SB Nation Kansas City: All Posts by Chip Rousehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-12-31T07:02:56-06:00https://kansascity.sbnation.com/authors/chip-rouse/rss2012-12-31T07:02:56-06:002012-12-31T07:02:56-06:00Wildcats looking to cap off best season in history
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<p>Kansas State and Oregon were in line late in the season to play for the national championship. That did not come to pass, but Bill Snyder's surprising Wildcats still have a chance to make a huge statement by downing the favored Ducks.</p> <p>Through five bowl games, the <a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big 12</a> is 3-2 and came within two points of being 4-1 with four more games involving conference teams scheduled this week. Of the five games already in the books, only <a href="http://www.baylorbears.com">Baylor</a> had a relatively easy time of it, rolling over favored UCLA, 49-26, in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego last Thursday to get things started in the postseason for the Big 12.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.texastech.com">Texas Tech</a> had to come from behind late against Minnesota, but pulled out a 34-31 victory in the Meineke Care Bowl of Texas to log the Big 12's second bowl win in as many games. But then it all came crashing down on <a href="http://www.wvusports.com">West Virginia</a> in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, along with the snow and cold in New York's Yankee Stadium, as Syracuse pounded the Mountaineers on the ground for a 38-14 victory. It was the 60th meeting between these two former Big East rivals, but the only time they have met in a bowl game. Syracuse will move to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014.</p>
<p>Conference teams split a pair of games Saturday night. <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.texassports.com&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F12%2F31%2F3819348%2Fbig-12-bowl-picks-k-state-hopes-to-ground-high-flying-oregon-in-bcs" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Texas</a> scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a 10-point deficit and down the Oregon State Beavers 31-27 for a second Big 12 win over the Pac-12 in the 2012 bowl season. In the late game Saturday night, <a href="http://www.gofrogs.cstv.com">TCU</a> let a 13-0 halftime lead slip away, regained the lead by two with a 40-yard field goal with a little over a minute remaining, but couldn't hold on as Michigan State kicked a field goal of its own with only a few seconds left to pull out a 17-16 win in the Buffalo Wings Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ksusports.com">Kansas State</a> will have the chance to run the conference's record to 3-0 over the Pac-12 when the Wildcats face the fourth-ranked Oregon Ducks on Thursday in the BCS Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.</p>
<p>Here is a preview of this week's bowl games involving Big 12 teams:</p>
<p><b> Iowa State vs. Tulsa</b></p>
<p>AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tenn. (Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium)</p>
<p>Monday, Dec. 31</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cyclones.com">Iowa State</a> became bowl eligible in its next-to-last game of the season, a 51-23 road drubbing of lowly Kansas. The Cyclones (6-6, 2-6) won their first four games of the season, including a 38-23 opening game win over Tulsa, their Liberty Bowl opponent.</p>
<p>Iowa State struggled in its Big 12 schedule, coming out on top in only two of its eight league games. Tulsa enters the game with a 10-3 season mark and as the champion of Conference USA.</p>
<p>This is the third bowl appearance for Iowa State in head coach Paul Rhoads four seasons at the school. The Cyclones last played in the Liberty Bowl following the 1972 season, losing to Georgia Tech 31-30. The Cyclones have gone with three starting quarterbacks this season, but converted defensive back Sam Richardson is expected to get the call against Tulsa. Richardson threw for 412 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions in Iowa State's final two games of the regular season. The Hurricanes are led on offense by junior running back Trey Watts, who averaged nearly six yards a carry and also doubles as the return man on kickoffs, averaging almost 30 yards per return.</p>
<p>The Cyclones are three-point favorites in the game, but to win they are going to have to avoid third-and-long possessions. The Tulsa defense is third nationally in quarterback sacks and ranks fourth in tackles for loss. Tulsa is primarily a running team this season and runs a ball-control offense, so it will be important for Iowa State to start fast and take an early lead. <b>Prediction: Iowa State 24, Tulsa 21.</b></p>
<p><b> Oklahoma State vs. Purdue</b></p>
<p>Heart of Dallas Bowl (Cotton Bowl)</p>
<p>Tuesday, Jan. 1</p>
<p>With two games to go in the regular season, it appeared that <a href="http://www.okstate.com">Oklahoma State</a> had a good chance of going to Dallas in the postseason and playing in the Cotton Bowl. Two losses later, the Cowboys are indeed headed to Dallas and the Cotton Bowl, but in the three-year-old Heart of Dallas Bowl and not the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, where Bedlam archrival Oklahoma drew the nod as the conference's second best team in the regular season.</p>
<p>Oklahoma State was one of five Big 12 teams that ended the season with a 7-5 overall record. The Cowboy's opponent, Purdue from the Big Ten, comes into the game with a 6-6 record. Oklahoma State has the much stronger offense of the two teams, averaging about 140 yards more a game in total offense (548 to 405), most of that advantage being through the air. The Cowboys offense ranks second in the offense-heavy Big 12 and fifth nationally. Defensively, both teams give up an average of 29 points a game, but OSU owns a two touchdown edge in the scoring offense column, averaging 45 points a contest.</p>
<p>These same two teams met 15 years ago in the Alamo Bowl, won by the Boilermakers 33-20. This is Oklahoma State's school-record seventh consecutive bowl appearance. The Cowboys own a 4-2 postseason record under head coach Mike Gundy. Purdue will be playing this game without head coach Danny Hope, who was fired at the end of the regular season. Receivers coach Patrick Higgins will serve as interim head coach for the Boilermakers' bowl game. OSU has a similar issue and will be without Todd Monken, it offensive coordinator, who has been named the new head coach at Southern Mississippi. <b>Prediction: Oklahoma State 51, Purdue 28.</b></p>
<p><b>Kansas State vs. Oregon</b></p>
<p>BCS Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (University of Phoenix Stadium)</p>
<p>Thursday, Jan. 3</p>
<p>One week before the regular-season ended, these two teams were destined to meet in the BCS National Championship game as the top-two ranked teams in the country. Both teams lost on the same day, creating a big shakeup in the BCS standings and knocking both from the championship picture. Ironically, we now get the same BCS matchup, but in the Fiesta Bowl instead. While both teams undoubtedly are disappointed by the turn of events, it isn't as if this game is meaningless.</p>
<p>The outcome may be a matter of how the Kansas State defense is able to handle Oregon's hurry-up, speed dominated offense and, conversely how patient the Oregon defense can be against Kansas State's disciplined, grind-it-out attack led by senior quarterback and Heisman finalist Colin Klein. Big 12 co-champion Kansas State (11-1) feels most comfortable running the ball, and why not when you have a pair like Klein and junior running back John Hubert, both of whom have accounted for more than 850 yards rushing and a combine 37 rushing touchdowns this season. But K-State is far from one-dimensional. The Cats have actually averaged more passing yards per game this season (212 ypg) than they do running the ball (199 ypg). Klein's favorite targets have been Chris Harper, Tyler Lockett and Tremayne Thompson.</p>
<p>Oregon's big threats on offense are senior running back Kenjon Barner, who has rushed for over 1,600 yards this season and averages more than six yards per carry, and sensational freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has thrown for 2,511 yards and 30 touchdowns with just six interceptions.</p>
<p>Oregon matches the Kansas State record of 11-1 and comes into the Fiesta Bowl as the fourth-ranked team in the BCS; K-State is ranked fifth.</p>
<p>This contest shapes up as the type of game in which the first team to 40 points wins. Oregon's high-octane offense puts up an average of 50 points a game, and Kansas State is averaging 40 points. Defense, ball control on offense and the turnover battle appear to be the keys to victory, three areas where Kansas State has stood out all season. The Wildcats lead the nation with a plus-21 turnover margin. <b>Prediction: Kansas State 48, Oregon 42</b></p>
<p><b> Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M</b></p>
<p>AT&T Cotton Bowl, Arlington, Texas (Cowboys Stadium)</p>
<p>Friday, Jan. 4</p>
<p>Texas A&M may be a new member of the Southeastern Conference, but this game has all the markings of another classic Big 12 matchup between these two longtime gridiron rivals. <a href="http://www.soonersports.com">Oklahoma</a> may have been a bit miffed that it didn't receive a bid to the Sugar Bowl, which was where most college football experts thought the Sooners were headed after their final-game victory over TCU earned them a share of the Big 12 title, but it can't feel too slighted, recognizing that the Cotton Bowl matchup with A&M is considered one of the top three games of the entire bowl season.</p>
