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.
Jason King of ESPN.com on Kansas coach
Bill Self and his team's toughness:
One thing on Bill Self's Christmas wish
list is a player with a mean streak. Self's biggest issue with the Jayhawks is
that they are too nice. Self is longing for a "bulldog" type of
player who refuses to let his team lose, the kind of guy who gets so fired up
that steam is practically coming out of his ears. A player with that kind of
demeanor can be infectious to his teammates. Self saw it happen in the past
with standouts such as Sherron Collins, Marcus Morris and Thomas Robinson. The
one player on this season's squad who carries that type of persona is freshman
forward Jamari Traylor, but he isn't logging enough minutes to make a difference.
"I guarantee we lead the country in three-point plays [against us],"
Self said. "We foul so soft."
Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com on
Baylor's season:
Great job, Art Briles ... again. Baylor
lost its franchise player, Robert Griffin III, and still led the nation in
total offense, averaging 579 yards a game. At this point last year, with RG3,
the Bears ranked No. 2, averaging 572 yards. On Saturday, they beat Oklahoma
State 41-34, eclipsing the 600-yard mark for the sixth time. Oh, and anyone who
had been ready to label former blue-chipper Lache Seastrunk as "a
bust" better think again. The former Oregon RB had 178 yards on 16 carries
and averaged 139 rushing yards in the Bears' final five games.
And here's Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com on
Baylor coach Art Briles getting a contract extension:
The other big winner in Arkansas's decision to hire Bret Bielema is Baylor,
which signed its coach, Art Briles, to a new long-term contract. Briles, with
his spread offense and Texas recruiting ties, became a logical option for the
Razorbacks. He not only brought Robert Griffin III to the banks of the Brazos,
he has led the Bears to three consecutive winning seasons for the first time in
61 years. That success has translated into a new stadium on campus. But would a
new coach continue to succeed where so many have failed? Briles is a fit at
Baylor, and the Bears are lucky to keep him.
