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Snowflakes: Big 12 Tourney as Expected, but Change on the Horizon

The least surprising of all conference tournaments this March has been the Big 12 Tourney in Kansas City. Both Texas and Kansas have been Top 10 teams for most of the season, and they have maneuvered their way to Sunday’s Championship game with a probable #1 seed on the line besides being the tourney champ. These two programs have been the class of the league all season, and I think you have to look no further than their coaches for the reason. Texas’ Rick Barnes has built a perennial power in Austin over the last decade, and Bill Self of Kansas inherited a top notch program and has kept them right there on the national level. When surveying the landscape of the Big 12, it looks like these two programs will continue to be the top dogs of the league because of their tradition and stability.

Scott Drew of Baylor is the only other coach in the conference who has been at his school longer than two seasons, and he had to grow that program from nothing after the scandal of 2003. Once again, nine of the twelve coaches in the Big 12 have been on their school’s bench for two years or less. That’s an eye-opening number when you look at the direction of the league. How these young coaches perform over the next couple of seasons will define if anyone can close the gap on Kansas and Texas. Drew has done a remarkable job with the Bears as they are in a pretty good position to make their first Big Dance since 1988. Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Kansas State have also had quality seasons and should make the Field of 65. Only time will tell if those programs can stay at a high level and challenge for a conference crown over the next few years. Of the nine coaches with two or less years in the Big 12, all of them are in their first head job at the ‘BCS’ level. With the turnover in Big 12 coaching being so prevalent in 2006 and 2007, it will be very interesting to see who can create positive momentum at their school to compete with the Jayhawks and Longhorns.

- Patrick Snow

                                                                   

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