<p>The opportunity to go up against Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel will be added incentive for the Sooners, who are making their 14th consecutive bowl appearance under head coach Bob Stoops. The Sooners are 7-6 in bowl games under Stoops, including appearances in four national championship games.</p>
<p>Texas A&M surprised everyone this season by putting together a 10-2 season, including a stunning upset of then-No. 1-ranked Alabama in mid-November in Tuscaloosa, in the Aggies' first season in the Southeastern Conference. Behind freshman quarterback Manziel, the Aggies were third nationally in total offense, averaging 552 yards a game. Manziel averaged 383 yards of that per-game total all by himself. The Oklahoma offense, behind senior quarterback and four-year starter Landry Jones, the school's career passing leader, averaged 505 yards against its opponents this season, 11th best in the country.</p>
<p>This game will likely be a high-scoring affair, given the potency of the two offenses. The key matchups in the game will be OU's ability to put pressure on and contain the playmaking Manziel, forcing him into uncomfortable situations. The Sooners also must be able to run the ball so Jones can use play-action and get OU's speedy corps of receivers involved and out in space. Oklahoma has shown vulnerability this season against the run, and with the 13th-ranked rushing attack in the country, the Aggies will look to capitalize on that perceived advantage.</p>
<p>The oddsmakers have established the Aggies as three-point favorites in this matchup of ninth-ranked A&M and the No. 11 Sooners. Another storyline worth noting is that A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, in his first season in College Station, was on Stoops' coaching staff at Oklahoma from 2003-2007 as a wide-receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator. These two teams are very familiar with one another and don't like each other, which should make for a hard fought and entertaining game. <b>Prediction: Oklahoma 31, Texas A&M 28</b></p>
<p><i>Follow Big 12 football and basketball news and developments all season long at </i><a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big 12 Sports</a><i>.</i></p>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/12/31/3819348/big-12-bowl-picks-k-state-hopes-to-ground-high-flying-oregon-in-bcsChip Rouse2012-12-27T14:47:19-06:002012-12-27T14:47:19-06:00Big 12 playing underdog role in 5 bowl matchups
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<p>With nine games in nine days, Big 12 has a chance to show its football strength. Only Kansas is not going bowling this season.</p> <p>With Thursday night's Holiday Bowl matchup in San Diego between <a href="http://www.baylorbears.com">Baylor</a> out of the Big 12 and UCLA, representing the Pac-12, the holiday bowl season for Big 12 teams kicks into high gear. The Baylor-UCLA contest will be the first of nine bowl games over the next nine days involving teams from the Big 12.</p>
<p>Ninety percent of the Big 12's 10 schools are participating in bowl games this year, the highest percentage from one conference in college football history. Only one other major conference (the Southeastern Conference) has as many teams going to postseason bowls this season. Only the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/kansas-jayhawks">Kansas Jayhawks</a>, who will have their laugh come time for March Madness, is left home this holiday season to watch and wait for next year.</p>
<p>Every Big 12 team had a break-even or winning season in 2012, meaning that every team but <a href="http://www.kusports.com">Kansas</a> won the requisite six games to qualify for postseason bowl consideration. Conference champion <a href="http://www.ksusports.com">Kansas State</a>, ranked fifth in the final BCS standings, will lead the Big 12 contingent into the bowl season, with a tough matchup against fourth-ranked Oregon out of the Pac-12 in the BCS Fiesta Bowl on Jan, 3.</p>
<p>The Big 12 co-champion, the <a href="http://www.soonersports.com">Oklahoma Sooners</a>, will take the field the following night, on Jan. 4, to take on Johnny "Football" Manziel, who now can be called Johnny "Heisman," and ninth-ranked Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Both games could be among the top three or four bowl games of the entire 2012 bowl season.</p>
<p>Between Wednesday and Saturday this week, five of the Big 12 schools will be in action. Four of the conference-record nine Big 12 schools going to bowls are favored, and five enter their games as underdogs, including the league's two best teams, K-State and Oklahoma.</p>
<p>What follows are the predictions of the five games that will take place this week. On Monday, we will preview the final four games of the Big 12 bowl season and offer predictions on each of those games, including the Fiesta Bowl and Cotton Bowl, each involving a pair to top-11 ranked teams.</p>
<p><b>Baylor vs. UCLA</b></p>
<p>Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, San Diego (Qualcomm Stadium)</p>
<p>Wednesday, Dec. 27</p>
<p>Baylor coach Art Briles is taking the Bears to a third-straight bowl game after finishing the season with a 7-5 record and the country's top-rated offense, averaging 578 yards per game. The Bears are led by dual-threat senior quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75553/nick-florence">Nick Florence</a>, who can beat you with his legs or his arm. The Bears have one of the country's best wide receivers in Terrance Williams and a strong running game behind sophomore running back Lache Seastrung, a transfer from Oregon. Seastrunk possesses the size, strength and speed to run through tacklers and by defenders when in the open field. "Their offense is ridiculously good," said UCLA head coach Jim Mora. "They go at a real fast tempo. They are comparable to Houston and Arizona a (two teams the Bruins beat this season) and probably a little faster in their tempo. .Mora is in his first season coaching the Bruins and led them to a 9-4 record and a Pac-12 division championship. The Bruins can put up some points with their offense, as well, averaging 35 ppg during the season. <b>Prediction: Baylor 45, UCLA 38.</b></p>
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<p><b>Texas Tech vs. Minnesota</b></p>
<p>Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, Houston (Reliant Stadium)</p>
<p>Friday, Dec. 28</p>
<p>Texas Tech has experience a tough period since ending the regular season with a 52-45 loss the conference-rival Baylor in late November. Since then, The Red Raiders, who were 7-5 on the season, found out earlier this month that head coach Tommy Tuberville was leaving his position at Texas Tech to take over the head coaching duties at the University of Cincinnati. Offensive line coach Chris Thomsen was named interim head coach, but then a week after the Tuberville announcement, former Red Raider quarterback and the offensive coordinator this season at Texas A&M, would replace Tuberbville as the Texas Tech head coach next season.</p>
<p>The Texas Tech offense, behind senior quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37972/seth-doege">Seth Doege</a>, is second in the country in passing yards (362 per game) and 12th in the nation in total offense with 501 yards a game. Like the 2011 season, Texas Tech started the season fast, rolling to a 6-1 record before losing four of its final five games (all in the conference). Minnesota was 6-6 for the season but, like the Red Raiders, struggled down the stretch during Big Ten play, finishing the year tied with Iowa for fourth place in the Legends Division, both with 2-6 conference records. This will be the Golden Gophers first bowl action since 2009. <b>Prediction: Texas Tech 49, Minnesota 28.</b></p>
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<p><b>West Virginia vs. Syracuse</b></p>
<p>New Era Pinstripe Bowl, New York City (Yankee Stadium)</p>
<p>Saturday, Dec. 29</p>
<p>West Virginia was rolling along, ranked in the top 10 in the country with a 5-0 record to begin the season, before the roof caved in on the offensive-minded Mountaineers. Syracuse finished with an identical 7-5 overall record. The Mountaineers' high-powered offense behind one-time Heisman front-runner quarterback Geno Smith, and two of the country's best receivers in Tavon Auston and Steadman Bailey, dropped five in a row before rebounding to win their final two regular-season games and finish the season with a 7-5 record. The difference in the game may well be the team that comes up with the most defensive stops and prevents the big play. Both teams, which used to be Big East Conference foes, are capable of putting up plenty of points (West Virginia has averaged 52 ppg and Syracuse 38 ppg). In three of West Virginia's losses in 2012, its opponent scored more than 50 points. <b>Game predication: West Virginia 42, Syracuse 34.</b></p>
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<p><b>Texas vs. Oregon State</b></p>
<p>Valero Alamo Bowl, San Antonio (Alamodome)</p>
<p>Saturday, Dec. 29</p>
<p>This matchup is one of three involving the Big 12 vs. the Pac-12. Texas, which finished the season at a disappointing, for them, 8-4 and a third straight year with four or more losses after playing for the national championship in 2009, will go with quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash">David Ash</a>, who was replaced by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8525/colt-mccoy">Colt McCoy's</a> little brother, Chase, in the Longhorns regular-season-ending loss to TCU. The Longhorns hope to be able to establish a passing attack in order to set up their dangerous running game. Texas features a bevy of lightning-quick running backs, all of whom are capable of breaking off long gainers. Oregon State is more of a passing team, which will test the up-and-down Texas secondary. To win this game, the Longhorns are going to have to apply a lot of pressure against the Oregon State quarterback, and that could be an issue without Jefferson Jeffcoat, one of the college game's best defensive ends, who suffered a season-ending injury in the Red River River Rivalry loss to Oklahoma.</p>
