Thanks a lot, Kansas State. Damn near had a perfect day of picks if it hadn't been for the Wildcats' loss to Colorado. That's three losses to the Buffs this season, and I should have seen it coming after the previous two losses. (As the ticket scalper sitting next to me during the Iowa State-Colorado game said, after seeing Grandview, Missouri's favorite son Alec Burks in person: "He's cold. He's smooth.") Burks dropped 24 points on the 'Cats, and he's definitely a lottery pick. No doubt about it.
My bad feelings about Missouri were right. The Tigers got worked over by Texas A&M. Going into the semifinals, I'm 5-3. I'm not feeling any shockers, either. Here are my picks for the final two rounds of the Big 12 basketball tournament:
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 5 Colorado: As I mentioned before, Burks is deadly. He's tearing up the tourney, but all good things have to come to an end. Kansas got a wake-up call versus Oklahoma State. The Buffs and Burks will put up a fight, but the Jayhawks will send them packing back to Boulder. KU.
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 3 Texas A&M: Texas has brutalized A&M twice this season. But A&M ravaged Missouri last night. I can't remember that game ever being in doubt. The Longhorns are prone to losing when they should (versus K-State, Nebraska, Colorado, etc.). I have a strong feeling, though, that the Horns are going over in the late game, setting up a rematch with the Jayhawks.
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Texas: Jayhawk fans haven't forgotten the 74-63 loss to the Longhorns in Lawrence. But this is tourney time ... in Kansas City. It'll be close again, but KU takes the title behind the Morris twins and gets a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
