Print story | Email story

Big 12 Notebook: Sutton still thinks A&M will go deep in NCAAs
A&M-OSU: Cowboys upset Aggies | Photos: A&M-Oklahoma State slideshow
Cessna: Ags must play better in NCAA tournament
Big 12 Men: Texas-Baylor | Kansas State-Texas Tech | Kansas-Oklahoma

By RICHARD CROOME
Eagle Sports Writer

Enlarge photo

Buy this photo Eagle Photo/Butch Ireland Texas A&M's Joseph Jones is fouled while driving between Oklahoma State's Mario Boggan (left) and David Monds in the Cowboys' 57-56 win at the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla. on Friday.

After the Cowboys' victory, Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton didn't back down from his statements concerning how far he believes the Aggies can go in the NCAA Tournament.

"We beat an outstanding team tonight. I've said it before that I have great admiration for the way they play game. They are certainly a legitimate team to go to the Final Four."

A&M's Big 12 tournament woes continued. The Aggies are 1-11 in the conference tournament coming last year against Colorado. ... OSU led for only 4 minutes, 7 seconds of the game. ... The Cowboys have won all six of their games played at the Ford Center, which is just over an hour away from Stillwater. Oklahoma State has not had anyone score more than 11 points in either victory at the tournament. ... Law, who has scored at least seven points in the last 5 minutes of 10 games this season, was 0 for 1 from the field and had no assists in the last five minutes against OSU.

Kansas coach Bill Self was reminded of an anniversary of sorts, when he was told that 10 years ago this week his Oral Roberts was invited to the NIT Tournament. "I hadn't thought about it, but relatively speaking, at that time, that was as big a deal as what we are going through now. It just shows how expectations differ since the Jayhawks are playing for a possible top seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Oklahoma players and coaches were hopefully talking about playing in the NCAA Tournament, but at 16-15 overall and with a 7-11 mark against Big 12 teams, the Sooners will be looking at an NIT bid. The Sooners overachieved if you use the preseason predictions as a gauge, and should be a tough team in the NIT, especially if they get some home games.

First-year OU coach Jeff Capel said after the loss that he believed his team accomplished about as much as he could have expected. He said they have to improve talent-wise if they are going compete in the Big 12. "I think our team hit its ceiling. We played with guys that really hadn't played [before his year]."

Texas Tech's Jarrius Jackson broke former teammates' Andre Emmett scoring record for points in the Big 12 Championship Tournament. Jackson scored 28 of Tech's 45 points on Friday to finish with 175 for his career. Emmett had 164 points. He also broke OU's Hollis Price mark for career free throws made with 45. Price had 41. Tech also set three dubious team records for a tournament game, free throws attempted (7) and rebounds (25) and points (45). ... Cartier Martin and Lance Harris of Kansas State each hit four 3s to tied the team individual mark. The Wildcats set the team mark with 10.

A&M's Billy Gillispie has been named District 9 Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches for the second time in three years. District 9 includes all NCAA Division I schools in Texas and Arkansas. Gillispie also received the honor in 2004-05, his first season at A&M.