Basketball and Other Stuff

After now having seen and worked a Baylor Men's Basketball game for the first time this season I am ready to proclaim my thoughts on the Big 12 Conference season which gets underway next month.

It will be won by either Texas or Kansas with everyone else battling for third.

Of course, that battle for third should be a dandy. Kansas State is full of high school All American's from all over. Coach Frank Martin has players from Harlem, NY, Washington, D.C., Fort Lauderdale, Fl., Landover, MD, Bronx, NY, St. Paul, MN, Maywood, Il., Dallas, Puerto Rico and Nigeria.

Oh yes, there is on walk-on player from Kansas. The recruiting budget for Kansas State must be better than most. None of those, "Let's drive over to Center City to check out that guard." It's more like, "What's the next flight to Miami that connects in New York and Baltimore on the way?" As a result of building this international all star team the Wildcats are loaded with talent. If it can build into a team style needed to win big games the Wildcats could challenge the "Big 2" before it is all over.

No one else looks likely to challenge either Texas or Kansas, but Baylor is very good with two or three quick and agile big men plus two starting guards who can really play. Texas A&M is well coached and talented, but likely too small to hang with the top three over a long season.

Other teams like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech will have their moments and wins during league play probably including an upset or two, but can't compare with the top two or three teams in the league.

TEXANS IN SAME BOAT

In the NFL the Texans are like those Big 12 basketball teams in the bottom half. They can pull off a nice win now and then, but aren't on the level with the big boys. In the NFL that means they are a tick or two below playoff calibre. Sure, they still could make the field if they win out and the right other clubs lose some games, but it is not likely.

Sunday's game in St. Louis was the latest example of the club lacking what it takes. They won the game, but not by much over a team that had only one once. Houston did not play well. They played on the level of the Rams. Truly good teams do not do that.

Are there bright spots? Yes for sure there are. The Texans defense on the whole is the best it has ever been. The quarterbacking is the best it has ever been. The receiving corp is the best it has ever been. That is about it though. The offensive line continues to be below average although Matt Schaub has been protected well. The running backs are all below average. That combination of poor power blocking to open holes and weak running backs is the most significant major hole that has to be addressed. It will be....for 2010!

LANDRY MAY BE TOOTHLESS, BUT ROCKETS ARE FAR FROM IT

The word should be out around the NBA that if you want to beat the Houston Rockets you had better figuring on playing hard for all 48 minutes. The Rockets will.

Despite losing players for a game here and a game there for various reasons...and now star rookie Chase Buddinger will be sidelined with a sprained ankle, but the Rockets just keep playing hard.

If he can handle it this could open more minutes for Tracy McGrady with Buddinger out. Up to now every time a gap has appeared on the team someone has filled it. If the back court has a poor scoring game someone else opens it up and when they go big others just play different roles.

If the Rockets can continue this pace-winning 15 of every 26-- they will not only make the playoffs, but be TEAM of the year even if they don't win in the post season. Rick Adelman? He is the Coach of the Year in waiting. And next season with Yao Ming back and money available to fill any other holes the Rockets will be legitimate contenders for the title. That is just as long as they don't forget how hard they played the game this season and keep it up.

COULD BRETT MYERS PASS THE TEST?

There is speculation in baseball that Philadelphia free agent pitcher Brett Myers could wind up re-uniting with his former GM with the Phillies, Ed Wade, in Houston. That is a legitimate guess since quite often players and GMs are reunited in new locations for both. The Astros would not mind a pitcher like Myers competing for a spot in the rotation or bullpen. However, there are several considerations. At last check the Astros 40 man roster was full. Would Myers accept a minor league spring training contract? He is, after all, coming back from hip surgery but was able to pitch late in 2009. Secondly, Myers has a skeleton in his closet that might be too serious for owner Drayton McLane to accept. Myers was involved in a physical altercation with his wife a few years ago. The same sort of thing ended Julio Lugo's Astro career. Are the circumstances different enough that the owner might OK the acquisition?

Right now it is a moot point. Yet Myers name keeps coming up possibly linked with Houston.