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Other Planets to Cover Big 12 Hoop Tournament?
Published: 2/9/2007 4:09 PM
Last Modified: 2/9/2007 4:09 PM

Somebody from a sports commission was quoted in the newspaper in Oklahoma City as saying that the upcoming Big 12 basketball tournament was the biggest sporting event in the state.

That's a good one, good for anybody looking for a laugh.

On a scale of 1 to 10, the Big 12 basketball tournament is 2. The PGA golf tournament, to be played at Southern Hills in August, if the hills don't melt, is a 10.

The truth is, the Big 12 basketball tournament is next to meaningless, as the national brackets are usually compiled before the title game is finished.

Neither OU not OSU figures to reach the Sweet Sixteen without tickets.

The Big 12 hoop tournament is strickly a regional event followed feverishly by schools with lousy football teams, like Kansas. The Aggies will be worth watching. Beyond that, we might rate the tourney a 1.

Conference basketball tournaments everywhere might not always put meaningful games on display. But they are classic examples of a successful hard sell.

Somehow many fans have come to think they need to be there. Sometimes a dog team sneaks in the NCAA tournament and is then obliterated in the first round. Sometimes a good team loses a little seeding ground. Pass the caffeine.

The US Open is a world event. Having to remind somebody of that -- what banner will be across the gym at the hoop tournament: Welcome To Hooterville?






Reader Comments 2 Total
Jeremy (6 years ago)
I totally understand your take on this, and I agree with it to an extent. On a national interest level, the PGA event wins hands down.

I didn't read the article containing the quote, so I'm not sure what context the author used. The motive is prolly to drive up interest and sell tickets. I would say on a state level, the Big 12 tourney has a high level of interest. OU and OSU will have to perform in order to make postseason noise.

I am a golf fan, so the PGA in Oklahoma is cool. I've been to the US Open at the Hills...it was awesome. I also enjoy college hoops, especially at a tourney atmosphere. I'll disagree that the aTm Aggies possess the only ticket catcher. I think UT's Durant is a big timer, and KU and OSU put several big time athletes on the floor. It has minimal significance, but so do all conference tourneys unless a cinderella finds a slipper that fits.

It's not like the country is hurting for college hoops fans. If the Big 12 final pits KU-UT, or even KU-aTm, it might draw some interest. Put OSU in there and the state will certainly notice. But true...it's not Tiger Woods...but what is??

Allan Smith (6 years ago)

thanks for the proof that the tournament shouldn't be in Ok. It should be in KC full-time, just as the baseball tournament is in Ok city.
by the way, basketball is followed around the world, redneck.
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The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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