Time to Hoop it Up!

Now that the new year has dawned it is finally time to start taking a closer look at what is going on in college basketball.  In the state of Texas three schools are ranked in the top 25, but none in the top ten.  This is a factor of less than powerful non conference schedules or lack of enough success in some of those out of league games.

Texas A&M has only lost once and had a victory over a team ranked in the top 25 at the time.  But the rest of the schedule has been mostly unimpressive.  They have also played a preponderance of home games.  That is really the only reason they are ranked as low as they are at 18.  Texas is the highest ranked at #13 and they do have a road win against North Carolina.  But, they too, have had a number of almost walkover games so far.

Baylor, ranked #23 in one poll has the worst record at 8-3, but has also played the toughest slate of games.  They are on a two game losing streak--both at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu--to Washington State and Florida State.  All three of the schools mentioned will play major parts in the Big 12 race and all three are likely going to be NCAA post season tourney teams.

So will Kansas, of course.  The Jayhawks are ranked #3 in the nation.  Missouri and Kansas State are also top 20 teams from the league.  It may be interesting to note the transition to a basketball league in the Big 12.  Neither of the two teams departing, Colorado or Nebraska, are top 20 hoops teams.  That makes six of the remaining ten highly regarded basketball programs nationally.  And while neither Oklahoma nor Oklahoma State are currently top 20 clubs don't count either of them out.

Among the programs in state who are not among the top ones right now but have great potential are Texas Tech of the Big 12, Houston and UTEP of Confence USA and soon to be WAC schools UTSA and Texas State.  TCU is also in that group...or better be.. if they want to compete in the basketball heavy Big East where they will soon be matriculating.

Texas may remain a football first state for decades to come.  But the splitting of the various schools into different major conferences--some of whom place basketball on a higher pedestal--can do nothing but elevate the sport/.  And that is not a bad thing at all.