Point guards gone in the Big 12....

[thebigabd]

The good news is no matter who OU brings in to run the point he won't be any more inexperienced than what everyone else will have.... Well, a few guys like Mike Dixon and BJ Holmes will be ready to have a starting role but they will have to adjust to that.

Donald Sloan (A&M) - All Conference Team
JT Tiller (Missouri) - Defensive Player of the Year
Sherron Collins (Kansas) - All Conference Team
TMG (OU) - All Conference Team
Denis Clemente (KSU) - All Conference Team
Tweety Carter (Baylor) - All Conference Team

The only teams with returning point guards are Tech (Roberson), ISU (Garrett), Texas (Balbay), OSU (Ray Penn / Fred Gulley), and Nebraska (Jeter). Colorado will have a new point guard this year too.

None of the returning guys are great players, and the only really good one is Roberson for Tech.

 

[gracefor24]

The good news is no matter who OU brings in to run the point he won't be any more inexperienced than what everyone else will have.... Well, a few guys like Mike Dixon and BJ Holmes will be ready to have a starting role but they will have to adjust to that.

Donald Sloan (A&M)
JT Tiller (Missouri)
Sherron Collins (Kansas)
TMG (OU)
Denis Clemente (KSU)
Tweety Carter (Baylor)

The only teams with returning point guards are Tech (Roberson), ISU (Garrett), Texas (Balbay), OSU (Ray Penn / Fred Gulley), and Nebraska (Jeter). Colorado will have a new point guard this year too.

None of the returning guys are great players, and the only really good one is Roberson for Tech.

Good point, and Roberson is really small and not a great defender. I would put J'Covan Brown in for UT rather than Balbay. He has a chance to be really good if he can find some consistency. I'm excited about seeing Elijah Johnson take over for KU.

The list of those leaving shows how tough the Big 12 was this year.

 

[Cheno]

Good post ABD. This will be a really crappy year at the PG position in the Big 12 after a great season this year.

I'm excited about seeing Elijah Johnson take over for KU.

I'll be more excited to see Josh Selby or Brandon Knight take over the point.

 

[Krugerfan52]

Tweety Carter, Sherron Collins and Clemente all gone should make for a down year in the Big 12 I think. They were HUGE reasons that those 3 teams had big years.

Not to mention how many other good players those 3 teams will lose.

 

[danbear45]

A&M will have their point guard back.

 

[MNsooner]

I think it is possible Roberson is the best PG in the big 12 next year. He has been really solid and underrated even.

 

[thebigabd]

I think it is possible Roberson is the best PG in the big 12 next year. He has been really solid and underrated even.

His team doesn't win enough and he has a reputation for not defending anyone. I think he is a good player and will be one of the leagues better point guards next year, but that has more to do with experience and scoring than anything else.

 

[HoHum]

I'll be interested to see how Penn does with him being a more important part of the offense.

Gulley is a good defender and always played hard, but man, he's the most offensively challenged guard I've ever seen. It will probably help having his minutes reduced as a defensive guy off the bench.

 

[gbyte]

I'll be interested to see how Penn does with him being a more important part of the offense.

Gulley is a good defender and always played hard, but man, he's the most offensively challenged guard I've ever seen. It will probably help having his minutes reduced as a defensive guy off the bench.

Since OSU used both freshman PGs this year they had them focus on learning how to run the team instead of relying to their scoring like they had back in high school. Gulley was able to score in high school (AR Gatorade POY 2x) but has always prided himself on being able to defend.

With the offseason and experience of running the team under both Penn / Gulley's belt I would think you will see them work up their offense during the offseason. Gulley seems to be able to slash to the hoop pretty well from the wing and Penn can definitely shoot it.

 

[oSuJeff97]

None of the returning guys are great players, and the only really good one is Roberson for Tech.

It certainly depends on what your definition of "great" is, but would say that Ray Penn's performance as a true freshman certainly means that he's someone to keep an eye on next year and beyond.

He came in and averaged 8 points per game with a 1.7 assist/turnover ratio.

He did a great job managing the team on the floor and even showed some flashes of his scoring potential (21 points on the road vs. Tulsa).

