LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD BIG XII SPOTLIGHT 4B A weekly look inside the Wednesday, March 5, 2008

SORRENTINO SCALE

Looked darn Little giant 1 near unbeatable past two games 27-3 overall Eric Sorrentino 12-3 Big 12 [email protected] Important for killers 2 Connor Atch- ley to stay Barnes out of foul 25-5 overall ——— trouble 12-3 Big 12

revitalizes Texas boasts one of nation’s Bears riding 3 a three- game win most appealing resumes streak 20-8 overall program 8-6 Big 12 By Eric Sorrentino Journal-World copy editor There’s a reason Texas l Nothing like men’s coach Rick playing CU Barnes is locked into a con- It might be Texas, No. 9 in the AP poll, presently 4 to get back tract that would keep him in difficult for the sits at 25-5 (12-3 Big 12) and atop the THE BARNES ERA on track 19-10 overall Austin until 2017. to conference with Kansas. It wasn’t sup- UT NCAA Tournament results since 9-6 Big 12 Simply put, he's the best secure a No. 1 seed in the posed to be that way this year, accord- coach took over: basketball coach in the histo- NCAA Tournament after the ing to Big 12 coaches. ry of the program. loss to Texas Tech. Before the season, not one coach 1998-99: First-round loss 2003-04: Sweet 16 Along with Texas’ nine straight tourna- If Texas wins out in the reg- picked Texas to win the conference. 1999-00: Second round 2004-05: First-round loss 2000-01: First-round loss 2005-06: Elite 8 5 KU, hottest ment appearances in Barnes’ ular season and advances to at Ten picked Kansas, while two picked 2001-02: Sweet 16 2006-07: Second round team in first nine seasons — a school least the Big 12 Tournament Texas A&M, which is fifth in the con- 2002-03: Final 4 2007-08: -- league 16-12 overall record — would have been finals, though, it will have ference standings. considered exceptional in the plenty to show the nominating commit- So how’s Texas in position to win its 7-7 Big 12 eras before Barnes arrived. tee. second Big 12 title in three years? Now, it’s just expected. No team in the Top One answer could be the emergence Losing Blake When Barnes took the UT 25 poll has defeated three Top 10 teams of guards D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams, 6 Girffin hurts job to start the 1998-1999 sea- this season. No team, that is, except the who average a combined 36.2 points per tourney son, he didn’t inherit a pro- Longhorns. game. 19-10 overall chances gram that had much success Texas ran No. 7 Tennessee out of the When darted for the 7-7 Big 12 or tradition. gym on Nov. 24 with a 97-78 victory on NBA, Augustin instantly became the The farthest Texas had a neutral court in Longhorns leader. Most per- advanced in the NCAA Tour- Newark, N.J. UT then Augustin, who plexing team nament was the Final Four, defeated No. 1 UCLA, receives at least one RESUME BUILDERS 7 in league but that was in 1947. The 63-61, on Dec 2 at Pauley “best guard in (lost 4 of 5) 21-8 overall most recent success Texas Pavilion. The Long- Texas is the only team in the the nation” refer- had in the tournament was horns capped off their AP Top 25 poll that’s defeated ence per national 7-7 Big 12 the Elite Eight in 1990. third Top 10 victory on three teams in the Top 10. Those broadcast, gets his This season will make Feb. 11 with a 72-69 vic- wins: teammates involved UT euphoria Barnes a perfect 10-for-10 in tory over the No. 3- consistently. His 5.83 killed with tournament appearances. In ranked Kansas Jayhawks No. 7 Tennessee, W 97-78 assists per game are 8 l trip to UT’s previous 58 seasons, it at home. (Nov. 24, Newark, N.J.) a large reason four Lawrence 16-13 overall made the tournament only 16 Those victories look lNo. 1 UCLA, W 63-61 (Dec. 2, UT players average times. even better now. UCLA, Los Angeles) double-digit point 7-8 Big 12 It’s baffling to think before Tennessee and Kansas lNo. 3 Kansas, W 72-69 (Feb. 11, totals. Barnes arrived, the UT play- are presently third, Austin, Texas) Abrams, who eas- 3-game win er with the most NBA suc- fourth and fifth, respec- ily has more three- streak cess was former Kings/Pac- tively, in the AP poll. pointers than any- 9 snapped on ers forward LaSalle Thomp- Texas coach Rick Barnes said he pur- one in the Big 12, has been the primary road son, who averaged near eight posely chose difficult non-league benefactor of Augustin’s ability to slash 17-11 overall points and seven boards in teams earlier in the season. to the basket. 