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Florida is getting smashed tonight. We have never seen storms like in these recent decades and the trend is continuing. This storm was 75 mph less than 24 hours ago and it's now cat 4, 140 mph with possibly a 20 ft tidal surge, 5 ft above the highest levees in Texas. Galveston sea wall is 14 ft. That wall would act as a giant sand bar and force any wave up to probably 30 ft or more. Galveston would be obliterated. This year started with an early July storm reaching cat 5 as it reached the Caribbean. Only a couple of cat ones from that far east so early in history.

Most insurance companies have already left Florida. This is going to have a disastrous impact, not just on Florida, but the entire southeast. It is projected to still have hurricane winds when it reaches Atlanta. The insurance industry is about to implode yet no finance companies will touch a home loan without coverage.
Texas authorized a 10 percent rate increase as a result of Beryl losses which was barely a cat one. Since the Fair Plan was set up for Texas coastal counties, imagine what impact such storms will have when we get one. It's not if, but when.

Say a prayer tonight for those Floridians.

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NY Times Big 12 basketball preseason rankings

Lots of good info in this article besides the actual rankings

Ranking Big 12 basketball programs — the sport’s top league is only getting better​

By Brendan Marks and CJ Moore
Sep 24, 2024

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The Big 12’s stranglehold on the title of college basketball’s best conference has only gotten stronger through recent rounds of conference realignment.
In the past two years, the league has added Houston and Arizona, which would be on a list of the current era’s top 10 programs. In our latest preseason rankings at The Athletic, the Big 12 had three teams in the top five, four in the top 10 and seven in the top 25. Computer models are similar. At Bart Torvik’s site, his preseason rankings have three Big 12 teams in the top five, four in the top 10 and nine in the top 30.


Among the high-major leagues, the Big 12 has on average the second-most returning minutes and 3-pointers made.
No matter how you want to measure it, it is safe to assume that the Big 12 is going to be great again. What’s made the league so good in the past is that the middle and bottom have been better than everyone else. Now the top, elite tier could be as deep as it has ever been, with five teams that could be justified as preseason picks to both win the league and the national title.
With four Pac-12 schools joining the league, here’s a refresher on the makeup of the Big 12 now and what the rosters look like going into version 5.0 of the conference.

1. Houston​

Biggest losses: Jamal Shead (12.9 ppg, 6.3 apg); Damian Dunn (6.4 ppg)
Returning rotation players: L.J. Cryer (15.5 ppg, 1.9 apg); Emanuel Sharp (12.6 ppg, 1.5 spg); J’Wan Roberts (9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg); Ja’Vier Francis (6.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Terrance Arceneaux (5.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg); Mylik Wilson (4.4 ppg); Joseph Tugler (3.8 ppg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 77 Chase McCarty; No. 83 Mercy Miller
Top 100 transfers added: No. 73 Milos Uzan (Oklahoma)
Why they’re here: Houston loses Big 12 Player of the Year Shead but returns every other meaningful contributor from a team that was a No. 1 seed and likely would have made the Final Four if not for injuries. Uzan is a plug-and-play starter who will replace Shead. There’s no way he can match what Shead meant to the program, but if this team can stay healthy, its ceiling could be even higher. Arceneaux and Tugler, who did not finish the season because of injuries, have drawn attention from NBA scouts and neither will likely start for this team. That’s how deep the Cougars are.

You can bet the defense will be elite because Kelvin Sampson is coaching it, and plenty of firepower returns. Look for Sharp to have a breakout season and emerge as the go-to guy. Sharp played as more of a spot-up shooter next to Shead, but now he can play more as a scorer given more responsibility. And that’s how it works in Houston’s program. One guy leaves, it opens the door for another, and Sampson just keeps pumping out winners, advancing to at least the second weekend in five straight NCAA Tournaments.

2. Kansas​

Biggest losses: Kevin McCullar Jr. (18.3 ppg, 4.1 apg, 6.0 rpg); Johnny Furphy (9.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg); Nick Timberlake (5.2 ppg); Elmarko Jackson – injured (4.3 ppg)
Returning rotation players: Hunter Dickinson (17.9 ppg, 10.9 rpg); KJ Adams Jr. (12.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg); Dajuan Harris Jr. (8.5 ppg, 6.5 apg)

Top 100 freshmen added: No. 16 Flory Bidunga, No. 40 Rakease Passmore
Top 100 transfers added: No. 7 Rylan Griffen (Alabama), No. 23 AJ Storr (Wisconsin), No. 30 Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State)
Why they’re here: It doesn’t take long inside KU’s practice gym to realize the outside shooting is going to be much better. Bill Self intends to fix his shooting problem with Mayo and Griffen. Storr is more of a natural scorer but can also shoot, and Self added another shooter late in David Coit Jr., who made 175 3s in two years at Northern Illinois. Among high-major rosters, only Alabama and Kentucky have more career made 3s on the roster. Those added shooters are needed, because KU is still likely to start Dickinson, Adams and Harris, a trio not exactly known for their 3-point shooting.

