
Jeff Bzdelik is a patient man.
I can attest to that as a reporter who has interviewed him after many frustrating losses (and probably asked the coach a stupid question or two). On the record, off the record, at press conferences, behind closed doors … Bzdelik has never been anything but professional with me.
I’ve obviously written some tough game stories while using plenty of unflattering adjectives and sarcasm covering a long and painful rebuilding process for Colorado basketball.
A lot of coaches let emotions get in the way of working relationships with newspaper reporters (Mike Shanahan has called my home screaming about things I wrote in the Camera). But after coaching the Denver Nuggets and spending the bulk of his career in the NBA, Bzdelik understands criticism is a part of the job.
As CU’s head coach, Bzdelik understands any media attention on his program is a good thing. And usually I’m the only one waiting to talk outside the visitor’s locker room when the Buffs are on the road.
During Monday’s Big 12 coaches teleconference with the media, however, Bzdelik finally heard a question he didn’t like (or at least the way it was phrased). It began with: “Even though you guys don’t have a lot to play for … “
“I resent that statement that we don’t have a lot of play for,” Bzdelik said tersely. “We’re very blessed to play college basketball and to do the things that we are allowed to do. … We still have a winning season within our grasp.”
This no-quit attitude is what really makes the Big 12 great this season.
No. 1 Kansas, No. 6 Kansas State, No. 21 Texas, No. 22 Texas A&M and No. 24 Baylor are all nationally ranked. Oklahoma State and Missouri are also strong NCAA Tournament candidates from a conference ranked No. 1 in RPI.
The fact that the teams at the bottom — CU, Iowa State and Nebraska — are still competing so hard speaks to the depth of the conference and the quality of coaches.
The Huskers are 1-10 in the Big 12, but some of their recent performances have included a four-point loss at Kansas State, a two-point loss to Baylor and a 75-64 loss at KU.
Not that moral victories are acceptable in Lincoln.
“I can be the first to tell you that coach (Tom) Osborne isn’t happy. And I understand why he’s not happy,” Doc Sadler said. “Nebraska has paid me to win basketball games here and lead a program.”
The Cyclones (2-10 in Big 12 play) have lost nine of their last 10 games thanks to injuries, suspensions and a costly defection. Iowa State’s last two losses were 60-56 to Texas A&M and 69-64 to Oklahoma State; not many teams want to see Craig Brackins and Marquis Gilstrap in Kansas City at the conference tournament.
“Anytime you’re not as successful as you’d like to be the burden falls on everyone’s shoulders. We’re all sharing in the pain,” Iowa State coach Greg McDermott said. “When you invest a lot and don’t get the results there’s a level of frustration. To their credit our players haven’t let the frustrations take them on a road where their confidence is shaken.”
Iowa State hosts Nebraska on Wednesday. CU still plays Iowa State at home and travels to Nebraska.
A winning overall record, a better seed at the conference tournament, experience, pride … there is still plenty to play for at the bottom of the Big 12.
Senior moments
The Jayhawks and Wildcats are a combined 11-1 on the road in the Big 12. This is a conference that went 106-1 on its home courts during non-conference play.
So why do these teams thrive when they’re suddenly not in Kansas anymore?
Well, when the games are on the line the ball and the crowds are on their feet, the ball is in the hands of an unflappable senior guard — Sherron Collins for KU and Denis Clemente for K-State.
“The kid is a winner,” Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon said of Collins, who became the winningest player in KU’s storied history on Monday night. “He makes big plays at the right time, he makes tough plays, he makes players around him better.”
Whenever the Jayhawks have been in danger of losing a game in the Big 12 — including the 72-66 overtime win over CU in Boulder — Collins has made a key basket or play to turn the tide. He scored the game-winner to beat K-State in overtime at Manhattan.
“I see excellence, I see greatness … Sherron Collins is a pit bull,” Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said.
Capel said he was walking to the halftime locker room on Saturday with the Sooners only trailing K-State by three points when he heard a player yelling in the tunnel. He turned around and noticed it was Clemente getting on his teammates for a lackluster effort.
Clemente backed up the tough talk with 27 points on 11-for-18 shooting to lead the Wildcats to a 83-68 blowout in Norman.
“It’s refreshing to see a guy who has passion,” said Capel, whose talented individuals on the OU roster have not paid the price to become a good team this season. “They certainly have a swagger and a toughness on the road.”
No shame iNIT
Pat Knight continues to lobby for … the NIT?
That’s right, Texas Tech’s coach would love nothing more than to make a march for Madison Square Garden in his second full season running the program his father made an NCAA regular.
“It would be great. I haven’t even talked to these guys about the NCAA,” Knight said. “When any coach takes over a program, you’re kind of on a three-year plan. … There are a lot of guys that would kill to go to the NIT in their second year of coaching.”
The Red Raiders (16-10, 4-8) are in good position to be included in the NIT. Believe it or not, if the Buffs (12-14, 3-9) are able to rally down the stretch and finish with a winning record they are also a likely candidate to be included in the field.
CU’s strength of schedule is in the top 20, and Bzdelik has a great relationship with the NIT brass after leading Air Force to the Final Four three years ago.
False alarm?
The Sooners had to evacuate their hotel in Lawrence at midnight, an extremely early wake-up call for Monday’s game against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse.
“Initially I thought maybe it was a KU fan or something like that,” Capel said. “When I played in the ACC and you went on the road, you were never surprised if something like that happened. But I don’t know if we’re good enough to where they’d do that to us.”
The Lawrence Journal-World reported oily kitchen rags began producing smoke in the hotel’s laundry room, triggering the alarm.
Doing without Dogus
Texas, already in the midst of a puzzling slump since the team was ranked No. 1 nationally last month, will have to make a late surge without starting point guard Dogus Balbay. The junior tore an ACL in his left knee on Saturday during a win at Texas Tech.
“We’re going to miss his toughness, his defense … but when a guy goes down it’s an opportunity for someone else,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said.
Notable
Clemente and Oklahoma State’s James Anderson were the co-Big 12 players of the week. Xavier Henry was named the conference’s rookie of the week after dropping 24 points on the Buffs in a 94-74 victory. … Baylor’s LaceDarius Dunn became the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made (269) and is currently seventh on the Big 12’s all-time list. … Iowa State’s bench has scored just seven points in the last three games. … Missouri’s Mike Anderson has won at least 20 games in each of his eight seasons as a Division I head coach and his teams have all finished fourth or higher in conference play.
Quotable “It was no ancient Chinese secret or anything. We just made shots,” Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford on his team’s ability to solve Baylor’s zone defense during an 82-75 win over the Bears.