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2011 All-College Classic has interesting story line
BY JOHN HELSLEY, Staff Writer, jhelsley@opubco.com Oklahoman 0 Published: June 6, 2011
The matchups for the 2011 All-College Classic offer intrigue.
Yet the matchups might be secondary to the coaching story lines for the 76th annual event, set for Dec. 17 at the Oklahoma City Arena. Tickets go on sale to the public Oct. 15.
Steve Alford has successfully reestablished the Lobos as a winner, with four straight 20-win seasons and postseason appearances in Albuquerque.
James ****ey, Eddie Sutton's former assistant at OSU and a former head coach at Texas Tech, prepares for his second season of a rebuild at Houston.
“We're very excited,” said All Sports Association executive director Tim Brassfield. “Anytime we can bring in teams with a coaching pedigree that these two have, it's exciting.”
Of course, Lon Kruger readies for his first season with the Sooners. And Travis Ford finally figures to trot out the frenetic pace everyone expected when he was hired to lead the Cowboys some three years ago.
“We think we've got a really good field in place,” Brassfield said, “with four good programs and four good coaches.”
OSU-New Mexico figures to be the marquee game for ESPN's prime time broadcast, with both teams coming off NIT appearances and expecting improvement.
The Lobos went 22-13 last season, losing to Alabama in the NIT following a first-round win over UTEP. New Mexico returns 10 players, plus three freshman and an Arizona State transfer. The Lobos also return both the Newcomer of the Year and the Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West.
OSU, which also advanced to the second round of the NIT, finished 20-14 a year ago. Ford has overhauled his roster, highlighted by the signings of prep stars LeBryan Nash and Cezar Guerrero.
In his four seasons at UNM, Alford is 98-39.
“Coach Alford has done a great job out there,” Brassfield said. “We're looking forward to a great matchup, a great regional matchup.”
The Sooners and Cougars clash in a pairing of rebuilding programs.
****ey has a head start, after a 12-18 debut. He'll return just four players, although three are starters. Eight newcomers are being counted on to jolt the roster and the outlook.
Among the coaches involved, ****ey is the All-College veteran, by virtue of his days on Sutton's staff.
“We are excited about the honor and opportunity to participate in the historic All-College Basketball Classic,” ****ey said. “ESPN and the Oklahoma All Sports Association do a wonderful job with the teams.
“Playing the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City will be a tremendous challenge for our young team.”
OU looks to Kruger to pick up the pieces from the failed final two years of the Jeff Capel era, with a roster that features a mix of veterans and new faces. The Sooners went 14-18 a year ago.
Read more: http://newsok.com/2011-all-college-classic-has-interesting-story-line/article/3574813#ixzz1OaEnORUp
BY JOHN HELSLEY, Staff Writer, jhelsley@opubco.com Oklahoman 0 Published: June 6, 2011
The matchups for the 2011 All-College Classic offer intrigue.
Yet the matchups might be secondary to the coaching story lines for the 76th annual event, set for Dec. 17 at the Oklahoma City Arena. Tickets go on sale to the public Oct. 15.
Steve Alford has successfully reestablished the Lobos as a winner, with four straight 20-win seasons and postseason appearances in Albuquerque.
James ****ey, Eddie Sutton's former assistant at OSU and a former head coach at Texas Tech, prepares for his second season of a rebuild at Houston.
“We're very excited,” said All Sports Association executive director Tim Brassfield. “Anytime we can bring in teams with a coaching pedigree that these two have, it's exciting.”
Of course, Lon Kruger readies for his first season with the Sooners. And Travis Ford finally figures to trot out the frenetic pace everyone expected when he was hired to lead the Cowboys some three years ago.
“We think we've got a really good field in place,” Brassfield said, “with four good programs and four good coaches.”
OSU-New Mexico figures to be the marquee game for ESPN's prime time broadcast, with both teams coming off NIT appearances and expecting improvement.
The Lobos went 22-13 last season, losing to Alabama in the NIT following a first-round win over UTEP. New Mexico returns 10 players, plus three freshman and an Arizona State transfer. The Lobos also return both the Newcomer of the Year and the Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West.
OSU, which also advanced to the second round of the NIT, finished 20-14 a year ago. Ford has overhauled his roster, highlighted by the signings of prep stars LeBryan Nash and Cezar Guerrero.
In his four seasons at UNM, Alford is 98-39.
“Coach Alford has done a great job out there,” Brassfield said. “We're looking forward to a great matchup, a great regional matchup.”
The Sooners and Cougars clash in a pairing of rebuilding programs.
****ey has a head start, after a 12-18 debut. He'll return just four players, although three are starters. Eight newcomers are being counted on to jolt the roster and the outlook.
Among the coaches involved, ****ey is the All-College veteran, by virtue of his days on Sutton's staff.
“We are excited about the honor and opportunity to participate in the historic All-College Basketball Classic,” ****ey said. “ESPN and the Oklahoma All Sports Association do a wonderful job with the teams.
“Playing the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City will be a tremendous challenge for our young team.”
OU looks to Kruger to pick up the pieces from the failed final two years of the Jeff Capel era, with a roster that features a mix of veterans and new faces. The Sooners went 14-18 a year ago.
Read more: http://newsok.com/2011-all-college-classic-has-interesting-story-line/article/3574813#ixzz1OaEnORUp