<p>A couple of numbers to watch in this game: Thirteenth-ranked Oregon State (9-3) is 7-1 this season against non-ranked opponents; Texas won every game it played this season (8-0) when it rushed for more than 136 yards. <b>Game prediction: Oregon State 31, Texas 27.</b></p>
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<p><b>TCU vs. Michigan State</b></p>
<p>Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Tempe, Ariz. (Sun Devils Stadium)</p>
<p>Saturday, Dec. 29</p>
<p>This Big 12-Big Ten matchup, the second of three this bowl season, shapes up as a relatively low-scoring affair, compared with most of the other bowl contests involving Big 12 schools. TCU quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135251/trevone-boykin">Trevone Boykin</a> has steadily improved with every game since replacing suspended starting quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77347/casey-pachall">Casey Pachall</a> five games into the season. Boykin is mobile in the pocket and is surprisingly effective throwing the long passes (he completed two huge gainers against Oklahoma). In games in which TCU averaged eight or more yards per pass reception, the Horned Frogs were 6-0. The Horned Frogs led the Big 12 this season in rushing defense, and their front seven will get tested by Michigan State All-Big Ten running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113936/le-veon-bell">Le'Veon Bell</a>, who was third in the nation, averaging 137 yards a game. This game likely will come down to who protects the ball the best, avoiding turnovers, and which offense is able to sustain drives and wear down the other team's defense. Running or scrambling quarterbacks have given the Spartans trouble this season, and that is an element that Boykin brings to the TCU offense. <b>Game prediction: TCU 24, Michigan State 21.</b></p>
<p><i>On Monday, watch for previews and game predictions on Iowa State vs. Tulsa (Autozone Liberty Bowl), Oklahoma State vs, Purdue (Heart of Dallas Bowl), Kansas State vs, Oregon (BCS Tostitos Fiesta Bowl) and Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M (ST&T Cotton Bowl).</i></p>
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<p><i>Follow Big 12 football and basketball news and developments all season long at </i><a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big 12 Sports</a><i>.</i></p>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/12/27/3809084/big-12-football-bowl-picksChip Rouse2012-12-22T07:01:00-06:002012-12-22T07:01:00-06:00Big 12 out in front in football head coaches' pay
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<p>Big 12 supplants the SEC in 2012 as the highest paid head football coaches in the country. Now if that could only translate to "best conference" on the football field.</p> <p>In most comparisons with schools from the <a href="http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com">Southeastern Conference</a>, the <a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big 12</a> comes up just a tad short, according to many college football experts. But one comparison in which that does not hold true is in what the two leagues pay their football coaches.</p>
<p>Just a year ago, it was a clean sweep for the SEC. The conference considered to play the best football this side of the Earth, also paid their head coaches accordingly. This year, however, it is the Big 12 that lays claim to the highest average payroll for its head football coaches, according to the annual analysis of major college <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fncaaf%2F2012%2F12%2F19%2Fsec-southeastern-conference-commissioner-mike%2520slive-coach-salaries%2F1781191%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F12%2F22%2F3792988%2Fbig-12-football-vs-SEC-other-major-conferences" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">head coaches' pay by <i>USA Today</i>.</a></p>
<p>The Big 12's advancement to the head of the curve when it comes to head coaches' compensation was heavily bolstered by <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.texassports.com&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F12%2F22%2F3792988%2Fbig-12-football-vs-SEC-other-major-conferences" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Texas'</a> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/mack-brown">Mack Brown</a> and Bob Stoops of <a href="http://www.soonersports.com">Oklahoma</a>, who represent two of the three coaches across the country (along with Nick Saban of Alabama) who make more than $4.5 million annually. Brown's total pay, which is figured from his university pay for the current contract year plus all other non-university compensation, is $5.4 million, which leads all Big 12 coaches. Stoops is next with total compensation at Oklahoma of $4.5 million annually, and Gary Patterson of <a href="http://www.gofrogs.cstv.com">TCU</a> is third in line among Big 12 coaches with $3.5 in total pay.</p>
<p>Saban at Alabama is the country's highest compensated football coach, with total earnings of $5.5 million. Behind Saban, are three other SEC coaches who rank in the top eight in coaches' pay, but overall the Big 12 tops all of the major conferences, paying its head coaches an average of just under $3 million per man.</p>
<p>A major reason for the Big 12's rise to the top of the pack in the controversial area of coaches' compensation was the firing by Arkansas of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/87277/bobby-petrino">Bobby Petrino</a>, whose contract and ancillary pay totaled around $3.6 million a year. Petrino's replacement, John L. Smith, was making only $850,000 in his one season as the Razorbacks' head coach.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.pac-12.com">Pac-12</a> had the greatest increase in head-coaches' compensation from a year ago, both in terms of actual dollars as well as in percentage increase. The pay of the head coaches in the Pac-12 increased by an average of over a half-million dollars, which works out to a 35 percent jump.</p>
<p>If you examine Big 12 coaches' pay from an entirely different financial lens - say, value per win - the picture provides a completely different perspective. <a href="http://www.ksusports.com">Kansas State's</a> Bill Snyder led his team to 11 regular-season wins this year, and he has a chance to pick up win No. 11 in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon. Based on what Kansas State is paying its veteran head coach, the Wildcats received the highest value among Big 12 schools for their investment this season.</p>
<p>Snyder, who ranked eighth in the conference in terms of what he is being paid, was worth $200,000 per victory in 2012, the best value in the conference. Taking this to the other extreme, <a href="http://www.kusports.com">Kansas </a>head coach Charlie Weis earned one win in his first season on the sideline for the Jayhawks. That one win cost the University of Kansas $2,500,000, the full annual cost of Weis' coaching contract. Hopefully, the Jayhawks' investment will get much better over time. Right now, head basketball coach Bill Self, who receives $3.8 million per year, is a much better investment for Kansas school officials.</p>
<p>It wasn't just the pay of head coaches that saw a nice jump from 2011 to 2012. Assistant coaches' pay for schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision grew by 10 percent. The SEC dominates in this category, although two Big 12 schools rank among the top 10. Texas and Oklahoma State are among seven schools that pay their assistants more than $3 million a year.</p>
<p>The top-paid assistant for 2012 is Monte Kiffin, father of USC head coach Lane Kiffin. The elder Kiffin will make in excess of $1.5 million this season, according to a <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fncaaf%2F2012%2F12%2F18%2Fassistant-coaches-salaries-bowl-subdivision%2F1777719%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F12%2F22%2F3792988%2Fbig-12-football-vs-SEC-other-major-conferences" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><i>USA Today</i> analysis</a>, but he has announced his retirement after this season.</p>
<p>Behind Kiffin is Clemson's offensive coordinator Chad Morris, who will soon become the country's highest-paid assistant, receiving total compensation this season of $1.3 million. The next four highest-paid assistants are four defensive coordinators from Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia, respectively. No wonder that the SEC is best known for its outstanding defenses. Right behind Georgia's Todd Grantham is another defensive coordinator, Brent Venables of Clemson, whose total compensation is reported to be $800,000 annually. Venables was the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma before leaving after the 2011 season to go to Clemson.</p>
<p><b>Total pay of Big 12 football coaches for 2012</b></p>
<p>Mack Brown, Texas - $5,353,750</p>
<p>Bob Stoops, Oklahoma - $4,550,000</p>
<p>Gary Patterson, TCU - $3,467,926</p>
<p>Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State - $3,275,000</p>
<p>Charlie Weis, Kansas - 2,500,000</p>
<p>Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia - $2,380,000</p>
<p>Art Briles, Baylor - $2,232,807</p>
<p>Bill Snyder, Kansas State - $2,200,000</p>
<p>Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech - $2,155,000</p>
<p>Paul Rhoads, Iowa State - $1,601,550</p>
<p><i>*Source: USA Today</i></p>
<p><i> </i></p>
<p><b>Best value per win in 2012 among Big 12 head coaches</b></p>
<p>(Based on regular season)</p>
<p>Bill Snyder, Kansas State - $200,000</p>
<p>Paul Rhoades, Iowa State - $266,925</p>
<p>Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech - $307,857</p>
<p>Art Briles, Baylor - $318,972</p>
