It looks like another two team race in the Big 12 but one of the teams looks to be just a cut above the other. Kansas was reeling in May after the defection of Julian Wright to the NBA and Brandon Rush to an ACL injury but don't be sad Jayhawk fans because Bill Self's crew still has talent and athletes at every position. If Rush can come back healthy it's a great addition to a team that features shooter and swiper Mario Chalmers (40% from three and 2.6 steals/game). Working along in the backcourt with Chalmers is New York City G Russell Robinson, who has brought his city toughness to Kansas during his tenure. The Jayhawk frontcourt will be Rush, sophomore Darrell Arthur, and senior C Sasha Kaun. On the bench is the absolutely electric PG Sherron Collins, who is 5'10 and can throw it down with authority. Along with Collins is PF Darnell Jackson and freshman C Cole Aldrich. This team will look to shake off the heartbreak of last years Elite Eight loss to UCLA and go one step further and make the Final Four.
Kansas' main competition will come from Texas A&M and new coach Mark Turgeon. Turgeon inherits a program that loses All-America PG Acie Law IV but brings in McDonald's All-American C DeAndre Jordan. Jordan will combine with PF Joseph Jones and SF sharpshooter Josh Carter to form possibly the best frontcourt in the nation. In the backcourt will be G Dominique Kirk who will help ease the transition of G Donald Sloan from bench spark to major mintues player.
Outside of those two you have the Texas Longhorns who boast arguably the best PG in the nation in sophomore D.J. Augustin. Augustin played Robin to Kevin Durant's Batman last season but now it's Augustin who will have to be the Longhorns Superman. Joining Augustin are guards A.J. Abrams, Justin Mason, and up front Texas is very green with sophomores Damion James and Matt Hill starting.
The Big 12 is a conference full of talent that for some reason has not clicked or has not had enough time. Kansas State has two stud players in Mike Beasley and Bill Walker, Colorado has Richard Roby(Kenyon Martin's half brother), Nebraska has Aleks Maric (does he play football too?), Oklahoma State has Byron Eaton and Marcus Dove, and Texas Tech has the ever fiery Bobby Knight on the bench and guys like Martin Zeno (16.6 PPG last season) on the court. The Big 12 has two relatively new coaches in Jeff Capel and Mike Anderson who could be making noise sometime in the very near future. The Big 12 is oozing with talent and soon the nation will know that the Big 12 is about more than just football.
Winner: Kansas
Player of the Year: D.J. Augustin PG Texas
Freshman of the Year: Mike Beasley PF Kansas State
Most Improved Player: Darnell Jackson PF Kansas
Surprise Team: Baylor
All-Big Ten:
C Aleks Maric Nebraska
PF Mike Beasley Kansas State
SF Richard Roby Colorado
SG Martin Zeno Texas Tech
PG D.J. Augustin Texas
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