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Snowflakes: Big 12 Hoops

* Texas’ stellar play throughout the season has put them into great position for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Winners of eight in a row, the Longhorns have big-time national wins against Tennessee, UCLA, and Kansas. They should end the regular season as the Big 12 Champion so it may not matter what happens in the conference tournament for Rick Barnes’ club to secure a top seed. Much of the Texas publicity this year-and deservedly so-has gone to the dynamic backcourt of D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams, but improved play from forwards Damion James and Connor Atchley has really carried the Longhorn squad to new heights.

* When Nebraska beat Oklahoma 63-45 earlier this week, it made the race for a 6th Big 12 team to get in the Big Dance a little more interesting. The Sooners have a much better RPI than the Cornhuskers and their 5 wins over Top 50 teams should look good to the selection committee. However, with both squads at 6-7 in the conference, it would seem that getting an above .500 record in the Big 12 would be a necessity for getting an at-large bid. Nebraska has now won 3 in a row and could thwart the Tourney plans of Oklahoma State (also 6-7) this Saturday when the two meet in Stillwater.

* Texas Tech started a pedestrian 3-3 under new coach Pat Knight. Then they made the road trip to College Station last Wednesday Night. The result was the worst loss in school history: a 98-54 drubbing at the hands of Texas A&M. That’s the kind of defeat that makes an administration question what’s going on with its basketball program. Coach Knight says that he hopes his team will respond well this weekend, but I am wondering how the Red Raiders’ brass will respond. They might not show the same kind of loyalty to the unproven Pat, now that father Bobby is out of the picture.

- Patrick Snow

                                                              

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