Big 12 Alley-Oops and Airballs: Week Four
Posted by cwilliams on December 8th, 2011Big 12 Alley-Oops and Airballs is a weekly article examining what’s hot and what’s not in Big 12 basketball. Scholastic obligations got the best of me last week, so there is no week three, but click here for Alley-Oops and Airballs Week One and Week Two.
The Jedi. (draftexpress.com)
Alley-Oops
- Return of Baylor’s Jedi: Perry Jones, III, is back, and his impact has been immediately noticeable. Jones is averaging a healthy 19.5 PPG and 6.0 RPG, but more importantly, his return means the completion of a starting five that many have picked to win Big 12 title. The sense of a complete team was apparent in Sunday’s Baylor-Northwestern game, which Baylor easily won 69-41. Scott Drew attributed the victory to his team’s “unselfishness.” If I told you five years ago that we could possibly see both the Heisman and the Naismith winner from Baylor, what would you say?
- Missouri… Again: Yes, Missouri is yet again on the Alley-Oops list. While this probably irks many of the Jayhawk faithful, it’s hard to argue these Tigers don’t deserve it. After the Tigers shellacked its two opponents in the CBE Classic, they faced Villanova Tuesday at famed Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic. The Tigers won again on the national stage, defeating the Wildcats, 81-71, in convincing fashion.
- Jimmy V’s Speech: Yes, it pertains to the Big 12. Because it pertains to all of college basketball, as it is arguably the greatest sports speech ever given. In a week where we celebrate the life of Jim Valvano, I urge you to check out the Jimmy V Foundation website, or at least watch his wonderful speech here.
Airballs
- Oklahoma State’s Scheduling: While the Cowboys are not the favorite to win the Big 12, they have enough talented pieces to stay competitive in conference play. That is, if they make it that far. The Cowboys have a brutal non-conference schedule leading up to conference play, including the likes of Missouri State, Pittsburgh, New Mexico, Alabama, SMU, and Virginia Tech. All those teams, in the span of a month. Yikes.
SeaPond of Crimson and Cream: Attendance at Lloyd Noble Arena has decreased 33.9% since the 2008-09 season, and the athletic department is getting desperate. Not only have they dropped student pricing by $100, but now they are offering students a chance to win an iPad, free Pizza Hut food, and $100 dollars. My suggestion? Build a new stadium in Miami, and sign Jose Reyes. It works for some…
