Injured Texas A&M starters Khris Middleton and Dash Harris will not play basketball tonight against the Longhorns in College Station, Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said. Middleton has missed the last four games with a knee injury. Harris has missed
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Aggie starters still missing
Filed under Basketball, News by on Feb 6th, 2012. Comment. 
1. WOULD BROWN, BERGERON REBOOT THE RUN GAME? No. The injuries to Texas’ top three tailbacks caused the running game to fall from the Big 12’s best to the Big 12’s third-best over the final four games, and even though they returned Wednesday, they combined for 44 yards on 16 carries.
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Texas vs. Cal: Five questions answered
Filed under News by on Dec 29th, 2011. Comment.
Living life blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back is no fun. Ask Texas’ offense. Already struggling at quarterback, it played the final four games with its top offensive weapons out of the lineup or in it while battling injuries. Running back Fozzy Whittaker tore his ACL on an ugly play at Missouri with the team’s leading rusher, freshman Malcolm Brown, already out with turf toe. Fellow freshman Joe Bergeron rumbled for 327 yards in wins over Texas Tech and Kansas, but managed just nine more carries the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
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Texas fights to move forward after injuries
Filed under Football by on Dec 16th, 2011. Comment.
The 2010 season wasn’t a great one for Big Ten running backs. The league’s best running back played quarterback (Michigan’s Denard Robinson ). Illinois’ Mikel Leshoure flew under the radar but was a nationally elite back in every sense of the word. But after those two, meh. The league boasted some solid backs — Edwin Baker , James White , Dan Herron , Adam Robinson, John Clay — but no one you had to watch every time he took the field. The Big Ten’s real star power could be found on the defensive line, as five players went on to become first round picks in the NFL draft. This season, it’s all about the running backs in the Big Ten. The league boasts four players averaging more than 105 rush yards per game, all of whom rank among the nation’s top 21 rushers. No other league has more backs in the top 25 nationally than the Big Ten. So who’s the Big Ten’s best running back in 2011? It’s already one of the more spirited debates around the conference. Let’s meet the candidates (in alphabetical order): Wisconsin junior Montee Ball Nebraska junior Rex Burkhead Iowa sophomore Marcus Coker Penn State sophomore Silas Redd Now let’s take a closer look at each player and how they stack up.
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The great debate: Big Ten’s best RB
Filed under Football by on Nov 9th, 2011. Comment.
It only took one sentence to make a frustrating season that much worse for Texas A&M. “Michael tore his ACL,” coach Mike Sherman told reporters on Monday regarding junior running back Christine Michael . The beefed up, mean Michael ranked fourth in the Big 12 in rushing despite being second on his own team in carries. His 899 rushing yards looked like the buildup to his first 1,000-yard season after a broken leg cut short last year’s promising season. Among the 15 Big 12 running backs with at least 100 carries, Michael was one of only four to average at least six yards a carry. Just like last season , Michael will have to sit on the sidelines while his team tries to dig itself out of an early season hole. “He’s handled it quite well actually,” Sherman said. “It’s certainly a disappointment to him and to us. He’s in a positive state of mind, at least he was last time I saw him; it’s just part of the game.” Now, part of the game for Texas A&M is relying on last season’s hero, who Michael had surpassed as the Aggies’ lead dog in the backfield. Cyrus Gray topped 100 yards in nine consecutive games from the end of last year to the beginning of this season. Texas A&M went 8-1 in those games and Gray reached the end zone 14 times in that stretch. “He’s going to have to do it again this year,” Sherman said. Gray has failed to top 60 yards rushing in three of his past four games, though he’s become a bigger threat in the passing game, catching 15 passes in the last three games. His only two touchdowns in the last four games have come on receptions. Now, he’ll be responsible for a much heavier load. Just twice since September has Gray been relied on for more than 20 carries. During his run without Michael last year, he had 20 carries in each of the final five games. “He, like all of us, is disappointed that Michael is out, but I think he plays better when he gets more carries in the game and tries to find his niche in the ball game,” Sherman said. “Hopefully that will help us move forward.” It better. So much was on the line for Texas A&M entering this season, with the SEC waiting with open arms at season’s end. At 5-4, the Aggies have been reduced to something of a punch line, a team chronically prone to second-half meltdowns. This, despite opening the season in the top 10 as a Big 12 contender. If that trend’s to change, it’s up to Gray. Just like last year.
