The Big Twelve Conference had a solid showing in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft, with seven players taken in the initial thirty-two picks.

The St. Louis Rams took Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith with the second pick. A 6′ 5″, 309 pound converted tight end, Smith was the first non-special teams All American for Baylor since 1995.

Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree was picked tenth by the San Francisco 49ers. Crabtree is easily the most talented receiver in this years draft, but dropped quite a few spots due to concerns over his attitude and resilience.

The Texas Longhorns closed out their spring training schedule with the annual scrimmage Sunday afternoon. What started humbly with just a handful of die-hard fans is beginning to resemble the full game-day experience (if only vaguely). It included the team running in and most of the supporting organizations, (the Longhorn Band, cheerleaders, and pom squad).

I’ve got a good friend names Steve. After growing up in San Antonio, he went to school at Duke. He’s a calm, quiet-spoken fellow, until you get him talking about Duke basketball.

He instantly turns into a rapid Duke fan. It must be something they put in the water there.

Texas overcame a ten point first half deficit to run away from Minnesota and win 76-62. While a fairly solid performance top to bottom by Texas, the star of the night was without question A.J. Abrams, who scored 26 points, including eight from behind the arc.

Big Dexter Pittman continued his surge with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Damion James recorded 18 points and nine rebounds.

With the tip-off of Texas’s first round match up against Minnesota about a day away, here are some links to previews of the game.

With the loss by Baylor in the Big 12 Championship game Saturday, Texas should be on the correct side of the bubble for the NCAA playoffs. The Longhorns should be the fifth or sixth team taken from the conference.

Given some luck, we’ll get a #6 seed, although I suspect a #7 is more likely. The pessimist in me worries that we’re looking at a #8 or #9.

Alliteration in the title means it’s an extra fine blog post, right?

Baylor’s upset victory over Texas Friday night extends an impressive run in the Big 12 Tournament. With one more win over Missouri in the final Saturday, they gain an automatic bid into the Big Dance.

Last night’s home game against the Oklahoma Sooners was one of the greatest in the Rick Barnes era. I hate to say it, but OU is a great team, and will likely make a deep run in the playoffs.

But Texas dug deep and was the better team on Saturday.

The University of Texas basketball team is in an unusual place this February. They are on the cusp of not making the NCAA playoffs. Although they most recently blew Oklahoma State off the court, they had lost the previous three before that. The loses came to Kansas State, Missouri and Nebraska. Not exactly powerhouses.

Rick Barnes’ teams have made it into March Madness in each of his ten seasons at Texas. They haven’t been this solidly on the bubble in some time.

Texas Tech and Texas announced today that their game next season has been moved to September 19th. ABC wants to show this game at prime time, but needed the game move to accommodate their schedule.

Said Texas head coach Mack Brown:

I really am excited about it. It’ll be good to be playing on primetime in September when there are not as many national games that people like to look at.