<p>Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia - $340,000</p>
<p>Bob Stoops, Oklahoma - $455,000</p>
<p>Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State - $467,857</p>
<p>Gary Patterson, TCU - $495,418</p>
<p>Mack Brown, Texas - $669,218</p>
<p>Charlie Weis, Kansas - $2,500,000</p>
<p><i>Keep up to date with all the news and latest developments involving </i><a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big 12</a><i> schools and sports.</i></p>
<p></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/12/22/3792988/big-12-football-vs-SEC-other-major-conferencesChip Rouse2012-12-21T07:00:37-06:002012-12-21T07:00:37-06:00For the Chiefs, 'one and done' not a draft option
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<figcaption>Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Kansas City Chiefs are all but assured of having the first or second overall selection in next spring's NFL draft, but it is not at all certain what problem they will address first.</p> <p>This is the time in the <a href="http://www.nfl.com">NFL</a> season when a handful of teams are secure in the fact that they have clinched a spot in the postseason playoffs and another 8-10 teams are hopeful that the tide will tip their way in the final two games in the regular season and send them to the postseason party.</p>
<p>And then there are the lowly few, like the <a href="http://www.kcchiefs.com">Kansas City Chiefs</a>, that would just as soon pack it in now - quite a few folks would argue that already has happened - and bring to a swift end what will long be remembered as one of the worst, if not the <i>worst</i>, season in franchise history.</p>
<p>With games remaining at home this weekend against Indianapolis and a week from Sunday at Denver, a venue where the Chiefs rarely, if ever, win (although they finished the season with a win their last year), it's a good bet that Kansas City will end up at 2-14 for the season and with the first or second draft pick in next year's NFL draft.</p>
<p>If you have to go down in flames, as the Chiefs have this season after being picked in several 2012 season preview publications to come out on top in the American Football Conference West Division, at least you earn the opportunity to start making amends with a top selection in the following spring's NFL draft of the best college players. The problem is, the Chiefs have been in this position before, with a top-five draft selection, and it didn't work out all that well.</p>
<p>It has been over 20 years, when then Kansas City general manager Carl Peterson, in his first year with the Chiefs, took All-American linebacker Derrick Thomas in the first-round with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1989 NFL draft, that a high first-round draft choice has lived up to or exceeded his potential while a member of the Chiefs. Although, you could also make a case for first-rounders Tamba Hali in 2006 and Derrick Johnson in 2005, both of whom have been stalwarts in the Chiefs' hot-and-cold defense of the past couple of years.</p>
<p>Overall, Kansas City's history with first-round draft selections has not been very impressive, to say the least. And that extends almost as long as the Chiefs have been in Kansas City, which this season marks 50 years, and through four different general managers: Scot Pioli currently, his predecessor Carl Peterson, Jim Schaaf and Jack Steadman. In fact, you could probably say that about the Chiefs top three or four draft selections in most years.</p>
<p>All of this signals an alarm of concern about what the team's top brass - not sure we can call them out by name at this point because they could well change before the next NFL Draft rolls around - will do with the Chief's top pick, when they presumably will have practically the pick of the litter.</p>
<p>Conventional wisdom and resounding fan reaction suggests that the Chiefs have little or no choice but to select a quarterback, but it can also be said that the crop of collegiate quarterbacks entering the 2013 draft is markedly weaker and not as talented as it has been the past several years. How this might factor into the Chiefs' selection criteria for their top pick in next spring's draft is uncertain, but there are unconfirmed reports coming from the team's practice facility that if a quarterback candidate the Chiefs are considering projects out as, say, a No. 8 or No. 9 overall pick, they may not take a QB with the No. 1 pick.</p>
<p>One thing that has been made abundantly clear over the years, you don't get to the Super Bowl, let alone the playoffs, and you certainly are not going to win consistently in the National Football League without a franchise quarterback. Once you have a Tom Brady, either of the Manning brothers, a Ben Roethlisberger, or even this year's rookie sensations Andrew Luck at Indianapolis or Washington's Robert Griffin III, in place, you build and structure the rest of the skill positions and the team around the guy at the quarterback position. The Chiefs have gone about it 180-degrees in complete reverse, treating the quarterback as a component piece but not the most important position on the field.</p>
<p>Kansas City missed an opportunity last spring to trade up for Ryan Tannehill (selected at No. 8 by Miami), or take Brandon Weeden (the 22nd overall pick by Cleveland), or even Russell Wilson (selected in the third round by Seattle) with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the draft. The Chiefs didn't select a quarterback among any of its seven 2012 draft picks. Pioli, whose job security, along with that head coach Romeo Crennel, is, or should be, on the line, was convinced that Cassel was the answer at quarterback and that Brady Quinn, who the Chiefs acquired in the offseason, and third-stringer Ricky Stanzi, who has yet to play in an NFL regular-season game, were serviceable as backups.</p>
<p>That brings us to the 2013 draft class. In anticipating the quarterback prospects that will be available among next year's draft candidates, it does not appear that the QB prospects are as strong a group as compared with the past two or three draft cycles. That could present a big challenge for the quarterback-needy Chiefs, but it cannot be an excuse.</p>
<p>Without belaboring the point, there is a good reason why Kansas City has not been to a Super Bowl since 1970 and only one conference championship. Perhaps the greatest Kansas City Chief of all, Len Dawson, who played his last game at quarterback in 1975, was the last franchise-type quarterback to man the position for this team. Rich Gannon in the mid-1990s, Trent Green in the early 2000s and even Joe Montana for a couple of years in the early 1990s piloted some winning Chiefs teams, but not over a sustained period.</p>
<p>If you'd like to know how successful the Chiefs have been over time in drafting quarterbacks, consider this infamous list: Brodie Croyle, Alabama, third round, 2006; James Killian, Tulsa, seventh round, 2005; Steve Senstrom, Stanford, fourth round, 1995; Pat Barnes, California, fourth round, 1997; Steve Matthews, Memphis, seventh round, 1994; Matt Blundin, Virginia, second round, 1992; Mike Elkins, Wake Forest, second round, 1989; Doug Hudson, Nichols State, seventh round, 1987. All eight of these drafted quarterbacks combined played in a total of 41 NFL games, and Croyle and Senstrom combined for 35 of them. End of story.</p>
<p>The last time the Chiefs selected a quarterback with its first pick in the draft was Todd Blackledge, out of Penn State, in 1983. Many of you will recall how well that turned out. Blackledge was with the Chiefs for nine seasons from 1983 through 1989, and saw action in 46 games. He is currently a color analyst on college football broadcasts for ABC/ESPN.</p>
<p>To refresh your memory, Kansas City had the seventh overall pick in the 1983 draft, John Elway was the No. 1 player taken in that draft (originally by the Baltimore Colts). There were a few other big names selected in that same year's draft after the Chiefs took Blackledge: Jim Kelly of the Buffalo Bills, Ken O'Brien of the New York Jets and Dan Marino, selected 27th overall by the Miami Dolphins. What could have been.</p>
<p>How does the old saying go? "Those who ignore history are doomed to relive it."</p>
<p>If the Chiefs don't select a top-rated quarterback with their first-round pick in next year's NFL draft, or execute a trade for a current or former starting quarterback in the league, it will be abundantly clear that the team leadership is either patently stubborn, stupid, or not the least bit interested in fielding or even building a championship caliber football team in Kansas City.</p>
<p>Here's hoping we're wrong on all three counts.</p>
<p><b> </b><i>For additional news, analysis and commentary on the Kansas City Chiefs, visit </i><a href="http://www.arrowheadpride.com">Arrowhead Pride.</a></p>
<p></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/12/21/3790086/Kansas-city-chiefs-may-pick-no-1-in-nfl-draftChip Rouse2012-12-19T06:52:11-06:002012-12-19T06:52:11-06:00Big 12 hoops about to get real
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<figcaption>Jamie Squire</figcaption>
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<p>Kansas and Baylor are the men's and women's Big 12 basketball preseason favorites, and both are holding up their end of the bargain thus far, heading into the most important portion of the season schedule: Big 12 action.</p> <p></p>
<p>We're just about two weeks shy of the start of the real season in college basketball. That's when teams in major conferences, such as the <a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big 12</a>, will stop beating up on lesser opponents and start beating up on each other as more competitive conference action gets under way, with much more at stake.</p>