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Texas A&M in unfortunate, familiar spot
Filed under Football by on Nov 8th, 2011. Comment.
It only took one sentence to make a frustrating season that much worse for Texas A&M. “Michael tore his ACL,” coach Mike Sherman told reporters on Monday regarding junior running back Christine Michael . The beefed up, mean Michael ranked fourth in the Big 12 in rushing despite being second on his own team in carries. His 899 rushing yards looked like the buildup to his first 1,000-yard season after a broken leg cut short last year’s promising season. Among the 15 Big 12 running backs with at least 100 carries, Michael was one of only four to average at least six yards a carry. Just like last season , Michael will have to sit on the sidelines while his team tries to dig itself out of an early season hole. “He’s handled it quite well actually,” Sherman said. “It’s certainly a disappointment to him and to us. He’s in a positive state of mind, at least he was last time I saw him; it’s just part of the game.” Now, part of the game for Texas A&M is relying on last season’s hero, who Michael had surpassed as the Aggies’ lead dog in the backfield. Cyrus Gray topped 100 yards in nine consecutive games from the end of last year to the beginning of this season. Texas A&M went 8-1 in those games and Gray reached the end zone 14 times in that stretch. “He’s going to have to do it again this year,” Sherman said. Gray has failed to top 60 yards rushing in three of his past four games, though he’s become a bigger threat in the passing game, catching 15 passes in the last three games. His only two touchdowns in the last four games have come on receptions. Now, he’ll be responsible for a much heavier load. Just twice since September has Gray been relied on for more than 20 carries. During his run without Michael last year, he had 20 carries in each of the final five games. “He, like all of us, is disappointed that Michael is out, but I think he plays better when he gets more carries in the game and tries to find his niche in the ball game,” Sherman said. “Hopefully that will help us move forward.” It better.
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Texas A&M in unfortunate, familiar spot
Filed under Football by on Nov 8th, 2011. Comment.
It only took one sentence to make a frustrating season that much worse for Texas A&M. “Michael tore his ACL,” coach Mike Sherman told reporters on Monday regarding junior running back Christine Michael . The beefed up, mean Michael ranked fourth in the Big 12 in rushing despite being second on his own team in carries. His 899 rushing yards looked like the buildup to his first 1,000-yard season after a broken leg cut short last year’s promising season. Among the 15 Big 12 running backs with at least 100 carries, Michael was one of only four to average at least six yards a carry. Just like last season , Michael will have to sit on the sidelines while his team tries to dig itself out of an early season hole. “He’s handled it quite well actually,” Sherman said. “It’s certainly a disappointment to him and to us. He’s in a positive state of mind, at least he was last time I saw him; it’s just part of the game.” Now, part of the game for Texas A&M is relying on last season’s hero, who Michael had surpassed as the Aggies’ lead dog in the backfield. Cyrus Gray topped 100 yards in nine consecutive games from the end of last year to the beginning of this season. Texas A&M went 8-1 in those games and Gray reached the end zone 14 times in that stretch. “He’s going to have to do it again this year,” Sherman said. Gray has failed to top 60 yards rushing in three of his past four games, though he’s become a bigger threat in the passing game, catching 15 passes in the last three games. His only two touchdowns in the last four games have come on receptions. Now, he’ll be responsible for a much heavier load. Just twice since September has Gray been relied on for more than 20 carries. During his run without Michael last year, he had 20 carries in each of the final five games. “He, like all of us, is disappointed that Michael is out, but I think he plays better when he gets more carries in the game and tries to find his niche in the ball game,” Sherman said. “Hopefully that will help us move forward.” It better. So much was on the line for Texas A&M entering this season, with the SEC waiting with open arms at season’s end. At 5-4, the Aggies have been reduced to something of a punch line, a team chronically prone to second-half meltdowns. This, despite opening the season in the top 10 as a Big 12 contender. If that trend’s to change, it’s up to Gray. Just like last year.
