2008 Woodie Awards
Men's Basketball Homeroom, 1/29
Michael McHale
Issue date: 1/29/08 Section: Sports
1. Kansas (20-0 overall, 5-0 Big 12 Conference)
The Jayhawks might be the hottest team in the country. With a No. 2 national ranking and a pristine record, KU has emerged as legitimate title contender. Its next test? A trip to Kansas State on Wednesday.
2. Kansas State (14-4, 4-0)
Freshman phenom Michael Beasley is dazzling spectators and baffling opponents. He's averaging a league best 25.3 points per game heading into the showdown with Kansas. Last week, he guaranteed a win over Kansas.
3. Texas (16-3, 3-1)
After losing their opening Big 12 game to Missouri earlier this month, the No. 12 Longhorns have won three straight. They whooped up on Bobby Knight's team Saturday, giving Texas Tech a 73-47 shellacking.
4. Baylor (16-3, 4-1)
The Bears finally ran out of gas Saturday, dropping their first Big 12 game 77-71 to Oklahoma. But after beating No. 16 Texas A&M in five overtimes last week, one loss can be somewhat excused.
5. Oklahoma (14-5, 2-2) PENDING TONIGHT'S GAME AGAISNT OSU
The win over Baylor was easily the biggest of the month for the Sooners. But they'll need continued productivity from Blake Griffin if they want to keep climbing. The freshman forward is averaging a team-high 14.7 points a game.
6. Texas A&M (16-4, 2-3)
The skid is over. The Aggies lost three straight Big 12 contests before a 59-56 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday. Now they get to host Texas in front of ESPN2 cameras Wednesday night.
7. Missouri (12-8, 2-3)
Close is better than nothing. The Tigers got out of their own three-game slump Saturday, topping Colorado 66-62 after trailing for 38 minutes. That might not be good news for Nebraska, which visits Mizzou on Wednesday.
8. Iowa State (12-8, 2-3)
Sure, the Cyclones have dropped back-to-back games by a combined 49 points, but the setbacks came at the hands of Kansas and Kansas State, two of the league's best squads.
9. Texas Tech (11-8, 2-3)
The score was ugly. Tech's 73-47 loss to Texas this weekend certainly didn't impress critics. Still, the Red Raiders proved they could play when they topped Mizzou last week.
10. Oklahoma State (10-9, 1-4) PENDING TONIGHT'S GAME VS OU
Junior Byron Eaton is averaging a league-best 81.7 percent from the charity stripe. But the Cowboys needed a few more free throws last week when the they lost by a combined five points to Texas and Texas A&M.
11. Colorado (9-10, 1-4)
That's why they play 40 minutes. This weekend, the Buffs led Mizzou for 38 minutes before falling. On Jan. 19, they watched a nine point halftime lead against Texas dissolve into a 69-67 loss.
12. Nebraska (11-6, 0-4)
Ouch. The Huskers' 84-49 loss at Kansas on Saturday was the culmination of a hectic early conference schedule. In recent weeks, they've lost to the No. 2 Jayhawks twice and fell to surging Baylor once. A win would be a relief at this point.
-Compiled by Michael McHale
The Jayhawks might be the hottest team in the country. With a No. 2 national ranking and a pristine record, KU has emerged as legitimate title contender. Its next test? A trip to Kansas State on Wednesday.
2. Kansas State (14-4, 4-0)
Freshman phenom Michael Beasley is dazzling spectators and baffling opponents. He's averaging a league best 25.3 points per game heading into the showdown with Kansas. Last week, he guaranteed a win over Kansas.
3. Texas (16-3, 3-1)
After losing their opening Big 12 game to Missouri earlier this month, the No. 12 Longhorns have won three straight. They whooped up on Bobby Knight's team Saturday, giving Texas Tech a 73-47 shellacking.
4. Baylor (16-3, 4-1)
The Bears finally ran out of gas Saturday, dropping their first Big 12 game 77-71 to Oklahoma. But after beating No. 16 Texas A&M in five overtimes last week, one loss can be somewhat excused.
5. Oklahoma (14-5, 2-2) PENDING TONIGHT'S GAME AGAISNT OSU
The win over Baylor was easily the biggest of the month for the Sooners. But they'll need continued productivity from Blake Griffin if they want to keep climbing. The freshman forward is averaging a team-high 14.7 points a game.
6. Texas A&M (16-4, 2-3)
The skid is over. The Aggies lost three straight Big 12 contests before a 59-56 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday. Now they get to host Texas in front of ESPN2 cameras Wednesday night.
7. Missouri (12-8, 2-3)
Close is better than nothing. The Tigers got out of their own three-game slump Saturday, topping Colorado 66-62 after trailing for 38 minutes. That might not be good news for Nebraska, which visits Mizzou on Wednesday.
8. Iowa State (12-8, 2-3)
Sure, the Cyclones have dropped back-to-back games by a combined 49 points, but the setbacks came at the hands of Kansas and Kansas State, two of the league's best squads.
9. Texas Tech (11-8, 2-3)
The score was ugly. Tech's 73-47 loss to Texas this weekend certainly didn't impress critics. Still, the Red Raiders proved they could play when they topped Mizzou last week.
10. Oklahoma State (10-9, 1-4) PENDING TONIGHT'S GAME VS OU
Junior Byron Eaton is averaging a league-best 81.7 percent from the charity stripe. But the Cowboys needed a few more free throws last week when the they lost by a combined five points to Texas and Texas A&M.
11. Colorado (9-10, 1-4)
That's why they play 40 minutes. This weekend, the Buffs led Mizzou for 38 minutes before falling. On Jan. 19, they watched a nine point halftime lead against Texas dissolve into a 69-67 loss.
12. Nebraska (11-6, 0-4)
Ouch. The Huskers' 84-49 loss at Kansas on Saturday was the culmination of a hectic early conference schedule. In recent weeks, they've lost to the No. 2 Jayhawks twice and fell to surging Baylor once. A win would be a relief at this point.
-Compiled by Michael McHale
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