<p>The conference season for Big 12 men will tip off on Saturday, Jan. 5 with eight of the 10 teams in action. As the nonconference portion of the schedule winds down through the holidays over the next couple of weeks, nine teams are within two and a half games of each other, with defending champion</p>
<p>Kansas and Oklahoma State sitting atop the standings with identical 8-1 records. <a href="http://www.kusports.co,">Kansas</a> is ranked eighth in this week's <a href="http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings"><i>USA Today</i> coaches' poll</a> and ninth in the AP media poll. <a href="http://www.okstate.com">Oklahoma State</a> is the only other Big 12 school in the top 25, checking in at the No. 24 slot in both polls.</p>
<p>Six league teams have seven or more wins so far this season, which is a big reason why the Big 12 has the second fewest losses of any conference in non-conference action. As of Sunday's games, the Big 12 has a cumulative record of 64-26 against other conferences. Big 12 teams have been especially good on their home hardwood, amassing a combined record of 45-6 at home, and seven league teams (Kansas, Oklahoma State, <a href="http://www.ksusports.com">Kansas State</a>, <a href="http://www.soonersports.com">Oklahoma</a>, <a href="http://www.cyclones.com">Iowa State</a>, <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.texassports.com&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2Fkansas-jayhawks%2F2012%2F12%2F19%2F3782034%2Fbig-12-basketball" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Texas</a> and <a href="http://www.wvusports.com">West Virginia</a>) boast unbeaten home records.</p>
<p>Over the past four seasons, dating back to 2009-10, Big 12 teams have combined for an impressive 340-16 home record against nonconference competition.</p>
<p>Nine of the 10 conference teams have a record of .600 or better entering this week's schedule. Only West Virginia, which is 4-5, owns a losing record this far.</p>
<p>As dominant as the men have been in Big 12 basketball, the women have been even more so as the head-to-head conference season approaches. To begin with, six conference teams are ranked in the most recent <i>USA Today</i> <a href="http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketbsll/rankings">top-25 poll</a>. The Lady Bears of Baylor are the highest ranked of the Big 12 teams at No. 3. The Cowgirls of Oklahoma State are next, coming in at Kansas and Baylor are the men's and women's Big 12 basketball preseason favorites, and both are holding up their end of the bargain thus far, heading into the most important portion of the season schedule: Big 12 action.No. 14, followed by Oklahoma (18), Kansas (19), West Virginia (20) and Texas (23). Iowa State also received votes.</p>
<p>Talk about tightly bunched, if things stay as they are currently, there will be complete mayhem when the Big 12 women's hoops race begins in a couple of weeks. Between the men and women's teams at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys have lost just once in 16 non conference outings combined, and that lone loss belongs to the Cowboy men. The Cowgirls stand a perfect 8-0 thus far, but there are five other league teams with just one loss and six schools that have a winning percentage at .800 or above at this stage of the season. All 10 women's teams have a winning record, the worst belonging to TCU at 5-3. The Big 12 is the only conference in which every team has three or fewer losses.</p>
<p>The .837 winning percentage compiled by Big 12 women this season, who are a combined 72-14, is the best in the country. Also, Big 12 women's basketball is the highest rated conference, according to both <i>Collegiate Basketball News</i> and Sagarin.</p>
<p>With five more wins, Big 12 women will record their 2,000 nonconference victory. Big 12 teams have led the country the past two seasons in home nonconference win percentage and are a collective 50-5 this season.</p>
<p>The Big 12 men tip off the conference schedule on Jan. 5 with a four-game slate, the best of which appears to be Oklahoma State (currently 8-1) at Kansas State (7-2). <a href="http://www.baylorbears.com">Baylor</a> (7-3) also hosts Texas (6-4). Oklahoma opens Big 12 play in Morgantown, West. Va., a place the Sooners have never played. The Sooners and Mountaineers have already played once this season, an OU victory in the Old Spice Classic, but the all-time series is just three games, with Oklahoma holding a 2-1 edge.</p>
<p>Texas Tech at TCU is the final league game of the first weekend on the men's side. Kansas entertains Temple that same weekend, and will host Iowa State the following Wednesday in the Jayhawks' conference opener.</p>
<p>On the women's side, league play begins on Wednesday, Jan. 2 with a spotlight matchup between Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. The two teams have one loss between them currently after 16 games. The defending national champions and conference-champion Baylor Lady Bears will visit TCU to begin league play. In other women's conference openers on Jan. 2, West Virginia will be at Oklahoma, Kansas State is at Kansas in a Sunflower State Showdown and Texas travels to Iowa State.</p>
<p>The timing is perfect. Right about the time the college football bowl season comes to an end, the Big 12 head-to-head season will be in full swing. And by the looks of things heading into the New Year, it should get real interesting from here on out.</p>
<p><i>Follow Big 12 basketball and all 10 conference teams all season long at </i><a href="http://www.kansascity.sbnation.com">SB Nation Kansas City.</a></p>
<p><i>Keep up to date on everything sports going on in the Big 12 at </i><a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big12Sports.com</a><i>.</i></p>
<p></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-jayhawks/2012/12/19/3782034/big-12-basketballChip Rouse2012-12-13T16:04:55-06:002012-12-13T16:04:55-06:00It's elementary: Tom Watson returns to Ryder Cup
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<figcaption>Michael Cohen</figcaption>
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<p>Tom Watson, who captained the last U.S. Ryder Cup team to win on foreign soil in 1993, will give it another go as the U.S. captain in 2014, when the biennial team competition between the United States and Europe returns to Scotland.</p> <p></p>
<p>The setting for the 2014 Ryder Cup is Gleneagles, Scotland, and who better to captain that team than the man who has won more British Opens than any man alive, is loved in Scotland and was the last U.S. captain to bring home the Ryder Cup from matches held on European soil.</p>
<p>That man would b e Kansas City's own <a href="http://www.tomwatson.com">Tom Watson</a>, who on Thursday was officially named captain of the next U.S. Ryder Cup team. This will be Watson's second time captaining the Ryder Cup squad from the United States. He was at the helm in 1993, when the United States last won a Ryder Cup played in Europe. The 1993 U.S. team, which included this year's Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III and Paul Azinger, who led the U.S. team in 2008, along with the late Payne Stewart, Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd, defeated the Europeans 15 to 13 in a competition held at The Belfry in Wishaw, Warwickshire, England.</p>
<p>"I was waiting 20 years to get the call," <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fgolf%2F2012%2F12%2F13%2Ftom-watson-ryder-cup-captain-pga-of-america%2F1764701%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F12%2F13%2F3764114%2Fkansas-city-golf-legend-tom-watson-captain-2014-u-s-ryder-cup-team" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Watson said</a> as the official announcement was made on NBC"s "Today" show on Thursday morning. NBC will televise the Ryder Cup weekend competition in 2014.</p>
<p>"I loved it the first time. It's a great honor to be able to do it again," Watson said. "This time we need 14 and a half points,"</p>
<p>Watson, who grew up in Kansas City and still lives in the area, won eight major championships on the PGA Tour, including five times at the British Open. He played on four U.S. Ryder Cup teams that won three times and tied once, but never lost. His individual record competing on the U.S. Ryder Cup team was 10-4-1.</p>
<p>"I wanted the challenge, to do it again," Watson said. "This responsibility is a challenge, but I've been there before and I welcome it.</p>
<p>Webb Simpson, 2012 U.S. Open champion sent this text message after learning of the announcement regarding Watson: "Such an amazing player and person, and he demands respect just by the kind of player he's been. He's a quiet lion."</p>
<p><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fgolf%2F2012%2F12%2F13%2Ftom-watson-ryder-cup-captain-pga-of-america%2F1764701%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F12%2F13%2F3764114%2Fkansas-city-golf-legend-tom-watson-captain-2014-u-s-ryder-cup-team" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Keegan Bradley,</a> another member of this year's U.S. Ryder Cup team, said on Twitter: All the Ryder Cup talk is getting me excited. Can we play now??!!!!</p>
<p>Rory McIlroy, winner of this year's PGA Championship and the current No. 1-ranked player in the world, fired off an immediate response to Bradley's tweet: "You wanna get beaten again already!?"</p>
<p>Watson will be 65 in 2014, which will make him the oldest U.S. captain of the Ryder Cup team.</p>
<p>The 2014 Ryder Cup matches will be held September 26-28, 2014 on the U.S. Centenary Course at <a href="http://www.glenaagles.com/gof/golf-courses">Gleneagles</a>, Scotland.</p>
<p><i>For related information on the </i><a href="http://www.pgatour.com"><i>PGA Tour.</i></a></p>
<p></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/12/13/3764114/kansas-city-golf-legend-tom-watson-captain-2014-u-s-ryder-cup-teamChip Rouse2012-12-13T07:00:28-06:002012-12-13T07:00:28-06:00Can anyone unseat Jayhawks as Big 12 champs?