What those three can do is pass. The Jayhawks last season were a veteran team that moved the ball well and knew how to get it inside to Dickinson. But when shots weren’t falling, spacing was a real issue. That should mostly be solved, with more lineup variability possible. Both Griffen and Storr have the size to play the four in smaller lineups. This is one of the deepest teams in the country now, with Self adding insurance on the perimeter with Mississippi State transfer Shakeel Moore and Coit.
Self hates losing, and last season was one of only two years in his 21 seasons at KU that his team finished outside the top 25 at KenPom (both teams finished No. 27). The last time it happened, Self followed that season with his second national championship in 2022. On paper, this team looks talented enough to get him his third.

Career Division I minutes on roster

3. Iowa State​

Biggest losses: Tre King (9.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg); Robert Jones 8.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg); Hason Ward (6.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Jackson Paveletzke (3.4 ppg)
Returning rotation players: Keshon Gilbert (13.7 ppg, 4.2 apg); Tamin Lipsey (12.4 ppg, 4.9 apg); Curtis Jones (11.0 ppg, 2.0 apg); Milan Momcilovic (10.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg);
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 74 Nojus Indrusaitis
Top 100 transfers added: No. 55 Joshua Jefferson (Saint Mary’s)
Why they’re here: T.J. Otzelberger is getting the Kelvin Sampson treatment — his defense is assumed to be elite. He’s had a top-eight defense in each of his three years at Iowa State and last year had the top-ranked unit in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Cyclones return every significant player on their perimeter and landed two strong defensive presences up front in Jefferson and former Charlotte center Dishon Jackson.

The offense has improved each season and should continue that trend, returning its four leading scorers. Jefferson gives Otzelberger a back-to-the-basket threat and can also step out and make a jumper. Momcilovic has star potential. He was one of the most skilled freshman wings in the country last season. If the offense can get to top-20 levels, this could be a national title contender.

4. Baylor​

Biggest losses: Ja’Kobe Walter (14.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg); RayJ Dennis (13.6 ppg, 6.7 apg); Jalen Bridges (12.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg); Yves Missi (10.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Returning rotation players: Jayden Nunn (10.5 ppg, 2.0 apg); Langston Love (11.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg); Josh Ojianwuna (4.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg);
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 4 VJ Edgecombe, No. 28 Robert O. Wright III, No. 52 Jason Asemota
Top 100 transfers added: No. 12 Norchad Omier (Miami), No. 26 Jeremy Roach (Duke)
Why they’re here: Scott Drew keeps putting together elite offenses, but Baylor’s defense has fallen off the past two seasons. He’s had a top-eight offense for four straight seasons, starting with the national championship year. It’s helped that he’s had at least one one-and-done first-rounder the past three years. That streak should continue with Edgecombe, who averaged 16.5 points this summer playing for the Bahamas national team as it tried to qualify for the Olympics. He was in a lineup with three legitimate NBA players — Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon — and Edgecombe was arguably the team’s best player.


The trio of Edgecombe, Roach and Omier could be as good as any in college basketball. Nunn and Love are pretty dang good as fourth and fifth options, and Drew added Jalen Celestine from Cal late to give him another shooter. If one or two of the other freshmen can be solid and provide depth, then this team has just about everything. The one question is whether Drew can get his defense back to championship levels, but it could be argued that Baylor’s talent level is the best in the league. If there’s a team we’re underrating, it might be the Bears.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5692229/2024/08/15/acc-basketball-rankings-names-to-know/

5. Arizona​

Biggest losses: Oumar Ballo (12.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg); Pelle Larsson (12.8 ppg, 3.7 apg); Keshad Johnson (11.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg); Kylan Boswell (9.6 ppg, 3.6 apg)
Returning rotation players: Caleb Love (18.0 ppg, 3.4 apg); Jaden Bradley (7.0 ppg, 2.0 apg); KJ Lewis (6.1 ppi, 3.1 rpg); Motiejus Krivas (5.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 24 Carter Bryant, No. 91 Emmanuel Stephen
Top 100 transfers added: No. 68 Trey Townsend
Why they’re here: The Big 12 is ridiculous, isn’t it? Here’s a program that has won two out of three Pac-12 regular-season titles with Tommy Lloyd as the coach — the non-champion finished second — and returns one of the best scoring guards in the country in Love. It added the Horizon League Player of the Year who helped Oakland upset Kentucky in Townsend, it will be a top-15 team in just about every preseason national poll, and we’re projecting it to finish fifth.

Ballo looks like a big loss, but Krivas could have a higher ceiling, and Arizona was significantly better (15.4 points per 100 possessions) with Krivas on the floor last season, according to CBB Analytics. Lloyd landed a strong defensive backup in Tobe Awaka. With Townsend and five-star power forward Bryant, Arizona’s frontcourt is in good shape. The Wildcats got faster by moving on from Boswell and giving Bradley the keys. Bradley’s on-off numbers were also way better than Boswell’s. Larsson will be the hardest player to replace, but there are solid options, with potential sophomore breakout Lewis and Campbell transfer Anthony Dell’Orso, who averaged 19.5 points per game last season. These top five teams could finish in just about any order.

6. Texas Tech​

Biggest losses: Pop Isaacs (15.8 ppg, 3.5 apg); Joe Toussaint (12.2 ppg, 4.3 apg); Warren Washington (9.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg); Robert Jennings (4.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Returning rotation players: Darrion Williams (11.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg); Chance McMillian (10.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg); Kerwin Walton (8.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg); Devan Cambridge (10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Top 100 freshmen added: None
Top 100 transfers added: No. 21 JT Toppin
Why they’re here: A coach in the Big 12 recently wondered about the Red Raiders offense — Who could go get a bucket now that Isaacs is gone? It’s a fair point, but Isaacs could also run wild. Even on an off night, he would keep shooting, and he was the least efficient option. This team might be missing a true perimeter scorer — Drake transfer Kevin Overton is a candidate to become that guy — but Grant McCasland has just about everything else.

