Wendell Barnhouse is a nationally-known and respected columnist who has spent over 20 years covering collegiate athletics. He has reported from 24 Final Fours and more than three dozen bowl games and has written about the Big 12 and its schools since the conference's beginning. Barnhouse will be updating the Big 12 Insider on happenings and behind-the-scenes information about the conference.
ESPN.com's Andy Katz, in his daily 3-Point Shot feature, adds some perspective to what's happened for Kansas State coach Bruce Weber over the last year:
Kansas State coach Bruce Weber has quite the emotional year. Just think a year ago he was coaching Illinois toward the end of the season and knew that his job was likely over in Champaign. A year later, Kansas State is tied with Kansas in the loss column atop the Big 12 with a game against TCU at home Tuesday and at Oklahoma State Saturday. The Wildcats would lose a tiebreaker to Kansas if the two teams are tied at the end of the weekend since KU swept Kansas State. Still, regardless of what occurs in the seeding or race for first and second, it has been quite a turnaround for Weber. I can't remember a coach who has gone from one extreme to another in just one season. Weber's coaching was never in question. The Illini needed a new voice and he needed a fresh start. This couldn't have worked out any better for him. He has only coached in small college towns so moving to Manhattan was no problem. Weber wouldn't have done as well being idle for a year. He got an opportunity and made sure it was maximized.