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<figcaption>Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Previewing the teams projected to finish in the top half of the 2012-13 Big 12 basketball race.</p> <p><i>Editor's note:This is the second of two articles previewing the Big 12 men's basketball conference season, with short capsules on what to look for from each of the 10 teams. Today's article looks at the teams projected to finish in the top half of the Big 12 regular-season standings. </i></p>
<p>If there were term limits on how many conference championships you can win, the <a href="http://www.kusports.com">Kansas Jayhawks</a> would be in serious trouble.</p>
<p>Kansas has won outright or shared the last eight regular-season conference championships in basketball and has won 12 of the 16 since the Big 12 came into existence in 1996. Overall, the Jayhawks have won 52 conference championships in basketball, far more than any other school in the Big 12 and all of its previous iterations dating back to 1907, when Kansas was a member of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association.</p>
<p>The Jayhawks, who are off to a 7-1 start to the 2012-13 season, are the heavy favorite once again to extend their supremacy in Big 12 men's basketball to nine consecutive seasons. Of course there are a lot of games to be played between now and then and there are nine other conference teams that will have something to say about the final outcome.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, we previewed the projected bottom half of the conference in men's basketball. Today we move up the ladder and take a look at what to expect from the teams expected to be the top contenders, along with Kansas, for the 2012-13 regular-season Big 12 crown (in descending order).</p>
<p><b>1. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kansas-jayhawks">Kansas Jayhawks</a></b></p>
<p>(Head coach: Bill Self; 2011-12: 1st)</p>
<p><a href="http://ww.kusports.com">Kansas</a> is and has long been the epitome in college basketball of the team that rarely, if ever, rebuilds; the Jayhawks simply reload and manage to keep on winning, year after year, seemingly without missing a beat. If you thought it was going to be any different this year after losing two first-round NBA draft picks in big-man <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99945/thomas-robinson">Thomas Robinson</a> and table-setter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52446/tyshawn-taylor">Tyshawn Taylor</a>, you would be wrong. Last year's Jayhawk team, which finished 16-2 in league play and first in the conference for the eighth consecutive year on the way to a 32-7 overall record and runner-up in the NCAA Basketball Championship, may have over-achieved a little, largely on the basis of heart and sheer determination. This year's Jayhawk squad lacks veteran floor leadership, nearly half of the rotation could be first-year players, but in the long run, the roster this season is deeper, which gives head coach Bill Self more options, and the talent level may be higher overall. Returning starters Elijah Johson, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52450/travis-releford">Travis Releford</a> and seven-footer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53330/jeff-withey">Jeff Withey</a> are expected to be the on-floor leaders. Combined the three averaged just over 27 points and right at 14 rebounds a game a year ago.</p>
<p><b>2. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a></b></p>
<p>(Head coach: Scott Drew; 2011-12 season: 3rd)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.baylorbears.com">Baylor</a> finished third in the conference a year ago, with a school-record 30-win season. The Bears lost 36 points of scoring and almost 20 rebounds a game with the departure of big men <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145084/quincy-miller">Quincy Miller</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123221/perry-jones-iii">Perry Jones III</a> to the NBA and the graduation of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52408/quincy-acy">Quincy Acy</a>, yet this year's team could be even better. The Bears do return, however, what could be the best backcourt combination in the conference in Preseason Player of the Year Pierre Jackson and three-point artist Brady Heslip. Jackson, a senior from Las Vegas, averaged 13.2 points a game last season and Heslip added 10.2 ppg on 45 percent accuracy from behind the three-point line. The addition of seven-foot freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174373/isaiah-austin">Isaiah Austin</a>, regarded as the highest-profile recruit in Baylor program history, will help ease the huge hit coach Scott Drew's team took in the front court, plus they have 6-9 junior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99934/cory-jefferson">Cory Jefferson</a> back. Jefferson would probably have started for most other Big 12 teams last year, but was relegated to reserve duty behind the Bears' talented frontline trio. Baylor has been to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight two of the last three years, but it has not enjoyed a winning conference record in two consecutive seasons since 1986-87 and 1987-88. This could well be the year.</p>
<p><b>3. Oklahoma State Cowboys</b></p>
<p>(Head coach: Travis Ford; 2011-12 season: 7th)</p>
<p>The 2012-13 <a href="http://www.okstate.com">Oklahoma State</a> team is an interesting study. After being left out of postseason play last season, the Cowboys were looking forward to reversing their fortunes this season. They suffered a big blow, however, when senior power forward and projected starter Darrell Williams was convicted of sexual battery charges and dismissed from the team. Williams would have provided some needed size and strength in the paint, but the Cowboys' are still loaded with ample talent and firepower. Sophomore Le'Bryan Nash is OSU's top returning scorer after averaging 13 points a game last season. Freshman sensation <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174487/marcus-smart">Marcus Smart</a>, projected as the preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, is expected to be one of the keys to the Cowboys' improvement this season. Strong contributions on offense and at the defensive end are also expected from returnees <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124110/markel-brown">Markel Brown</a> and Michael Cobbins. Oklahoma State was ninth in the conference in rebounding.last season, which is an area coach Travis Ford wants to improve.</p>
<p><b>4. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/west-virginia-mountaineers">West Virginia Mountaineers</a></b></p>
<p>(Head coach: Bob Huggins; 2011-12 season: 9th in Big East)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wvusports.com">West Virginia</a> is expected to be an immediate contender in its first season in the Big 12. The Mountaineers are without their top two scorers from last season in Kevin Jones and Darryl Bryant. Jones led the Big East in both scoring (19.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.9 rpg). Huggins is hoping to replace the loss of more than half of the team's offense with several talented transfers that will bring size, quickness and experience to the starting five. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99759/aaric-murray">Aaric Murray</a>, a 6-10 center, wing player <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53404/matt-humphrey">Matt Humphrey</a> and guard Juwan Staten are transfers from LaSalle, Boston College and Dayton, respectively. All are expected to make major contributions this season. The Mountaineers are also counting on more offensive production from 6-9 senior forward Deniz Kelicli from Istanbul, Turkey. There are questions concerning the team's perimeter shooting and how well newcomer Murray and Kelicli will co-exist on the floor. If they can overcome those two issues and a rigorous nonconference schedule, the Mountaineers could challenge Kansas for the league title.</p>
<p><b>5. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a></b></p>
<p>(Head coach Rick Barnes; 2011-12 season: 6th)</p>
<p>Coach Rick Barnes will field a very young team in the 2012-13 season. But don't be fooled. This group is extremely talented. Finding players with great talent and high potential is something you can always count on at <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.texassports.com&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F12%2F13%2F3756590%2Fbig-12-basketball-2012-13-kansas-jayahwks" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Texas</a>. The Longhorns are hoping they will have sophomore point guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146214/myck-kabongo">Myck Kabongo</a>, who is being forced to sit out to start the season while the NCAA rules on an eligibility issue. Kapongo averaged nearly 10 points and over five assists a game in his freshman season. True frontcourt strength has been lacking for several years in Austin, but the Longhorns appear to be well stocked this season with newcomers 6-8 freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/174555/ioannis-papapetrou">Ioannis Papapetrou</a> and highly-touted, first-year 6-9 center Cameron Ridley. Some are saying that Texas hasn't had an impact player with the kind of talent potential that Ridley possesses since Chris Mihm (1999-2000). Barnes is also counting on a key contribution from Kabongo's backcourt mate, sophomore <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146211/sheldon-mcclellan">Sheldon McClellan</a>, who averaged double digits in scoring a year ago. As young and inexperienced as Texas is this season, the Horns are still plenty good enough to advance to their 15th straight NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p><i>Follow Big 12 basketball all season long, including expanded coverage of Kansas and Kansas State, at </i><a href="http://www.kansascity.sbnation.com">SB Nation Kansas City.</a></p>