Elijah Hawkins is a pass-first point guard. Williams started to become a matchup nightmare for opponents in the second half of the season and has the potential to be this team’s star. McCasland has two deadeye shooters in McMillian and Walton. Then he landed a big with one of the highest upsides in the portal in Toppin, who averaged 12.1 points on 62.3 percent shooting, 9.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game as a freshman at New Mexico. Toppin can play either frontcourt spot, and Texas Tech’s best lineup is probably with Toppin at the five and Williams at the four. But McCasland can also go big with Pitt transfer Federiko Federiko at the five. McCasland brought on former Wyoming coach Jeff Linder, who has a strong reputation as an offensive coach.

Texas Tech’s defense finished 65th in adjusted defense after McCasland’s last three teams at North Texas finished in the top 50. But some of that could be attributed to bad injury luck. I’d bank on this team defending at a higher level.

7. Cincinnati​

Biggest losses: Viktor Lakhin (9.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg); John Newman III (9.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Jamille Reynolds (5.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Returning rotation players: Daniel Skillings Jr. (12.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg); Simas Lukosius (11.8 ppg, 2.9 apg); Day Day Thomas (10.4 ppg, 3.3 apg); Jizzle James (8.8 ppg); Aziz Bandaogo 6.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg); CJ Fredrick (6.1 ppg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 47 Tyler Betsey, No. 71 Tyler McKinley
Top 100 transfers added: No. 48 Dillon Mitchell
Why they’re here: Cincinnati had the third-best defense in Big 12 play last season and got even better with Texas transfer Mitchell, one of the most athletic fours in the country. Mitchell was solid at Texas but didn’t live up to expectations as some thought he would be a one-and-done draft pick. Maybe a change of scenery unlocks his potential, but even if he is similar to the player he was at Texas, that’s a solid addition for the Bearcats, who return their five most talented players from last season’s roster.

The offense needs to get better, but it was trending in the right direction late in the year, with players like Skillings, Lukosius and James playing their best ball. James, a freshman last season, started the final two games of the NIT and averaged 23 points. Wes Miller addressed his biggest weakness (shooting) with the addition of Connor Hickman, who averaged 14.5 points and shot 40.2 percent from 3 last season at Bradley. The Missouri Valley is one league where up-transfers usually perform well because it’s not as big a leap as some other mid-major leagues. Cincy’s shooting would also benefit from Fredrick staying healthy. Either way, this is one of the deepest rosters in the conference and a good bet to get Miller to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his Cincy tenure.
Returning top-8 players (by minutes)

8. Kansas State​

Biggest losses: Tylor Perry (15.3 ppg, 4.4 apg); Cam Carter (14.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Arthur Kaluma (14.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg); Will McNair Jr. (8.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Dai Dai Ames (5.2 ppg, 2.0 apg)
Returning rotation players: David N’Guessan (7.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 54 David Castillo
Top 100 transfers added: No. 5 Coleman Hawkins, No. 32 Achor Achor; No. 38 Dug McDaniel

Why they’re here: It’s hard to know what to do with the Wildcats. Jerome Tang had one of the best portal seasons in terms of attracting talent. Kansas State was one of 13 schools that landed at least three top-100 transfers. In addition to the three above, Tang also signed former Kentucky center Ugonna Onyenso, who was one of the best shot blockers in the country. Now here’s the tricky part: Three of KSU’s best signees — Onyenso, Hawkins and Achor — were all centers last season, and there’s a good chance all three will start for K-State. Can that work?

Tang is going to try, believing in the skill of Hawkins and Achor, who both can step out and make a jumper and also play with the ball in their hands. Hawkins would occasionally initiate the offense for Illinois, and his passing is one of his best skills. He could be the hub of the offense. McDaniel gives Tang a speedy guard whose game somewhat resembles that of former Wildcat Markquis Nowell. Tang also believes in Castillo at point guard. Villanova transfer Brendan Hausen will be an important role player because someone needs to stretch the floor. Hausen made 61 3s and shot 38.1 percent from deep last year. If the three-big lineup doesn’t work, it’ll be important that one of K-State’s mid-major transfers — Max Jones (Cal State Fullerton) or CJ Jones (Illinois Chicago) — is ready to contribute. There’s likely not a team in the league with a bigger gap between its ceiling and floor.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5570742/2024/06/18/kansas-state-basketball-coleman-hawkins/

9. Arizona State​

Biggest losses: Frankie Collins (13.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.2 apg); Jose Perez (13.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg); Jamiya Neal (11 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Alonzo Gaffney (6.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg); Bryant Selebangue (4.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Kamari Lands (4.5 ppg)
Returning rotation players: Adam Miller (12 ppg, 3.2 rpg); Shawn Phillips Jr. (5.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Brycen Long (4 ppg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 9 Jayden Quaintance, No. 25 Joson Sanon, No. 75 Amier Ali
Top 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re here: After losing 18 games last season and struggling through arguably the worst of his nine years leading the Sun Devils, Bobby Hurley needed to make some serious offseason changes. But will those moves correlate to success in ASU’s first season in the Big 12?


