College Confidential

Baylor guard Rose to transfer to another school #Baylor

Baylor guard L.J. Rose, a freshman guard on last year’s men’s basketball team that won the NIT championship, will transfer to another school, Bears coach Scott Drew announced today. Rose averaged 0.9 points and 1.2 assists per game in his lone season at Baylor. Rose did not announce a future destination. Rose’s departure leaves Baylor with six returning lettermen from last year’s 23-14 team, plus a five-member signing class.

_ Jimmy Burch

Kentucky, Kansas given best odds to win 2014 NCAA men's BKB title in Cowboys Stadium #kentucky, #kansas

With the recent addition of Andrew Wiggins, one of the nation’s top-ranked high school recruits, Kansas joins Kentucky among the early favorites to win the 2014 NCAA men’s basketball championship, based on odds released today by Bovada Sports Book (www.bovada.lv).

Based on today’s odds posted by the website, the primary teams to track as likely participants in the 2014 Final Four, to be held April 5-7, 2014 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, will be Kentucky (5/1 title odds), Kansas (11/2), Louisville (17/2) and Michigan State (12/1).

Louisville won last month’s 2013 title in Atlanta, defeating Michigan, 82-76, in the championship game.
Among Texas-based colleges, the teams with the best 2014 NCAA title odds are Baylor (50/1), Texas (100-1) and Texas A&M (200-1). Odds for other projected frontrunners in next year’s Big 12 race include Oklahoma State (50-1), Iowa State (100-1), Kansas State (100-1) and Oklahoma (200-1).

Below is a look at all teams that were giving individual odds to win the 2014 NCAA men’s basketball championship, which will be settled in Arlington:

2013-14 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Odds to Win    
Kentucky                              5/1
Kansas                                 11/2
Louisville                              17/2
Michigan State              12/1
Duke                            14/1
Arizona                                 15/1
North Carolina                    16/1
Florida                                  18/1
Ohio State                    20/1
Syracuse                              25/1
Connecticut                         33/1
Indiana                                  33/1
Memphis                              33/1
Michigan                              33/1
Colorado                              40/1
UCLA                            40/1
Baylor                           50/1
Creighton                      50/1
Georgetown                        50/1
Gonzaga                       50/1
Iowa                                       50/1
Marquette                            50/1
Missouri                               50/1
NC State                       50/1
New Mexico                        50/1
Oklahoma State            50/1
Pittsburgh                            50/1
St. Louis                              50/1
VCU                             50/1
Wisconsin                            50/1
Butler                                     66/1
Illinois                                    66/1
Minnesota                            66/1
St. John's                     66/1
Tennessee                           66/1
UNLV                            66/1
Villanova                       66/1
Virginia                                 66/1
Wichita State                 66/1
Florida State                 75/1
Notre Dame                  75/1
Alabama                               100/1
Arizona State                100/1
BYU                             100/1
California                             100/1
Cincinnati                             100/1
Iowa State                     100/1
Kansas State                100/1
Miami Florida                     100/1
Ole Miss                       100/1
Oregon                                 100/1
Purdue                          100/1
San Diego State            100/1
Stanford                       100/1
Texas                                    100/1
Vanderbilt                     100/1
West Virginia                      100/1
Arkansas                              150/1
Boise State                   150/1
Colorado State              150/1
Dayton                                  150/1
St. Mary's                     150/1
Temple                                  150/1
USC                             150/1
LSU                              150/1
Georgia                                200/1
Georgia Tech                200/1
Harvard                         200/1
Maryland                              200/1
Oklahoma                            200/1
Texas A&M                   200/1
Washington                         200/1
Washington State          200/1
Xavier                           200/1
Clemson                       250/1
Davidson                      250/1
South Carolina                   250/1
St. Joe's                       250/1
Virginia Tech                 250/1
Wake Forest                       250/1
Boston College                 500/1
Northwestern                 500/1
Mississippi State           500/1
 
Andrew Wiggins - Will he be selected #1 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft?   
Yes                   -300     (1/3)    
No                    +200     (2/1)
 
Andrew Wiggins - Average PPG in the 2013-14 NCAA Basketball Season?
Over/Under                   18
 
_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor BKB guard Bello to transfer to another school

Baylor guard Deuce Bello, a key reserve for the Bears’ men’s basketball team the past two seasons, had decided to transfer another school, coach Scott Drew announced today. Bello, an athletic defender, averaged 2.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game during his two seasons at Baylor. Bello, who has two years of eligibility remaining, played in 66 games at Baylor and Drew said the Bears “wouldn’t have been able to make it to the Elite Eight in 2012 or win this year’s NIT championship” without Bello’s contributions off the bench.