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Texas A&M in unfortunate, familiar spot
Filed under Football by on Nov 8th, 2011. Comment.
It only took one sentence to make a frustrating season that much worse for Texas A&M. “Michael tore his ACL,” coach Mike Sherman told reporters on Monday regarding junior running back Christine Michael . The beefed up, mean Michael ranked fourth in the Big 12 in rushing despite being second on his own team in carries. His 899 rushing yards looked like the buildup to his first 1,000-yard season after a broken leg cut short last year’s promising season. Among the 15 Big 12 running backs with at least 100 carries, Michael was one of only four to average at least six yards a carry. Just like last season , Michael will have to sit on the sidelines while his team tries to dig itself out of an early season hole. “He’s handled it quite well actually,” Sherman said. “It’s certainly a disappointment to him and to us. He’s in a positive state of mind, at least he was last time I saw him; it’s just part of the game.” Now, part of the game for Texas A&M is relying on last season’s hero, who Michael had surpassed as the Aggies’ lead dog in the backfield. Cyrus Gray topped 100 yards in nine consecutive games from the end of last year to the beginning of this season. Texas A&M went 8-1 in those games and Gray reached the end zone 14 times in that stretch. “He’s going to have to do it again this year,” Sherman said. Gray has failed to top 60 yards rushing in three of his past four games, though he’s become a bigger threat in the passing game, catching 15 passes in the last three games. His only two touchdowns in the last four games have come on receptions. Now, he’ll be responsible for a much heavier load. Just twice since September has Gray been relied on for more than 20 carries. During his run without Michael last year, he had 20 carries in each of the final five games. “He, like all of us, is disappointed that Michael is out, but I think he plays better when he gets more carries in the game and tries to find his niche in the ball game,” Sherman said. “Hopefully that will help us move forward.” It better. So much was on the line for Texas A&M entering this season, with the SEC waiting with open arms at season’s end. At 5-4, the Aggies have been reduced to something of a punch line, a team chronically prone to second-half meltdowns. This, despite opening the season in the top 10 as a Big 12 contender. If that trend’s to change, it’s up to Gray. Just like last year.
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Texas A&M in unfortunate, familiar spot
Filed under Football by on Nov 8th, 2011. Comment.
Dana O’Neil wrote about the top 25 things she’s looking forward to this season. Now the rest of our experts weigh in with their selections. Stephen Bardo : I’m looking forward to seeing if the trend of mid-major teams advancing deep into the NCAA tournament continues. We’ve seen Butler, VCU, and George Mason crash the Final Four in recent seasons. This season should have more mid-majors capable of surprise runs, including Belmont, Creighton, Drexel, Fairfield, Harvard and Wichita State. Jay Bilas : The Big East tournament in Madison Square Garden. This could be the last season of the Big East as, hands down, the best conference in the country. Before West Virginia, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and perhaps others bolt the league, the last Big East tourney with all of the participants will bring great drama — and some tears. Things change, but I will miss the Big East tournament. Eamonn Brennan : The upheaval in the Big Ten. We know Ohio State is the league’s best team, and you can bank on Jordan Taylor and the ever-steady Wisconsin Badgers pushing the Buckeyes at the top of the conference. But after those two, the league is more unpredictable than any time in recent memory. Will Michigan State bounce back? Will a retooled Illinois team emerge? Can Indiana fight out of the cellar? Will Northwestern finally make the tournament? Where’s Michigan’s ceiling? Can an experienced Nebraska team make an impact? The search for answers to those questions — and many more — begins this week. Fran Fraschilla : Madison Square Garden in March. Sadly, I am looking forward to watching the final Big East tournament as I’ve known it. Regardless of how conference realignment turns out, there will never be another 30-year period in a college basketball conference like we’ve seen in the Big East. UConn’s five-day run through the tournament last March was emblematic of the type of excitement we expected in New York. From Ewing to Mullin to Pearl to Ray Allen to Gerry and Kemba, it’s never going to be the same. John Gasaway : The last (real) Big East tournament. I’m as realistic and progressive as the next guy. I don’t fear change, and there’s