If so, it’ll be because of the program’s best recruiting class ever, featuring the 6-foot-9 Quaintance, the highest-ranked recruit in Arizona State history. (Because Quaintance doesn’t turn 18 until next July — he reclassified up to 2024 — he isn’t eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft and has to play two seasons in college.) Flipping Quaintance (from Kentucky) and Sanon (from Arizona) speaks to Hurley’s newfound NIL resources, but at a time when college basketball has never been older, pivoting to youth is … a choice.

Miller is turnover-prone but talented and at least provides some experience between the two young future pros. He’ll likely be joined in the backcourt by All-MVC honoree Alston Mason (Missouri State). Hurley’s teams have been better defensively than offensively lately, but with the third-most career made 3s of any Big 12 team — including five players with at least 50 — the Sun Devils should be more balanced. Emphasis on should.

10. BYU​

Biggest losses: Jaxson Robinson (14.2 ppg); Spencer Johnson (10.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.3 apg); Noah Waterman (9.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Aly Khalifa (5.7 ppg, 4 apg, 3.7 rpg)
Returning rotation players: Fousseyni Traore (10.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Trevin Knell (10.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg); Richie Saunders (9.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Dallin Hall (9 ppg, 5.1 apg, 3.5 rpg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 41 Kanon Catchings, No. 98 Brody Kozlowski
Top 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re here: If BYU becomes a basketball powerhouse in the next few seasons — something many industry sources predict, if not expect — then this summer will be viewed as the pivot point. Much of that stems from whom the Cougars hired to replace Mark Pope: Kevin Young, formerly the NBA’s highest-paid assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns, who was on a clear head coaching trajectory before accepting this job. Young’s hiring has woken up the program’s donors, who now seem poised to invest in BYU basketball at levels that would rival the sport’s top spenders. Case in point: BYU is the favorite to land AJ Dybantsa, the top recruit in the 2025 class and the front-runner to go No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Young inherited a few key pieces from Pope — like returning starters Hall and Knell, plus a physical forward in Traore — but he also added intriguing new talent, none more so than Russian freshman guard Egor Demin. The 6-foot-9 Demin is a projected lottery pick in next year’s NBA Draft — he would’ve been a five-star prospect had every recruiting service included him — and should be an ideal connector for BYU’s other pieces. Matching last season’s 23 wins would be an impressive debut from Young, but this season is about building a foundation as much as anything.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5658893/2024/07/26/peach-jam-dan-hurley-aj-dybantsa/

11. Colorado​

Biggest losses: KJ Simpson (19.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.9 apg); Tristan da Silva (16 ppg, 5.1 rpg); Cody Williams (11.9 ppg, 3 rpg); J’Vonne Hadley (11.6 ppg, 6 rpg); Eddie Lampkin (10.6 ppg, 7 rpg); Luke O’Brien (6.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Returning rotation players: Julian Hammond III (7.4 ppg)
Top 100 freshmen added: None
Top 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re here: The good news? Colorado’s 26 wins last season were its most under Tad Boyle — which is saying something, considering he’s been the Buffaloes’ head coach since 2010. The bad news? Basically every contributor from last season’s NCAA Tournament squad is gone, whether to the NBA or the transfer portal.

This season, then, will be a rough dose of reality, as the Buffaloes are last in the Big 12 in both experience and 3-point production. Outside of Hammond, last season’s sixth man, and new arrival Andrej Jakimovski (Washington State), no one on Colorado’s roster has played more than 530 Division I minutes. Those two are also the only Buffaloes with over 32 career made 3-pointers.
Instead, Boyle has to hope that two of his other imports — Trevor Baskin, who averaged 18.2 points at Division II Colorado-Mesa last season, and Elijah Malone, who scored 17.3 points per game at Grace College (NAIA) — make quick adjustments to high-major hoops. In the deepest, best league in America, that’s not an enviable position.
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12. Oklahoma State​

Biggest losses: Javon Small (15.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.1 apg); Eric Dailey Jr. (9.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg); John-Michael Wright (8.7 ppg); Brandon Garrison (7.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg); Quion Williams (7.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg); Jarius Hicklen (4.6 ppg)
Returning rotation players: Bryce Thompson (11.6 ppg); Jamyron Keller (6.5 ppg)
Top 100 freshmen added: None
Top 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re here: Oklahoma State returns only two players from last season’s 20-loss team, but how many players do you want back from a squad that beat only four high-major teams?
Mike Boynton is gone and has been replaced by Steve Lutz, who earned his coaching bona fides as a Creighton and Purdue assistant before overachieving with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Western Kentucky the past three seasons. Can Lutz work his magic again with the second most experienced team in the league, one featuring 12 upperclassmen? It depends on whether the pace Lutz played at Western Kentucky last season — the Hilltoppers were tops nationally in adjusted tempo — translates, and whether it makes up for the Cowboys’ lack of size.

Four of Lutz’s five most experienced players are 6 feet 5 or shorter, but they also all have made at least 85 career 3-pointers: Thompson, a proven high-major starter; Davonte Davis (Arkansas); Khalil Brantley (La Salle); and Brandon Newman, who followed Lutz from Western Kentucky. In fact, the Cowboys’ only player over 6 feet 9 is 6-foot-11 Serbian freshman and former Wisconsin signee Andrija Vukovic. Lutz’s coaching, plus an array of older shooters, should at least make the Cowboys a tough conference out, even if that may not lead to many wins.