Bello did not mention where he plans to transfer.

_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor adds Freeman, former UCLA signee, to its men's BKB recruiting class #Baylor

Baylor added Al Freeman, a heralded 6-foot-4 guard who originally signed with UCLA in November, to its men’s basketball recruiting class today.

Freeman, who led Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev. to a 35-1 record last season, was granted a release from his letter of intent with UCLA after the Bruins changed coaches in March. He opted today to join a five-member Baylor class that is ranked No. 13 nationally by ESPN.com and No. 15 by 247Sports.com.

Baylor coach Scott Drew said Freeman, ranked as the nation’s No. 15 guard recruit by Scout.com, is “a very versatile player who can do a lot of things well” as both a scorer and defender. He joins Kenny Cherry, a point guard who excelled in the junior college ranks, as the primary backcourt members of the Bears’ signing class.

Baylor return three starters from last year’s 23-14 team that won the NIT Championship, including two All-Big 12 players in the frontcourt: forward Cory Jefferson and center Isaiah Austin, an Arlington Grace Prep graduate.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas, Texas Tech, TCU and Baylor add Thursday games to 2013 FB schedules #UT, #Tech, #TCU, #Baylor

Four Big 12 football teams will have Thursday night games, arranged for national telecasts, on their 2013 schedules: Texas, Texas Tech, TCU and Baylor.

Texas and Texas Tech will play in two of the four Thursday games, including a Thanksgiving night matchup in Austin, league officials announced today. TCU and Baylor will have one game each.

The Thursday night telecasts, with times and networks to be announced later, include Texas at Iowa State (Oct. 3), TCU at Texas Tech (Sept. 12), Oklahoma at Baylor (Nov. 7) and Texas Tech at Texas on Thanksgiving night (Nov. 28).

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas, Texas Tech draw two Thursday FB telecasts, including T'givng night; TCU, Baylor get one #UT, #TCU, #Tech, #Baylor

Texas and Texas Tech will play in two of four Thursday night football games to be played by Big 12 teams during the 2013 season, including a Thanksgiving night matchup in Austin, league officials announced today.

The Thursday night telecasts, with times and networks to be announced later, include Texas at Iowa State (Oct. 3), TCU at Texas Tech (Sept. 12), Oklahoma at Baylor (Nov. 7) and Texas Tech at Texas on Thanksgiving night (Nov. 28).

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Spring football drills open Thursday at Texas; fellow Big 12 members TCU, Baylor begin March 1

Texas will open its spring football drills Thursday in Austin, just 15 days after adding its latest crop of recruits on National Signing Day. And the remainder of Big 12 schools will not be far behind the Longhorns in returning to the field for workouts.

Baylor and TCU begin spring football drills on March 1, with Oklahoma (March 6), Oklahoma State (March 11) and Texas Tech (March 24) opening later in the month. Texas will close its spring drills on Saturday, March 30 with its Orange-White Game in Austin (6:30 p.m., Longhorn Network).

Below is a look at the spring football schedules for league teams:  

 
Big 12 spring football dates
Baylor: March 1 start, spring game April 6
Iowa State: March 26 start, spring game April 20
Kansas: March 5 start, spring game April 13
Kansas State: April 3 start, spring game April 27
Oklahoma: March 6 start, spring game April 13
Oklahoma State: March 11 start, spring game April 20
TCU: March 1 start, spring game TBA
Texas: Thursday start, spring game March 30
Texas Tech: March 24 start, spring game April 20
West Virginia: March 10 start, spring game April 20

NOTE: Dates are subject to change.

_ Jimmy Burch 

No. 5 Florida installed as slight favorite to win 2013 NCAA Tournament by oddsmaker

Florida, the No. 5 team in this week’s Associated Press poll of men’s college basketball teams, did not earn a single first-place vote from participating panelists. But the Gators (21-3, 11-1 in SEC) have been installed as the favorite to win the 2013 NCAA Tournament, based on odds released today by Bovada Sports Book (www.Bovada.lv).

Florida, which plays tonight at Missouri (18-7, 7-5) received 5/1 odds to win the national title among a very balanced group of favorites. Other teams given the best odds of cutting down the nets in Atlanta, listed with this week’s AP poll ranking, include No. 1 Indiana (11/2), No. 2 Miami (11/2), No. 7 Michigan (15/2), No. 6 Duke (9/1), No. 4 Michigan State (10/1), No. 3 Gonzaga (12/1), No. 10 Louisville (12/1) and No. 9 Kansas (14/1). All other teams received odds of at least 20/1.

Odds given to other Big 12 schools include No. 14 Oklahoma State (50/1), No. 13Kansas State (60/1), Baylor (150/1), Oklahoma (200/1) and Iowa State (200/1).