no doubt in my mind the ACC will be a much better basketball conference once Syracuse and Pitt join it next season. But for the past couple of decades, the Big East tournament has had something that — to be quite honest — no other major-conference tournament has had. And with the league losing programs like Syracuse and Pitt (and West Virginia to the Big 12), that “something” is about to disappear. But not before we enjoy one last good old-fashioned Big East tournament, March 6-10, at the Garden. It’s as if someone said this will be the last season we play football on Thanksgiving. I’ll see you at the Garden in March. Doug Gottlieb : Legit big men in the college game. Having a wealth of young and experienced big men make the games more balanced and better to watch. Jared Sullinger , Tyler Zeller , Joshua Smith , the Plumlee brothers, Thomas Robinson , Quincy Acy , Harper Kamp , Aziz N’Diaye , Derrick Nix , Alex Oriakhi and Festus Ezeli are just a few names you will hear about this season. With overall point guard play being down — in terms of transcendent lead guards — the focus on size and improving skill will be refreshing. Add to that list, several new talents like Anthony Davis , Cody Zeller and even Andre Drummond , all of whom are very confident and maybe more comfortable on the floor, the intrigue grows. The closer we get to conference play and postseason play, the games generally slow down and become half-court affairs. Expect these big men to become huge storylines this season. Andy Katz : How does North Carolina handle the expectation of being No. 1? Will Kentucky be able to mesh a talented roster yet again with a new point guard? What are the chances Connecticut can repeat behind the newcomer Drummond? Will this finally be the season that Xavier or Gonzaga break through to the Final Four? But more than anything, I’m looking forward to seeing how Creighton, New Mexico, Wichita State, Drexel, Detroit and others develop over the course of the season. We’ve been spoiled with Butler and VCU in March. Can we possibly get another sleeper in 2012? Jason King : Conference races. North Carolina seems like a shoo-in to win the ACC, but the other Big Six leagues are intriguing. Kentucky, Vanderbilt or Florida in the SEC
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What the experts are looking forward to
Filed under Basketball, Football by on Nov 7th, 2011. Comment.
The emails began streaming in minutes after Minnesota players paraded the Floyd of Rosedale around TCF Bank Stadium for the second consecutive year. “Time for Ferentz to go,” wrote Andrew from Iowa City. “Is there any possibility that Iowa hires Mike Stoops as the DC?” wrote Adam from Ohio, echoing an increasingly popular sentiment. The angst even grew on other side of the world, as Aditya from Bangalore, India, wrote: “Its part of the Ferentz cycle. Underachieve a few years, get off the radar, then over achieve for a couple years. When everyone assumes we will be good, drop back down to average again, rinse, and repeat. It happened after ‘04 and ‘09, or so it seems. I’m dumbfounded.” It’s hardly unusual for a fan base to criticize the coaching staff after a shocking loss — and to any Iowa fan, Saturday’s loss to Minnesota qualified as a shocker. Typically, my first response to these emails is to take a deep breath. Iowa has been a solid to very good program during Kirk Ferentz’s tenure as coach, reaching nine bowls and winning eight or more games six times. There are some inherent obstacles Iowa faces, particularly in recruiting, but Ferentz and his staff have consistently taken unheralded recruits and walk-ons and transformed them into NFL players. What is Iowa football? A good program that sometimes has great seasons. But it’s also a program that loses far too often to teams that, in most years, it should beat. Whether it’s Iowa State, Northwestern or, more recently, Minnesota, Ferentz’s Hawkeyes seem to struggle against certain opponents. Aditya is right. It’s dumbfounding. Does Iowa simply play to the level of its competition? Or, is this program simply not at a point that it can reload and take care of business year after year? Until this season, Iowa had tormented Penn State. The Hawkeyes also have fared well against most of the upper-tier Big Ten teams, other than Ohio State. But just when the program seems to be turning a corner and becoming a power, seasons like 2005 and 2010 happen. Iowa seems to be sending mixed messages to its fans. It pays Ferentz handsomely, putting him among the top earners in college football. I’ve supported this decision , as I believe a big step toward becoming a big-time program is paying your coach a big-time salary
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Erratic Iowa sends mixed messages to fans
Filed under Football by on Nov 1st, 2011. Comment.
