Who has the tougher challenge when trying to compete in Big 12 Conference basketball, Colorado men’s coach Jeff Bzdelik or CU women’s coach Kathy McConnell-Miller?
It might be the latter.
Big 12 teams fill seven slots in the latest Associated Press top 25 women’s basketball poll. That leads the nation. It’s even more impressive when considering the Big 12, headed by No. 3 Nebraska, has seven of the top 20 and six of the top 15.
In comparison to their male counterparts, women’s hoops is currently stronger and/or has more tradition at several Big 12 schools. Those include Nebraska, Baylor, Iowa State, Texas A&M and, at least this year, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The Big 12 has topped the nation in women’s basketball attendance for a decade.
In McConnell-Miller’s fifth season, Colorado (12-10, 2-7 Big 12) continues to struggle to keep its head above water. The Buffs play today at No. 12 Oklahoma.
“It’s hard to make a jump in this league,” McConnell-Miller said this week. “You have the best players in the country in the Big 12, and right around the corner comes another class of the best recruits in the country.”
The current women’s poll includes five Big 12 teams in a row, with Baylor (No. 11), Oklahoma (12), Texas A&M (13), Texas (14) and Oklahoma State (15). In three decades of covering college sports, I had never seen a poll of any sport that included a solidarity block of five from the same conference. The odds against that must be astronomical.
Of course, Big 12 women’s basketball ranks first in conference RPI. Five league members rate among the nation’s top 11 in team RPI.
“It’s the best-coached league in the country,” said Nebraska coach Connie Yori, not intending to pat herself on the back. “It’s tough for a new coach to come in and make an immediate impact.”
Not to be outdone, Big 12 men’s basketball also leads the nation in conference RPI. It has seven teams among the top 40 in RPI, eight among the top 50. With a record of 142-31 in nonconference games, the Big 12’s winning percentage (82.1) also is tops. Four Big 12 teams rank among the current AP men’s top 25, including No. 1 Kansas. Texas A&M is the equivalent of No. 26.
“We’re getting better, but the league is getting better; we understand reality,” said Bzdelik, whose Buffs (11-12, 2-7 Big 12) play today at No. 9 Kansas State.
Bottom line: With ranked powerhouses coming at them every week and sometimes twice a week, the challenges facing both Bzdelik and McConnell-Miller can seem daunting. Big 12 men’s and women’s hoops have never been stronger.
Cowboys holding heads high.
Third-year Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer remains determined rather than demoralized over his team’s slide (9-15, 2-8 MWC).
The season-ending knee injury suffered by top scorer Afam Muojeke three weeks ago left Schroyer with only one starter off his 19-win team of a season ago. Other injuries and attrition also have stalled the building process.
“We’ve had some tough luck,” Schroyer said. “But when you look at the big picture, we’re getting a lot of young players a lot of significant time. I think we’ll be better off for that.”
Next season’s Ram big-‘un.
Colorado State’s Trevor Williams, a 7-foot, 270-pound redshirting freshman, is making steady progress in practice, Rams coach Tim Miles reports.
“Early in the year Trevor got hurt, and it wasn’t about until Christmas that he got steady practice time,” Miles said of the former Lutheran High School standout. “Like anybody that has redshirted, he’s had his ups and downs. But I think he has shown steady development. I’m excited to get him on the floor next year.”