<p><i>For up-to-date news, information and individual game and season statistics, go to </i><a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big12sports.com</a><i>.</i></p>
<p><i> </i></p>
<p></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/12/13/3756590/big-12-basketball-2012-13-kansas-jayahwksChip Rouse2012-12-12T07:01:10-06:002012-12-12T07:01:10-06:00Kansas owns Big 12 hoops; 2012-13 is no different
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<figcaption>John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Kansas is in its familiar spot atop the Big 12 basketball standings after the first month of action.</p> <p></p>
<p><i>Editor's note:This is the first of two articles previewing the Big 12 men's basketball conference season, with short capsules on what to look for from each of the 10 teams. Today's article examines the five teams projected to finish in the lower half of the league standings. A preview of the projected top five teams will follow on Thursday. </i></p>
<p><a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big 12</a> basketball for 2012-13 is well under way, with most of the league's 10 member schools already having played eight or more games. But it is at this point in the season, around mid-December, when things start to get really interesting in college basketball as the teams get ready for the start of the more competitive and more meaningful conference season right after the start of the New Year.</p>
<p>As we enter the second week in December, <a href="http://www.kusports.com">Kansas</a>, <a href="http://www.ksusports.com">Kansas State</a> and <a href="http://www.okstate.com">Oklahoma State</a> stand at 7-1 on the season, with Texas Tech close behind with a 5-1 record. Kansas and Oklahoma State are the only two conference teams ranked in the top 25, which is fewer at this point in the season than in the past couple of seasons. The Jayhawks check in at No. 9 in both the USA Today coaches' poll and the Associated Press media poll this week.</p>
<p>The Jayhawks are gunning for their ninth consecutive Big 12 title in basketball, and as things stand currently, they are clearly the team to beat again this season. Behind the Jayhawks, it should be a real scramble among as many as five or six teams. Wins on the road this season could be at a premium in the Big 12 and a strong indicator of how high in the standings a team will finish.</p>
<p>Here are some fun facts you might find of interest about Big 12 basketball one month into the season:</p>
<ul class="unIndentedList">
<li> All 10 Big 12 schools have a winning percentage of .556 or better through games of Dec. 10. The Big 12 is one of only three major conferences that can make that claim.</li>
<li> Big 12 teams are 41-5 in home games so far this season and 58-22 against teams from other conferences, the second fewest nonconference losses of any league in the country.</li>
<li> The Big 12 opened the 2012-13 season with 14 consecutive wins before losing its first game.</li>
<li> The combined Big 12 record at home against nonconference teams is an incredible 336-15, a winning percentage of .957.</li>
<li> All but one of the current Big 12 schools have been ranked in the nation's top 25 since 2009, a greater percentage than any other conference over that time span.</li>
<li> At least one Big 12 school has been ranked every week in league history (since 1996-97), covering 311 consecutive weeks.</li>
<li> During the past five seasons, the Big 12 has won 62 percent of its games in NCAA play, the best in the nation over that time frame.</li>
<li> <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.texassports.com&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascity.sbnation.com%2F2012%2F12%2F12%2F3755984%2Fbig-12-basketball-2012-13-season-preview" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Texas</a> is the only team in the Big 12 so far this season that has committed more turnovers per game than its opponents. The Longhorns are minus-4.33 in turnover margin.</li>
<li> Kansas State leads the conference in scoring margin, outscoring their opponents by an average of 18.5 per game after eight games.</li>
<li> The Big 12 has had more consensus First-Team All-Americans over the last five years than any conference in the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Big 12 men's basketball team previews</b></p>
<p>(In projected ascending order of finish)</p>
<p><b>10. TCU Horned Frogs</b></p>
<p>(Head coach: Trent Johnson; 2011-12 season: 5th in Mountain West)</p>
<p>There are probably going to be times this season when <a href="http://www.gofrogs.cstv.com">TCU's</a> players and fans are going to wish they were back in the Mountain West Conference competing with teams more their own caliber. The Horned Frogs had their best season last year in their 7th season as a member of the Mountain West, finishing with an 18-15 record overall and 7-7 in the conference. With a new head coach, Trent Johnson, and a new league, TCU probably won't come near to the same success in their debut year competing in the Big 12. Forwards Garlon Green and Amric Fields are the team's top scorers from a year ago (both averaged close to 10 points per game), but aren't a serious threat as inside scorers, settling mostly for jump shots away from the basket. The Horned Frogs are hoping that Arkansas transfer Devonta Abron gets cleared to play. A 6-8 sophomore, Abron would give TCU a big, physical presence around the basket, something the team has lacked for several years. Senior Adrick McKinney provides another big body for TCU in the paint. Sophomore Ryan Anderson had a good freshman season, but will be asked to do more this season at the point guard position. The Horned Frogs have made only seven appearances all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Their last appearance was in 1998 under former OU head coach Billy Tubbs.</p>
<p><b>9. Texas Tech Red Raiders</b></p>
<p>(Head coach: Chris Walker; 2011-12 season: 10th)</p>
<p>If you followed the <a href="http://www.texastech.com">Red Raiders</a> in basketball last season, you're going to be surprised with all of the turnover between last season and this season. It starts with the head- coach position. Billy Gillispie was forced to step down for health reasons, and he was replaced by one of his assistants, Chris Walker, who was named interim head coach. Walker has 17 years of college coaching experience and was at Villanova before joining Gillespie's staff a year ago. The Red Raiders had six players leave the program after last season's disappointing eight-win season (just 1-17 in the Big 12) and return only six scholarship players. Three of those returning players, guard Ty Nurse, and forwards Jordan Tolbert, the team's top scorer last season, and Jaye Crockett, are being counted on for important contributions this season. The Red Raiders' roster actually contains more newcomers than returnees. The best talent among the newcomers appears to be 6-9 freshman forward Wanaah Bail from Houston, who also had scholarship offers from Kansas, Texas and Arkansas but chose Texas Tech. This could be another difficult year for the Red Raiders, but they could surprise some people if they are able to get good, consistent production from the returning players and if Bail and a couple of the other players who are new this year get off to a good start, blend in well and meet or exceed performance expectations.</p>
<p><b>8. Iowa State Cyclones</b></p>
<p>(Head coach: Fred Hoiberg; 2011-12 season: 4th)</p>
<p>The Mayor, Fred Hoiberg, is back in Ames for a third year as head coach at his alma mater, and he brings with him a talented and experienced roster that isn't about to let go of the successful year the <a href="http://www.cyclones.com">Cyclones</a> had in 2011-12 - at least not without a fierce fight. Gone to the NBA is leading scorer and playmaker Royce White, along with departed senior and three-point sharpshooter Scott Christopherson. Hoiberg's formula of blending incoming talent from the high school ranks with roster returnees and talented transfers from high-major schools delivered a bullseye last season, and he is repeating the recipe again this year. This season, instead of White and guard Chris Allen, themselves transfers from Minnesota and Michigan State, respectively, the Cyclones will have Michigan State transfer Korie Lucious, a senior guard, and senior swingman Will Clyburn, who previously played at Utah, in the starting lineup. Lucious will join Chris Babb, a three-point threat, in the backcourt. Senior Tyrus McGee will also see time filling in at the guard position. Forwards Anthony Booker and Melvin Ejim will be counted on to complement Clyburn's presence in the paint. The 23 wins by the Cyclones last season was the first time Iowa State had achieved the 20-win barrier since 2003-04. The 2012-13 edition of the Cyclones is going to pose a stiff challenge for every team they play this season.</p>
<p><b>7. Oklahoma Sooners</b></p>
<p>(Head coach: Lon Kruger; 2011-12 season: 8th)</p>