Below is a breakdown of schools that received individual odds to win the 2013 NCAA Tournament:

Odds to win the 2012-2013 Men's NCAA Basketball Championship    
Florida                             5/1
Indiana                             11/2
Miami FL                              11/2
Michigan                              15/2
Duke                             9/1
Michigan State              10/1
Gonzaga                       12/1
Louisville                              12/1
Kansas                            14/1
Arizona                            20/1
Syracuse                              20/1
Ohio State                    30/1
North Carolina State      40/1
Butler                                40/1
Pittsburgh                            40/1
Cincinnati                             50/1
New Mexico                        50/1
Oklahoma State            50/1
UCLA                            50/1
VCU                             50/1
Wisconsin                            50/1
Georgetown                        60/1
Kansas State                60/1
Marquette                            60/1
Minnesota                            60/1
Creighton                      66/1
UNLV                            66/1
Colorado State              75/1
Missouri                               75/1
North Carolina                    75/1
Notre Dame                  75/1
Oregon                             75/1
Illinois                               100/1
Kentucky                              100/1
Memphis                              100/1
San Diego State            100/1
St. Louis                              100/1
Baylor                           150/1
California                             150/1
Colorado                              150/1
Virginia                            150/1
Wichita State                 150/1
Iowa State                     200/1
Oklahoma                            200/1
Mississippi                          200/1
St. Mary's                     200/1
Villanova                       250/1
Alabama                               300/1
Arkansas                              300/1
Arizona State                500/1
Davidson                      500/1
Iowa                                  500/1
LSU                              500/1
Maryland                              500/1
Stanford                       500/1
Harvard                         1000/1
St. John's                     1000/1
Temple                             1000/1

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas A&M QB Manziel installed as early favorite for 2013 Heisman; Baylor's Seastrunk also on list #TAMU, #JohnnyFootball, #Heisman

The college football season does not begin for another seven months but Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel already has been installed as the early favorite to capture the 2013 Heisman Trophy, based on odds released today by Bovada Sports Book (www.Bovada.lv).

The site installed Manziel, the 2012 Heisman and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award winner, as a 4/1 favorite to repeat as the Heisman winner next season. Manziel already made Heisman history by winning the award as a freshman. A second Heisman would allow him to join Ohio State running back Archie Griffin (1974, 1975) as the only player to win multiple Heismans during a college career.

Joining Manziel among the early favorites to capture the 2013 Heisman Trophy are Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller (7/1), USC wide receiver Marqise Lee (9/1), Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray (10/1), Oregon running back De’Anthony Thomas (10/1), Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron (12/1), Miami running back Duke Johnson (12/1) and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (12/1).

The only other player from a college in Texas to receive Heisman odds was Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk (20/1). Oklahoma quarterback Blake Bell, who has yet to make his first career start, received 30/1 odds.

Below is a look at the 22 players that received individual odds to win the 2013 Heisman:  

Odds to win the 2013-2014 Heisman Trophy        

Johnny Manziel (QB Texas A&M)                        4/1

Braxton Miller (QB Ohio State)                            7/1

Marquis Lee (WR USC)                                      9/1

Aaron Murray (QB Georgia)                                 10/1

De'Anthony Thomas (RB Oregon)                        10/1

A.J. McCarron (QB Alabama)                              12/1

Duke Johnson (RB Miami)                                  12/1

Jadeveon Clowney (DE South Carolina)                12/1

Tajh Boyd (QB Clemson)                                    15/1

Taylor Martinez (QB Nebraska)                           15/1

Ameer Abdullah (RB Nebraska)                           18/1

Marcus Mariota (QB Oregon)                              18/1

T.J. Yeldon (RB Alabama)                                   18/1

Brett Hundley (QB UCLA)                                   20/1

Lache Seastrunk (RB Baylor)                              20/1

Everett Golson (QB Notre Dame)                         22/1

Stephen Morris (QB Miami)                                 25/1

Blake Bell (QB Oklahoma)                                  30/1

Jeff Driskel (QB Florida)                                      30/1

Ka'Deem Carey (RB Arizona)                              33/1

Devin Gardner (QB Michigan)                              40/1

Stefon Diggs (WR Maryland)                               40/1

 

­_ Jimmy Burch

 

Baylor C Austin, a Grace Prep grad, one of 12 candidates for top freshman honor

Baylor center Isaiah Austin, a freshman from Arlington Grace Prep, is one of 12 players under consideration for the Wayman Tisdale Award, given to the nation’s top freshman. Others in the mix from the Big 12 include Kansas guard Ben McLemore and Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart.

_ Jimmy Burch