It seems like only yesterday when:

The TU basketball hall was packed with happy people and was about to pop with energy as a team comprised of under-valued recruiting steals raced deep into the NCAA tournament, with national analysts saying that this was one to watch when it came to the last eight tournament teams standing; or beyond.

The OU basketball team was comprised of leapers and gunners, rocking a house full of football fans making a reasonably smooth transition to hoops, the chief questions to be answered being: Would the Sooners win the Big 12 basketball tournament again? Would OU be a three- or four-seed in the NCAAs?

The OSU basketball team had it all to make another run at a Final Four, except perhaps for two inch es of height at center. Every game was sold out. Once in the great hoop emporium, you couldn't hear yourself think -- you could just feel yourself smile.

The ORU basketball team usually had at least one NBA prospect on its squad, and a D-league cinch. It always won its conference and moved on to the NCAA tournament, where it was usually considered to be a solid sleeper.

Only: WHAT HAPPENED?

Were we too nice as fans, trusting everybody to get

The Picks

SATURDAY

Baylor at OU (-37): Mayday! Mayday!

Warning! Warning!

OU players, coaches and fans beware: it's supposed to be windy Saturday!

And everybody knows what a stiff breeze did to the Sooners in Ames, it messed with their brains and bodies and almost caused the shocking upset.

Some three weeks ago, we said that the one team OU didn't want any more of was Missouri. And guess who said the same thing this week. King Switz!

Tickets for this one, two bucks. And that's in Boren's box.

OU by 35.

Kansas (-5-1/2) at OSU: Many wonder about O-State's mind-set after last week.

But it's not like the Cowboys haven't been there before.

They're there all the time.

Ho-hum, another gridiron nightmare, pass the steak and potatoes.

Here's what KU has done: beaten bums.

Nothing wrong with that.

KU gave up a two-fifths of a hundred to Nebraska!

Could be higher-scoring than OSU-KU basketball.

Can Gundy make a play?

KU by 3.

Houston at Tulsa (-1): Will first to 60 take it?

Here's something of a mixed blessing: As much heat as Coach K is catching at Louisville, maybe coach recruiters will stay away from here.

Huge game -- loser apt to wind up in a bowl that hasn't been invented yet.

Houston by 4.

Arkansas (-1) at Tennessee: Hog fans who want Nutt out have been spending too much time in chat rooms with the mindless.

No replacement could be as good.

Vicious SEC gauntlet has Tennessee still in destruction derby.

Tennessee by 3.

Air Force (-2) at Notre Dame: Who would admit to being head of recruiting for the Irish?

AF by 3.

Kansas State (-8) at Nebraska: And where might Callahan wind up coaching next?

One guess: Canadian assistant in charge of point-after defenses.

Remember the so-called experts who ignored Al Gore and said you had to be able to run to play up north in November?

Brrrr: temp should plunge to 60 at Lincoln kickoff.

K-State by 7.

Texas A & M at Missouri (-17-1/2): Could be inside info on Frannie's last secret newsletter: We stink.

Missouri by 24.

Illinois at Ohio State (-15): Home team played a schedule that makes KU's look tough.

And who gave the Buckeyes a free pass to the title game? ESPN.

Ohio State by 17.

Texas Tech at Texas (-6-1/2): All things considered, couple of dogs.

Texas by 4.

Florida (-6) at South Carolina: Has old bull coach lost it?

Florida by 4.

Sunday

Denver at Kansas City (-3): Bad. Really bad. Quadruple bad.

Booing should start before game.

KC by 6.

Minnesota at Green Bay (-6-1/2): Might try 10-1 defensive scheme on Peterson.

GB by 7.

Jacksonville at Tennessee (-3): Young's stats look like he was assisted off the field halfway through the second quarter: 4 for 14, 111 yards.

And a victory.

Tennessee by 10.

Dallas at the Giants (even): Nothing wrong with Dallas that four or five new defensive players couldn't fix.

Giants by 4.

Indy (-3) at San Diego: Norv Turner could be coaching for his job.

SD by 2.

Monday

San Francisco at Seattle (-10): Could violate network decency standards.

Seattle by 9.