13. TCU​

Biggest losses: Emanuel Miller (15.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg); Jameer Nelson Jr. (11.2 ppg, 3.3 apg); Micah Peavy (10.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg); JaKobe Coles (10 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Trey Tennyson (8.4 ppg); Avery Anderson III (7.8 ppg, 3.3 apg); Chuck O’Bannon Jr. (5.5 ppg)
Returning rotation players: Ernest Udeh Jr. (4.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 81 Micah Robinson, No. 95 David Punch
Top 100 transfers added: No. 82 Trazarien White (UNC Wilmington)
Why they’re here: Last season, Jamie Dixon had the third oldest team in all of college basketball, with Udeh as only one underclassman in his rotation. This season? Dixon has the second youngest team in the Big 12, with Udeh as one of his dependable veterans. Dixon always seems to get the most of his talent, but even with an underrated transfer portal haul — led by White, a 6-foot-6 slasher who averaged 19.8 points per game last season — he’ll have to do one of his better coaching jobs to keep the Horned Frogs afloat in America’s deepest conference.

In particular, Dixon is going to have to figure out this team’s spacing, since many of its top offseason additions — like White, Frankie Collins (Arizona State), Vasean Allette (Old Dominion), and Noah Reynolds (Green Bay) — are best going to the rim and in the midrange. Brendan Wenzel (Wyoming) is a career 37.2 percent 3-point shooter with solid wing size, which should help, but not letting things get crowded inside the arc will be one of TCU’s keys. It’s a precarious mix of players, and not a very deep pool, so a bet on TCU is a bet on Dixon doing what he usually does.

14. UCF​

Biggest losses: C.J. Walker (7.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Marchelus Avery (7.6 ppg, 4 rpg); Shemarri Allen (7.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Ibrahima Diallo (6.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg); Antwann Jones (4.3 ppg); Thierno Sylla (4.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Omar Payne (4.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Returning rotation players: Jaylin Sellers (15.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg); Darius Johnson (15.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.3 rpg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 58 Moustapha Thiam
Top 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re here: UCF’s first year in the Big 12 was … tough, as evidenced by its 17-16 overall record, its 7-11 conference record and its status as one of the least efficient shooting teams at the high-major level. Johnny Dawkins does return his top two scorers from last season — UCF is one of just three Big 12 teams that can say that, along with Kansas and Iowa State — but even with Sellers and Johnson back, the Knights desperately needed an influx of talent. Where Dawkins turned, though — to two former high-profile recruits, neither of whom have played D-I ball due to various legal reasons — was unexpected.


The first is Dior Johnson, a one-time five-star Syracuse, Oregon, and Pittsburgh recruit; Johnson never played for the Panthers due to multiple charges of assault, but after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges, he resurfaced as the top juco player in the nation, averaging 29.7 points for Clarendon College (Texas). Then there’s Mikey Williams, a social media star and former top-40 Memphis commit; Williams was arrested in the spring of 2023 (prior to enrolling at Memphis) on multiple felony charges — he was accused of shooting a gun into a car full of people — and therefore never suited up for the Tigers. In November, he pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge, which could be reduced to a misdemeanor if he satisfied his plea agreement; he left Memphis two months later and committed to UCF.

What Dawkins can actually expect from Johnson and Williams at this point is completely unknown, but those two do have the raw talent to change UCF’s trajectory.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/57...asketball-rankings-uconn-marquette-preseason/

15. Utah​

Biggest losses: Branden Carlson (17 ppg, 6.6 rpg); Deivon Smith (13.3 ppg, 7.1 apg, 6.3 rpg); Rollie Worster (9.9 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.5 rpg); Cole Bajema (9 ppg); Keba Keita (8.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Ben Carlson (5.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Returning rotation players: Gabe Madsen (13.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Lawson Lovering (6.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Hunter Erickson (4.7 ppg)
Top 100 freshmen added: No. 85 Jaxon Johnson
Top 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re here: The Utes were a fine team last year, easily the best of Craig Smith’s tenure, but it was a mostly veteran team, with a lone underclassman in the rotation. Now, all those older talents have cycled out, without similar replacements arriving this summer. What would’ve already been a tough jump from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 now seems much more difficult.
For example: Is it possible that Gabe Madsen — whose twin brother Mason (Boston College) transferred in this summer — is the best player on the roster? It’s not inconceivable, which is not ideal, even if Madsen did average 13.3 points last season and has made a staggering 214 career 3-pointers.


Both brothers should start on the wing, along with Lovering and Ezra Ausar (East Carolina) in the frontcourt, but perhaps the most interesting addition is former top-50 recruit Miro Little (Baylor), who struggled to make an impact in his freshman season. Expecting Little to fill Smith’s shoes is unrealistic, but if he can emerge as Smith’s starting point guard? That would go a long way toward the Utes fighting to avoid the conference cellar.