6-9 Big 12 his 15-year pro career. “I will go back to when I was at Prov- Defensively, the Longhorns have Barnes, who coached for idence and what (former coach) Dave seen Connor Atchley and Damion six years at Providence and Gavitt said to me,” Barnes said. “He said James play monster roles. Atchley leads Tigers have four years at Clemson, at the end of the year, if you don't get in the conference in blocked shots, while 10 given up an recruited talent the UT bas- the tournament because of your non- James has been a beast on the glass. In avg. of 83 ketball program never had league schedule, there's no one to fact, James averages a double-double points last 7 15-14 overall witnessed. blame but you. He said you have a with 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. games 5-9 Big 12 Barnes brought in athletes choice to decide how you want to play. One more home game remains for like Chris Owens, T.J. Ford, Now do you want a schedule to get in the Longhorns — Sunday against Okla- , LaMarcus the NIT? Schedule to get in the NIT. But homa State — for at least a share of the Cyclones Aldridge, P.J. Tucker, Daniel if you want a schedule to get in the Big 12 title. 11 have Gibson, Kevin Durant, A.J. NCAA Tournament, you better be will- dropped 3 Abrams, D.J. Augustin and ing to play and not let your schedule straight 14-15 overall Connor Atchley. work against you.” HOME SUCCESS 4-10 Big 12 The obvious reason not a The closest any team has come to Texas is 42-4 at home in Big 12 play the single coach in this year’s three Top 10 victories is Wisconsin. last five years: Haven’t won preseason poll picked Texas The Badgers have victories against No. 12 a conference to win the conference was 9 Texas, No. 11 Indiana and No. 12 Indi- 2002-03: 7-0 2003-04: 7-1 (loss vs. Oklahoma State) game on because of the departure of ana. 2004-05: 6-2 (losses vs. Iowa State, Oklahoma) road this 11-18 overall Durant, who was selected Close, but not as decorated a resume 2005-06: 8-0 2006-07: 7-1 (loss vs. Kansas State) year 3-12 Big 12 No. 2 overall in last year’s as the Longhorns. 2007-08: 7-0 NBA . It’s tough to picture this group actually better after losing Durant, but that is the direction Barnes has led Texas. Despite several This week in the Big 12 Conference What players darting early to the NBA in the Barnes era, he Turgeon baffled lately opponents’ winning percent- points and grabbed five final two regular season Keegan has provided enough stabili- age (25 percent) and the boards, despite the injury. games, then reach the Big 12 ty to make a deep tourna- Texas A&M coach Mark Tur- opponents’ opponents winning “We didn’t know the extent Tournament championship to says ment run several years geon wasn’t exactly pleased percentage (25 percent). of the injury at the time,” Capel apply the razor to head coach (Sweet 16 in 2001-02, Final with the Aggies’ recent incon- Nobody saw this season “I’d be disappointed if we said. “He’s played as well as Scott Drew. Four in 2002-03, Sweet 16 in sistencies. For instance, A&M coming from Texas. don’t get six teams in,” Okla- anyone in this league in the “Right now, I’m good with 2003-2004, Elite Eight in beat Texas Nobody would have homa State coach Sean Sut- last five or six games. I would- my hair,” Drew said. “They 2005-2006). Tech by 44 guessed they would tie ton said of the NCAA Tourna- n’t trade him for anyone in the have to keep winning if they Few other teams in the Big points on Kansas for a Big 12 Confer- ment. country.” want to see it any different.” 