2008 Woodie Awards
Big 12 claims toughest conference
Doug Tucker - AP Sports Writer
Issue date: 3/17/05 Section: Sports
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - After saying all season they play in just about the toughest conference in the country, Big 12 coaches have found a couple of high-profile supporters - the selection committees of the NCAA and NIT tournaments.
Led by NCAA No. 2 seed Oklahoma State, the Big 12 has eight teams preparing for the postseason - six in the NCAA and two in the NIT. The only other conference with six NCAA entries is the Big East.
``Six doesn't surprise me at all,'' said Kansas coach Bill Self. ``I thought if Texas A&M had won a couple of more, they could have got in.''
The greatly improved Aggies of Texas A&M and Big 12 coach of the year Billy Gillispie are in the NIT hosting Clemson on Wednesday. Also in the NIT is Missouri. The Tigers host DePaul on Tuesday at the brand new Mizzou Arena.
The only Big 12 teams sitting home are Baylor, Nebraska, Colorado and a disappointed Kansas State.
Seeing Missouri in the NIT must be particularly galling to the Wildcats (17-12) since they swept the Tigers (16-16) in their season series and had a better record.
``I am disappointed for our players and coaches with the NIT's decision not to select Kansas State,'' coach Jim Wooldridge said in a statement. ``We certainly felt that we earned our way into the tournament. We had been playing our best basketball of the season, winning four of our last six games, with both losses coming to Big 12 co-champion Kansas.
``We had a successful season. Unfortunately, the NIT did not select a good team in Kansas State.''
In the main event, do all six Big 12 teams in the NCAA tournament have a chance to make it to the Final Four?
``I definitely think they could,'' Gillispie said. ``There's not an easy bracket. But I definitely think they can. Our league plays as good a defense as anybody in the country, we take care of the ball as well as anyone.
``The coaching of those teams in there is something else. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of (Big 12) teams make it to the Final Four. You have to be lucky.''
Led by NCAA No. 2 seed Oklahoma State, the Big 12 has eight teams preparing for the postseason - six in the NCAA and two in the NIT. The only other conference with six NCAA entries is the Big East.
``Six doesn't surprise me at all,'' said Kansas coach Bill Self. ``I thought if Texas A&M had won a couple of more, they could have got in.''
The greatly improved Aggies of Texas A&M and Big 12 coach of the year Billy Gillispie are in the NIT hosting Clemson on Wednesday. Also in the NIT is Missouri. The Tigers host DePaul on Tuesday at the brand new Mizzou Arena.
The only Big 12 teams sitting home are Baylor, Nebraska, Colorado and a disappointed Kansas State.
Seeing Missouri in the NIT must be particularly galling to the Wildcats (17-12) since they swept the Tigers (16-16) in their season series and had a better record.
``I am disappointed for our players and coaches with the NIT's decision not to select Kansas State,'' coach Jim Wooldridge said in a statement. ``We certainly felt that we earned our way into the tournament. We had been playing our best basketball of the season, winning four of our last six games, with both losses coming to Big 12 co-champion Kansas.
``We had a successful season. Unfortunately, the NIT did not select a good team in Kansas State.''
In the main event, do all six Big 12 teams in the NCAA tournament have a chance to make it to the Final Four?
``I definitely think they could,'' Gillispie said. ``There's not an easy bracket. But I definitely think they can. Our league plays as good a defense as anybody in the country, we take care of the ball as well as anyone.
``The coaching of those teams in there is something else. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of (Big 12) teams make it to the Final Four. You have to be lucky.''