16. West Virginia​

Biggest losses: RaeQuan Battle (16.1 ppg, 4 rpg); Jesse Edwards (15 ppg, 8 rpg); Quinn Slazinski (12.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Kerr Kriisa (11 ppg, 4.7 apg); Noah Farrakhan (7.7 ppg, 3 rpg); Kobe Johnson (6 ppg); Josiah Harris (5 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Pat Suemnick (4.1 ppg); Seth Wilson (3.5 ppg)
Returning rotation players: None
Top 100 freshmen added: None
Top 100 transfers added: No. 1 Tucker DeVries (Drake), No. 78 Javon Small (Oklahoma State)
Why they’re here: It’s a new era in Morgantown, with Darian DeVries set to lead the Mountaineers into their post-Bob Huggins future. DeVries is starting over with, essentially, an entirely new roster; West Virginia’s lone returning player, Ofri Naveh, made a total of 16 shots last season in just 13.8 minutes per game.

So what better way to start a rebuild than by landing The Athletic’s top overall transfer this cycle… who just so happens to be Darian’s son Tucker DeVries, a two-time Missouri Valley Player of the Year and bona fide NBA prospect? Last season, DeVries averaged 21.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 36.3 percent from 3. Expecting him to replicate that production and efficiency probably isn’t realistic, but assuming he comes close, he does give his father a pillar to build around.
Add in Small — one of the more athletic guards available this offseason, who shot a career-best 37.4 percent from 3 last season — and Darian DeVries has two quality high-major starters. How the rest of the roster shakes out is unknown, but given DeVries’ pedigree — Drake won at least 20 games all six seasons of his tenure and posted a top-75 offense three times in the past four years — we’re betting on a competent product. West Virginia will be a bottom-third team in the league, but give DeVries time and the Mountaineers may soon have a sustainable winner on their hands.
(Top photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

ASU is decompressing from their Jones' experience.
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hey hey

I spoke with a new offer from last week, Kingwood 2027 OT Kennedy Brown...he recaps the offer, his communication with the coaches and other programs showing interest.

STORY





Perfect for passionate Texas Tech fans like us, chocolate milk isn’t just a delicious treat—it’s packed with nutrients that keep you energized. Whether you’re finishing a workout, tailgating, celebrating a big win, or just need a tasty pick-me-up, chocolate milk is your go-to drink for strength and recovery AND treating yo’ self! Let’s raise our glasses and toast to a season of victories and unforgettable moments with chocolate milk by our side.

Check out everything there is to know about chocolate milk (plus milk, cheese, yogurt, YOU NAAAAME it), and the hardworking dairy farmers that provide it for you here: https://www.dairymax.org/
@Williermo

Any takers

Prosper Energy Management is a mineral management company based in Dallas/Fort Worth with a Red Raider as a founding member. With over 35 years of experience in oil and gas management, Prosper provides full start-to-finish management, as well as tailored service, with the mission of serving their clients above all else. Prosper specializes in petroleum engineering, giving their clients that competitive edge when tackling the complexities of leasing, land & title, division orders, accounting, forecasting, etc
www.prosperenergymgmt.com

@Zacbash10

For the younguns who don't know David Byrne.... lead singer for the Talking Heads.

Came out on fire in attack to get an early goal and showed they could respond to a mistake of their own later, this young group keeps on growing up. Now two road wins in a row as they head to Houston for their third-straight road match. This will put a cap on a four road games in their first five Big 12 game stretch. If you live near Houston get over and show them support, been a nice contingent of fans, families, etc. following this team around so far this season and next up is Houston at 1pm! Wreck em.

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Tuesday, December 31
UCF at Texas Tech

Saturday, January 4
Texas Tech at Utah

Tuesday, January 7
Texas Tech at BYU

Saturday, January 11
Iowa State at Texas Tech

Tuesday, January 14
Texas Tech at Kansas State

Saturday, January 18
Arizona at Texas Tech

Tuesday, January 21
Texas Tech at Cincinnati

Sunday, January 26
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech

Wednesday, January 29
TCU at Texas Tech

Saturday, February 1
Texas Tech at Houston

Tuesday, February 4
Baylor at Texas Tech

Saturday, February 8
Texas Tech at Arizona

Wednesday, February 12
Arizona State at Texas Tech

Saturday, February 15
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State

Tuesday, February 18
Texas Tech at TCU

Saturday, February 22
West Virginia at Texas Tech

Monday, February 24
Houston at Texas Tech

Saturday, March 1
Texas Tech at Kansas

Wednesday, March 5
Colorado at Texas Tech

Saturday, March 8
Texas Tech at Arizona State

Show about to start in 5 minutes on TexasTech+

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Since the conference schedule just came out here are my way too early and likely inaccurate conference rankings/predictions. This was way harder than I thought. Good lord this conference is terrifying, and it has gotten only scarier over the last year or so. For me there are three distinct tiers to this conference: the elite of the elite with UH/ISU/Kansas, the upper middle of Arizona/Baylor/Tech, a loaded middle class of similar teams with Cinci/K State/TCU/BYU, and a grouping of the bottom with WVU/ASU/Okie State/UCF/Colorado/Utah. I will say this, while the top and middle of this conference is stronger than ever the cellar dwellers look much weaker than in years past.