 

[luckyc1423]

It certainly depends on what your definition of "great" is, but would say that Ray Penn's performance as a true freshman certainly means that he's someone to keep an eye on next year and beyond.

He came in and averaged 8 points per game with a 1.7 assist/turnover ratio.

He did a great job managing the team on the floor and even showed some flashes of his scoring potential (21 points on the road vs. Tulsa).

I think Ray Penn is a very good pg to....I like his quickness alot and he can create alot of matchup problems
It all depends on how he is able to come back from the injury though...

 

[oSuJeff97]

I think Ray Penn is a very good pg to....I like his quickness alot and he can create alot of matchup problems
It all depends on how he is able to come back from the injury though...

Agreed.

 

[Romulus]

can't believe OU is in a position where they are looking at OSU and Penn with a bit of jealousy and a sense of whatcouldhavebeen

 

[DFWHoopster]

I don't share the view that the PGs in the big 12 will be terrible. Lots of good ones coming back/ waiting their turn.

Ranking the Big 12 point guards next year:

1. Pullen (K St)- will be their primary ball handler
2. Roberson (TT)- should have a big year especially with lots of frosh to school
3. Holmes (A&M)- solid
4. Dixon (MU)- good defender and scorer
5. Penn (OSU)- showed flashes of being great before injury
6. Garrett (ISU)- nothing spectacular but experienced and size is strength
7. Walton (Baylor)- give him nod over Johnson due to experience and Balbay because he shoots better
8. Balbay (UT)- like Gulley solid defender and ball handler but liability on offense
9. Johnson (KU)- lots of talent; likely to be good by season end.
10. Tomlinson (CU)- steady performer
11. Richardson (Neb)
12. Franklin (OU)

Obviously if OU signs a guy like Carter or another good PG prospect it will help. There could be some freshmen that impact. If KU signs Selby- he will be top 6. If UT signs Cory Joseph- I'm guessing he gets the starting assignment from day 1. Pressey at MU; Stargell Love at Baylor; Sharpe at Col all look to be impact players due to playing time opportunities.

 

[luckyc1423]

I don't share the view that the PGs in the big 12 will be terrible. Lots of good ones coming back/ waiting their turn.

Ranking the Big 12 point guards next year:

1. Pullen (K St)- will be their primary ball handler
2. Roberson (TT)- should have a big year especially with lots of frosh to school
3. Holmes (A&M)- solid
4. Dixon (MU)- good defender and scorer
5. Penn (OSU)- showed flashes of being great before injury
6. Garrett (ISU)- nothing spectacular but experienced and size is strength
7. Walton (Baylor)- give him nod over Johnson due to experience and Balbay because he shoots better
8. Balbay (UT)- like Gulley solid defender and ball handler but liability on offense
9. Johnson (KU)- lots of talent; likely to be good by season end.
10. Tomlinson (CU)- steady performer
11. Richardson (Neb)
12. Franklin (OU)

Obviously if OU signs a guy like Carter or another good PG prospect it will help. There could be some freshmen that impact. If KU signs Selby- he will be top 6. If UT signs Cory Joseph- I'm guessing he gets the starting assignment from day 1. Pressey at MU; Stargell Love at Baylor; Sharpe at Col all look to be impact players due to playing time opportunities.

I am sorry but if he is in the top 3 in terms of pg play then yes the big 12 will not have very many good pg's this coming year...he is a shooter not a floor leader

 

[boksooner]

I am sorry but if he is in the top 3 in terms of pg play then yes the big 12 will not have very many good pg's this coming year...he is a shooter not a floor leader

That depends entirely on how you define pgs. A scoring point guard can be a valuable player.

 

[NickZepp]

I think if Willie is back, he can be solid at the point. A lot of the problem with him this year was that he and TMG couldn't play well together.

 

[gracefor24]

Garrett from ISU is terrible. Again, I think Brown from UT will handle the ball plenty and should be in the Top 5.

 

[campbest]

Garrett from ISU is terrible.

+1

 

[luckyc1423]

With this list..if WW comes back and plays even decent at the point there is first team big 12 honors at the pg position just waiting to be grabbed!!