<p>Most Sooner fans, as well as coach Lon Kruger himself, are looking for substantive improvement from <a href="http://www.soonersports.com">Oklahoma</a> on the hardwood this season. Kruger has a stellar rebuilding record every where he has been in the college ranks - his alma mater Kansas State, Illinois, Florida and UNLV - and he is expecting more out of the Sooners in his second year on the job. OU has all five of its starters back from last season, led by leading scorer Steven Pledger (16.2 ppg). Senior Sam Grooms is back on point to run the offense. Grooms led the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio last season, but he wasn't much of a scoring threat, which Kruger would like to change in his point-guard's game. Newcomer Amath M'Baye, a starter at Wyoming his sophomore season two years ago, was considered to be the best player on the OU team last season, but had to sit out the year, as a transfer, by NCAA rule. Senior forwards Romero Osby and Andrew Fitzgerald both averaged double digits in the scoring column last season and are being counted on to give the Sooners solid production in the paint and on the wing again in the current season. Osby was sixth in the conference in rebounding in 2011-12, with an average of seven boards a game. The five players ahead of him, however, have all moved on to the NBA. Kruger would like to see more offensive consistency this season and major improvement in the team's play on defense. The Sooners were last in the Big 12 a year ago in scoring defense. OU has not made it to postseason play since Blake Griffin's final season in 2008-09. The Sooners would like to snap that string in 2012-13. </p>
<p><b>6. Kansas State Wildcats</b></p>
<p>(Head coach: Bruce Weber; 2011-12 season: 5th)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ksusports.com">Kansas State</a> has a new head coach, Bruce Weber, who brings a different style of play and coaching philosophy to Manhattan, Kan., than existed under his predecessor, Frank Martin. The Wildcats lost only one starter from last season (F Jamar Samuels) and return probably the most-experienced roster in the Big 12 from last year's 22-11 team that finished fifth in the conference. Weber has installed a new motion offense into the K-State attack. The former Illinois head coach has retained Martin's strong defensive mindset, but he is focusing more on improving Kansas State scoring opportunities on the offensive end. The Wildcats' in-and-out game will be as strong, if not stronger, than any team in the league, with 6-11 senior Jordan Henriquez in the post and 16-point scorer Rodney McGruder operating outside and on the wing. In addition to his scoring and rebounding down low, Henriquez is one of the best shot blockers in the country. He owns the all-time K-State record for shots blocked in a single season and over a career. McGruder scored 30 or more points three times last season. Kansas State is also looking for major contributions from junior guard Will Spradling, who averaged nine points a game a year ago, senior guard Martavious Irving and 6-7 sophomore forward Thomas Gipson. This is an experienced and talented team. They will look different on the court, but Weber should have no trouble continuing the winning ways of the program.</p>
<p><i>Follow Big 12 basketball all season long, including expanded coverage of Kansas and Kansas State, at </i><a href="http://www.kansascity.sbnation.com">SB Nation Kansas City.</a></p>
<p><i>For up-to-date news, information and individual game and season statistics, go to </i><a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big12sports.com.</a></p>
<p><i> </i></p>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/12/12/3755984/big-12-basketball-2012-13-season-previewChip Rouse2012-12-11T16:05:22-06:002012-12-11T16:05:22-06:00As usual, Kansas powers Big 12 basketball engine
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<p>What the Kansas Jayhawks give up in bringing up the tail end of the Big 12 in football they more than make up for in serving as the locomotive that drives the Big 12's solid reputation in men's basketball.</p> <p>With only one month gone in the 2012-13 college basketball season, most teams are just now hitting their stride. The top teams at this early stage of the season, however, are no real surprise to anyone who closely follows the college game.</p>
<p>The Big 12 is no exception to that rule, with eight-time reigning champion <a href="http://www.kusports.com">Kansas</a> in its customary position out ahead of the pack. The Jayhawks are actually tied with <a href="http://www.okstate.com">Oklahoma State</a> and Sunflower State rival <a href="http://www.ksusports.com">Kansas State</a>, all with identical 7-1 records heading into this week's action.</p>
<p>Only two games involving Big 12 men's teams are scheduled before Saturday, when six conference teams will be in action, including both Kansas and Kansas State, and two more on Sunday.</p>
<p>What follows is the first of what will become a weekly Big 12 Power Rankings of 2012-13 men's basketball once conference play begins in January:<b></b></p>
<p><b>Big 12 men's power rankings</b> (as of Dec. 10)</p>
<p><b>1. Kansas</b> - Head and shoulders above everyone else at this stage, both in talent and upside.</p>
<p><b>2. Oklahoma State</b> - Three players in the conference top 10 in scoring</p>
<p><b>3. Kansas State</b> - Senior <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99951/rodney-mcgruder">Rodney McGruder</a> starting to find his game again.</p>
<p><b>4. Baylor</b> - Hard to believe that this team beat Kentucky by nine but lost at home to Northwestern.</p>
<p><b>5. Iowa State</b> - Leads the conference in scoring offense (82.4 ppg), but next to last in scoring defense.</p>
<p><b>6. Texas Tech</b> - No. 1 in league in steals (11 spg), averaging three more a game than anyone else.</p>
<p><b>7. Oklahoma</b> - Much improved with excellent depth; three players averaging in double figures in scoring.</p>
<p><b>8. Texas</b> - Struggling without services of sophomore guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146214/myck-kabongo">Myck Kabongo</a>, whose eligibility is in question by the NCAA.</p>
<p><b>9. West Virginia</b> - On a three-game win streak after losing three of first four.</p>
<p><b>10. TCU</b> - One of two league teams to have lost twice at home already.</p>
<p><i>Follow Big 12 men's basketball all season long at </i><a href="http://www.kansascity.sbnation.com">SB Nation Kansas City.</a></p>
<p><i>For the latest news and information on Big 12 men's basketball, plus single game and season statistics, visit </i><a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big12sports.com.</a></p>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/12/11/3756196/big-12-basketball-power-rankings-kansas-jayhawksChip Rouse2012-12-11T12:41:28-06:002012-12-11T12:41:28-06:00Football honors that go beyond the playing field
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<p>Three Big 12 football stars earn Academic All-America first-team honors.</p>
<p>Three <a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big 12</a> football players not only starred on the field this season but also demonstrated high achievement in the classroom.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.baylorbears.com">Baylor</a> senior quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75553/nick-florence">Nick Florence</a>, Oklahoma junior center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76961/gabe-ikard">Gabe Ikard</a> and senior defensive back Cody Davis of Texas Tech have been named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America first team. For Ikard, it was the second time he has earned Academic All-America honors. He was named to the second team in the 2011 season.</p>
<p>Florence, and economics major with a 3.79 grade point average, led Baylor to a 7-5 season and a spot in the Holiday Bowl, where the Bears will meet UCLA out of the Pac-12. One of the Bears seven wins was a huge 59-24 upset of then-No. 1 Kansas State that knocked the Wildcats out of a chance to play in the BCS National Championship. Florence, who played for three seasons behind Heisman Trophy winning quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35519/robert-griffin-iii">Robert Griffin III</a>, led the nation with 387.7 yards of total offense per game in the 2012 regular season, including 4,121 passing yards and 31 touchdowns.</p>
<p>The Baylor quarterback was named this season's Big 12 Football Scholar Athlete of the Year, voted by the conference coaches.</p>
<p>Ikard anchored the <a href="http://www.soonersports.com">Oklahoma</a> offense at center this season, replacing senior All-Big 12 offensive lineman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37286/ben-habern">Ben Habern</a>, who was forced to retire from the game because of lingering neck and back injuries. Ikard's play helped contribute to the nation's fifth best passing offense. The Sooners averaged 341 yards passing and finished with a 10-2 record and 8-1 in the Big 12 to gain a share, with Kansas State, of their eighth conference championship.</p>
<p>Davis is currently working on a master's degree in Management Information Systems. His undergraduate degree is in the same field, in which he earned a 3.70 grade point average. He recorded more than 350 tackles in his four-year career at <a href="http://www.texastech.com">Texas Tech</a>, more than any other Red Raider player in the past decade.</p>
<p>The 24 players named to the Capital One Division I Academic All-America football first team combined for a composite 3.715 G.P.A. Eligibility for the Academic All-America Team is open to a varsity starter or key reserve who maintains a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a 4.00 scale and is nominated by their institution's sports information director.</p>
<p>The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) is the organization behind the Academic All-America Team, having introduced the concept beginning in 1952. Since that time, more than 16,000 student-athletes have been honored as Academic All-Americans covering all NCAA championship sports.</p>
<p><i>Follow all Big 12 sports and all 10 conference teams throughout the year at </i><a href="http://www.kansascity.sbnation.com">SB Nation Kansas City</a><i>.</i></p>
<p><i>For more information on the College Sports Information Directors of America, visit </i><a href="http://www.cosida.com">CoSIDA.com</a><i>.</i></p>
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https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/12/11/3755326/big-12--football-academic-all-america-first-teamChip Rouse