1. Houston

Projected Starting 5: Milos Uzan. LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, J'Wan Roberts, Javier Francis
Key Reserves: Terrence Arcneneaux, Jojo Tugler, Mylik Wilson

Thoughts: Houston is the unequivocal and emphatic number one team in the country in my opinion. They lost an inimitable leader and B12 POTY in Jamal Shead but otherwise kept an elite roster intact. There is no replacing Shead but Milos Uzan is stellar fit and is a dang good guard for Samson mold in his system. UH also returns all conference guard LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp emerged as a dangerous shooter and could be even better this year. In the front court staples Francis and Roberts return and are monster defenders and on the glass. And that’s just the starting 5, how many teams have 2 NBA prospects – Tugler and Arceneaux – coming off the bench. The only way I don’t see Houston being elite is if Uzan is just a complete bust as a transfer in. They will be scary once again.

2. Kansas

Projected Starting 5: Dajuan Harris, AJ Storr, Rylen Griffen, KJ Adams, Hunter Dickenson
Key Reserves: Shakeel Moore, Zeke Mayo, Flory Bidunga, David Coit, Rakease Passmore

Thoughts: Bill Self clearly saw the limitations of last year’s squad – shooting and depth – and went into the offseason determined to fix them. As a result KU is one of the most talented teams in the country. Dajuan Harris and KJ Adams may have hit their ceilings but each are plus starters and while Hunter Dickenson is a tool and plays basketball like a robot he is one of the better big men in the sport. On the perimeter KU brings dynamic scoring and positional size in Griffen and store, both are guys who can go for 20+ on a given night and have potential NBA futures. And off the bench Shakeel Moore and Zeke Mayo give KU depth in the form of a starting guard from a tournament team and a dangerous MM scorer. The front court depth is a bit shaky and there is only one basketball, but this team looks much improved over last year.

3. Iowa State

Projected Starting 5: Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert, Milan Momcilovic, Josh Jefferson, Dishon Jackson
Key Reserves: Curtis Jones, Nate Heise, Brandton Chatfield

Thoughts: At this point I really trust Otz as a coach and playing Iowa State is about as fun as watching Love Is Blind with my wife. They return the bulk of their roster from a dominant defensive team. Tamin Lipsey is one of the better PGs in the country, Keshon Gilbert was an all-conference guy and Milan Momcilovic could be one of the best young wings/bigs in the country. Not to mention adding front court/guard depth in Dishon Jackson and Nate Heise and one of the more underrated portal gets in Josh Jefferson. I do have offensive questions as it has been a grind on that end in the last few years and Lipsey will need to be a bit more consistent as a shooter. But this looks like a top 5-10 team to me.

4. Arizona

Projected Starting 5: Jaden Bradley, Caleb Love, KJ Lewis, Trey Townsend, Motiejus Krivas
Key Reserves: Tobe Awaka, Carter Bryant, Anthony Dell'Orso

Thoughts: A new addition to the conference and a near blueblood Arizona will be another top 15 team. They return mercurial guard and PAC 12 POTY Caleb Love, starting PG Jaden Bradley and added NCAA Tournament star Trey Townsend and athletic freak Tobe Awaka from Tennessee. This roster looks tailor made to play in Tommy Lloyd’s fast paced and interior oriented system. KJ Lewis is also a big time breakout candidate. I know they feel like they upgraded even after losing Oumar Ballo and Kylan Boswell but will that really be the case? And will Trey Townsend translate to the B12? These questions made me less certain than the three teams at the top of the conference but they will be dang good. Very high on the upside of this roster.

5. Baylor

Projected Starting 5: Jeremy Roach, Jayden Nunn, VJ Edgecombe, Norchad Omier, Josh Ojianwuna
Key Reserves: Langston Love, Jalen Celestine, Rob Wright

Thoughts: Baylor once again finds itself towards the top of the conference. They clearly had a blank check to play with in the portal after bringing in two top targets in Jeremy Roach and Norchad Omier. And once again Baylor brings in a potential lotto pick and the presumed favorite for B12 FOTY in VJ Edgecombe as well as returning underrated guards in Jayden Nunn and Langston Love. But there are questions on defense….. will Omier and Josh O be able to hold up in the front court? And who will protect the rim? They will have an extremely dangerous offense but the defense looks like less of a sure thing.

6. Texas Tech

Projected Starting 5: Elijah Hawkins, Chance McMillian, Darrion Williams, JT Toppin, Federiko Federiko
Key Reserves: Kerwin Walton, Kevin Overton, Devan Cambridge, Christian Anderson, Eemili Yalaho

Thoughts: Trying to stay unbiased as possible here. Tech returns key cogs in Kerwin Walton, Chance McMillian and one of the best wings in the conference in Darrion Williams and brings in a good transfer class headlined by JT Toppin and Elijah Hawkins. I love the versatility, shooting and potential depth of this roster. Grant clearly made an emphasis on size and athleticism when adding to the roster. There is definite upside with high ceiling players such as Kevin Overton and JT Toppin, a passing maestro in Elijah Hawkins and two of the best shooters in the country in Chance and Kerwin. I do worry a bit about depth at the big and PG spots….Christian Anderson and EY have clear talent but can they be rotation level players? And will Hawkins be able to hold up physically/defensively in the B12 for an entire season? There’s no denying the versatility and roster fit here but can someone like D5 or Toppin take another step and really emerge as a “dude”? Personally, I think that can happen and have Tech as a top 20ish team.

