Here's What's Left

Originally Published: Feb 26, 2010 8:40 AM CDT

So whats left for the Cowboys and Sooners as we close out the final week and a half of the Big 12 season:  The Cowboys host top-ranked Kansas Saturday before going to Texas A&M and closing at home against Nebraska.  Here are my predictions for each:

Cowboys- Its hard to sit here and say OSU will beat Kansas, but it could happen.  Still, the Jayhawks have too much inside muscle with Cole Aldrich and the Morris twins.  Teams with inside might have given the Cowboys fits the last two yearssee the Texas game this past Wednesday.  Though Matt Pilgrim is expected to be back, I dont think the Cowboys will have enough. 

So then its down to College Station which has become one of the Big 12s snakepits.  Mark Turgeon is a leading candidate for Big 12 Coach of the Year.  A&M lost point guard Derrick Roland to a knee injury December 22nd and most experts wrote the Aggies off.  But Donald Sloan has rescued the season and made all of the right plays in close games.  A&M, though, is not great inside.  Bryan Davis is solid, but not overwhelming.  The Aggies strengths are the Cowboys strengthsguards.  I think OSU pulls the upset.

And finally, its senior night against Nebraska in Stillwater.  Obi Muonelo goes out on a winning note.  The Cowboys finish 9-7 in Big 12 play, but still may need to win a game in the conference tournament to insure an NCAA bid.

Sooners-The Bears Ekpe Udoh has made more difference to his team than any other newcomer in the Big 12.  Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn may be the best backcourt in the Big 12 this season (apologies to Collins-Henry of Kansas and Pullen-Clemente of Kansas State).  The Sooners wont have the firepower to keep up.

Then its down to Austin to face the Longhorns.  Dogus Balbays injury hurts the Longhorns defensively at the point guard spot.  But it also solves the problem of deciding who get how many minutes at point guard.  If Dexter Pittman continues to play like he did against Oklahoma State, the Horns are back in that Top 10-15 teams in the country range.  Texas takes this one.

And finally, its senior night.  Texas A&M is just the type of team a hot-shooting Sooner squad can beat, but the Aggies will likely be playing for a first-round bye in the Big 12 tournament.  If Tommy Mason-Griffin and Cade Davis are hitting three, OU will be in it.  I say the senior Tony Crocker goes out with a bang and the Sooners win.  Still, OU finishes 5-11 in Big 12 play.