Dean's Blog: A Day That Will Live In Big 12 Infamy

Checking in from the media workroom in Columbus, the day before the Sooners try to save face for the Big 12 conference, which couldn't have done any worse on Day 1 of the NCAAs if they'd tried. If OU or Kansas doesn't do something really nice, the league should consider a motto change: No True Champion!

-The Sooners said the right things in their press conference about the pitiful 0-3 Big 12 start, including No. 3 seeds Iowa State and Baylor going down. Ryan Spangler said, “It helps us. It shows us that anybody can beat anybody with it comes to March. And we'll be thinking about those two losses tonight and see where they went wrong and try not to let it happen to us tomorrow and make sure we come out with fire and ready to play.”

-Albany's leading scorer Sam Rowley said this about the Big 12 losses: “We are aware. We were watching the games. You know it gives us a little bit of motivation, a little bit of excitement. You know it can happen. You know it does happen.”

-Lon Kruger gave a quick answer when asked about the chance to become the first coach to win NCAA games at five schools. Humble, yes. But Kruger also sees no reason to dwell on one of the only negatives on his resume. He's lost more tournament games than he he's won and he has not won an NCAA game at OU. That should change tomorrow.

-My bracket took a tumble today. I had ISU winning until the Dukies were going to take them out. And I feel less than enthused with my Notre Dame pick to take down Kentucky after watching them survive a day when three seeds would've gone 0-fer.

-Lastly, I'll kick a man while he's down. SMU was upset by UCLA on a controversial call. Tough break for Larry Brown, who sort of deserves it after his ludicrous statement that Kentucky could make the NBA playoffs. How dumb is this?

Hasta luego, DB.