says he will finish out the season, but will be let go from the final year of his contract. Baylor will once again find itself in a familiar position this off season, looking for a coach to resurrect their program. A word of advice, don't hire a coach from a losing program (ex: Morriss and Kentucky).

Morriss is the first that was dismissed from the Big XII, but he certainly won't be the last as Dennis Franchione from Texas A&M and Bill Callahan from Nebraska will certainly be joining him come season's end.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3101428

Not How You Want Your Baptists to Act

Baylor offensive line coach Eric Schnupp was arrested early Sunday morning by Waco police for urinating on a bar. Yes, he urinated on a bar.

The arrest came hours after Kansas had finished off the Bears 58-10. Schnupp is in his first season as the offensive line coach, after spending three season at West Texas A&M. Obviously, this kind of behavior is not out of the ordinary at West Texas A&M. Hey isn't Ryan Leaf a volunteer coach there? That would explain it.

Baylor has been outscored in three conference games this season 135-43. Things are obviously looking up.

http://deadspin.com/sports/this-beer-tastes-like-pee/meet-eric-whizzer-schnupp-311195.php

2007 Preseason Preview: Baylor Bears

In preparation for the 2007 College Football season, Drinking the Forty will look at every team in the Big XII, sizing up the conference for the 2007 season.

Guy Morriss knew what he was getting into when he inherited this Baylor program. He was getting the team that didn't belong in the Big XII, the perennial whipping boy of the Big XII, the butt of every joke, the Baylor Bears. Now entering his fifth season, it is now Morriss' program. Every recruiting class is his, and coming off a 4-8 season, this is Baylor's make or break year.

Last year, Baylor showed signs of turning the corner going 4-4 with wins over Colorado and Kansas State, and close losses to TCU and Washington State. However, it came unraveled at the end of the season losing their last four games, getting beaten by over 26 points in three of them. However, Baylor made progress with a much improved passing game and passing defense. But, the Bears will need to continue to make significant strides to compete in a powerful Big XII South.

On offense Baylor will be starting over on the progress they made last season. The only place Baylor returns any experience is on the offensive line where they return their junior left tackle Jason Smith, junior left guard Dan Gay, and senior right guard Chad Smith. The offensive line will need to provide leadership and protection as the rest of the offense is very inexperienced. Quarterback is still a big question mark for the Bears sophomore Blake Szymanski, who started three games last season, will most likely start the season at quarterback, but redshirt freshman Tyler Beatty is waiting in the wings, should Szymanski struggle. At wide receiver Baylor will have three to five wide at any point during the game. While they have a lot of young talent, junior Thomas White (26 rec/372 yds/2 TD) is the only returning player with extensive playing time at the college level. While they don't feature their running game much, Baylor will rely on senior Brandon Whitaker for leadership, as well as his pass catching ability out of the backfield.

If Baylor is to succeed this season it will be on the shoulders of their defense. Their porous run defense from a year ago should be much improved as Baylor returns three of their front four. Look for that group to be led by sophomore Jason Lamb (38 tackles/1 sack) and senior Geoff Nelson (36 tackles/2.5 sacks). The strength of this Baylor defense will be with their linebacking corps, as all three linebackers, including the team's two leading tacklers are back. Sophomore standout Joe Pawelek (86 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 int) and senior Nick Moore (75 tackles) will anchor this group. The only question marks on this Baylor defense will be in the secondary as senior Alton Widemon is the only player with starting experience. The other corner will be manned by senior Josh Bell, as sophomores Jeremy Williams and Jordan Lake will line up at the safety spots. Baylor's defense should continue to improve as their run defense is stout, but they will struggle against several of the pass happy teams in the Big XII, when they are forced into nickel and dime situations.

Baylor has the chance to start the season 3-1, as they have Rice, Texas State, and Buffalo on the schedule after going on the road against #22 TCU to start the season. With Big XII North opponents Colorado, Kansas, and Kansas State on the schedule, Baylor as the chance to pull off an upset against a Big XII South opponent and take 2 of 3 from the Big XII North, and get their first bowl appearance since 1994. But it all depends on whether the offense can gel and become an effective unit, to take pressure off the defense.