12 other than Kansas and Feb. 27, ence title. The Cowboys (16-12) have Texas have this type of stabil- then lost to Yet as remarkable as the now won five straight confer- ity. Try picturing Kansas Oklahoma, Rush/Rogers honored Longhorns doing that is, in ence games to even their Big Tough season expected State without Michael 64-37, the retrospect, what KU pulled 12 record to 7-7. Sutton has KU’s and Bay- Beasley and Bill Walker next next game. Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik off in the Big 12 two sea- mentioned in the past that five lor’s Kevin Rogers were named year. A bit of a different team. “This is had a rather candid response sons ago is even more Turgeon games ago, he set a goal for the Big 12 Players of the Week. Recently, Barnes has done probably when asked about the Buf- amazing. his team in the locker room to Rush went off for 21 points an impressive job keeping the most faloes’ 11-17 record (3-11 con- That Texas team had win its final seven games. Five against Kansas State on Satur- Texas near the top of the frustrating season I’ve been ference). Daniel Gibson and LaMar- down, two to go. day. Rush leads the Jayhawks conference with Kansas, through as a coach,” Turgeon “What’s happened is fully cus Aldridge, both scoring in Big 12 play with 14.2 points which has dominated the Big said. “With that said, we’ve still what I expected to happen,” the in double figures presently per contest. 12 with seven conference won 21 games. But the ups and first-year coach said. “I knew we for their NBA teams. And Griffin to miss time Rogers, a 6-foot-9 junior out titles in 11 years. downs are unexplainable. You weren’t a very good rebounding neither guy was the best of Dallas, has averaged 18 In the realm of Big 12 Con- don’t win by 44 one game, Oklahoma standout fresh- team. I knew we weren’t going player on the team. That points and 11.5 rebounds in ference history, Texas clearly then lose like we did.” man underwent to be a very good defensive was P.J. Tucker. Baylor’s last two victories, over isn’t Kansas. But the Long- A&M (21-8) is 7-7 in confer- knee surgery Sunday and will team. I knew we would struggle KU started three fresh- Colorado and Missouri. horns (134-56, .705) are cur- ence play. miss the Sooners’ last two reg- to score at times. men and two sophomores, rently second to the Jay- ular-season games. Coach Jeff “There’s a lot of things being tied Texas for the regular hawks (156-34, .821) in con- Big 12 No. 2 in RPI Capel said he expected Griffin Bears break out razors done that aren’t reflected into season title and defeated ference winning percentage to return in time for the Big 12 wins: Facilities, culture, envi- the Longhorns in the Big 12 since the Big 12 Conference The Big 12 Conference now Tournament on March 13. Baylor coaches made a deal ronment, tangible evidence Conference tourney title started in 1997. has the second-highest Rat- Griffin, who averages 15.2 with their players toward the that there’s an investment in game. That was even more None of it would be possi- ings Percentage Index in the points and 9.3 rebounds per end of February that for each the basketball program that’s amazing than what Texas ble for UT without the pro- nation. As of Sunday, the con- game, tore the medial menis- game the Bears won, an assis- never been done here before. I has done this year. gram Barnes has built. ference had seven teams in the cus in the first half of Satur- tant coach would have to almost have to giggle if any- Top 50 of the RPI, which calcu- day’s victory over Texas Tech. shave his head. The Bears have body thought we’d be doing — TOM KEEGAN — Journal-World copy editor Eric Sorrentino lates a team’s winning per- He actually returned in the won three straight games. better than what we’re doing [email protected] can be reached at 832-6360 centage (50 percent), its second half and scored 10 They’d still have to win their right now.”