7. Kansas State

Projected Starting 5: Dug McDaniel, Brendan Hausen, Max Jones, Coleman Hawkins, Ugonna Onyenso
Key Reserves: David N'Guessan, Achor Achor, David Castillo

Thoughts: K State is coming off a disappointing season and is another squad that clearly bolstered the coffers this offseason. There is a ton of talent here lead by portal additions in McDaniel, Hawkins and Achor. The front court should be excellent, and this team will have size and length for days but how do they slot all of these guys and will there be any internal issues due to the depth? And David Castillo is drawing rave reviews as a freshman but will the guard corp outside of McDaniel be impactful. K State might have the widest range of outcomes in the whole conference.

8. Cincinnati

Projected Starting 5: Day Day Thomas, Dan Skillings, Simas Lukosius, Dillon Mitchell, Aziz Bandaogo
Key Reserves: Jizzle James, Connor Hickman, CJ Fredrick

Thoughts: Cinci was a surprise last year for me. They were well coached, very good defensively and generally competitive. But they just always looked like a team one step or piece away. They return the bulk of their squad this season. Simas Lukosius is very underrated and Dan Skillings and Jizzle James have uber high ceilings. And adding Dillon Mitchell seems to be a good fit for a team that should be very good defensively. But will the guards take a big enough leap to get them into the second weekend conversation? And will they make threes? Looks like a solid tournament team to me and one that will be a pain in the ass to play.

9. BYU

Projected Starters: Dallin Hall, Trevin Knell, Egor Demin, Mawot Mag, Fouss Traore
Key Reserves: Richie Saunders, Keba Keita, Dawson Baker, Kenon Catchings

Thoughts: BYU was a very pleasant surprise last year and now their coach and best player have moved on to Kentucky as a result. The remaining squad is largely intact though and provides a solid baseline moving forward. Dallin Hall is a solid floor general and Trevin Knell/ Richie Saunders provide good shooting and threats offensively from the perimeter. BYU also went out and got Egor Demin, a 6’9 russian wing who is thought to be a lottery talent and gifted offensive player. Mawot Mag, Keiba Keita, and Fouss Traore look to be a sturdy interior triumvirate but lack shooting and are undersized. How much does this team miss Aly Khalifa and Pope’s offensive system? And do they have anyone on the perimeter who can stress a defense? I am also dubious of relying heavily on first year Euros to be super impactful. Another team with an array of possible outcomes and could very well be a tournament team.

10. TCU

Projected Starters: Frankie Collins, Noah Reynolds, Brendan Wenzel, Traz White, Ernest Udeh
Key Reserves: Vasean Allette, Micah Robinson, Jace Posey

Thoughts: As much as I hate to admit it, Jamie Dixon is a damn good coach. But this is a weird roster to me. Frankie Collins is a typical Dixon guard who can really pressure the ball, get out in the open court and doesn’t shoot well at all. And Traz White is another guy who really puts pressure on the rim. Outside of that there are a ton of high variance/question guys in the back court and the roster in general seems to lack the physicality and size of other recent TCU teams. Will anyone be able to make a shot other than Wenzel? And who are the depth pieces? Hard team to gauge but Dixon probably gives them a competitive floor.

11. WVU

Projected Starters: Javon Small, Sencire Harris, Toby Okani, Tucker Devries, Eduardo Andre
Key Reserves: Jayden Stone, Joe Yesufu, Amani Hansberry

Thoughts: Darian Devries was a really good hire but it might take him a year or so to ramp up. Tucker Devries and Javon Small could be one of the best 1-2 punches in the conference but the 3-4-5 sequence is a huge question mark. The rest of the roster and especially the front court come with a lot of unknowns, I do like Amani Hansberry tho. Having one of the best players in the conference, a good guard in Small and a good coach in Devries WVU should be competitive and pesky night to night. If some of the pieces fit they could surprise folks.

12. Arizona State

Projected Starting 5: Alston Mason, Adam Miller, BJ Freeman, Basheer Jihad, Jayden Quaintance
Key Reserves: Joson Sanon, Shawn Phillips, Amier Ali

Thoughts: The talent here isn’t “awful” as they brought in 3 high level recruits and a good mid major guard in BJ Freeman but relying on Freshman reclass guys in this conference is a scary thought. And a back court of up transfers plus Adam Miller isn’t wonderful. They have some talent but I don’t think Hurley is here much longer.

13. Okie State

Projected Starting 5: Khalil Brantley, Devo Davis, Bryce Thompson, Marcellus Avery, Abou Ousmane
Key Reserves: Arturo Dean, Robert Jennings, Brandon Newman, Pat Suemnick

Thoughts: I think they knocked it out of the park hiring Steve Lutz and he will eventually build good teams at OSU. Don’t think that is this year. I can see the vision with this roster and with how he likes to pressure and push tempo but I don’t think the talent is quite there. OSU will have the quick guards to be pesky but they might be bad offensively. And the front court might be the worst in the conference. But they might surprise a few teams and catch them sleeping.

14. UCF

Projected Starting 5: Darius Johnson, Jaylin Sellers, Keyshawn Hall, Benny Williams, Rokas Jocius
Key Reserves: Jordan Ivy-Curry, Mikey Williams, Dior Johnson, JJ Taylor, Dallan Coleman

Thoughts: UCF was a legitimately solid team last year and returns two good players in Darius Johnson and Jaylin Sellers. I have no idea wtf Dawkins was thinking when he put together this roster. They aren’t the 14th most talented team in the conference, but it might be the most “troubled” roster in the country. Should be entertaining and highly combustible so I will be tuning in.

15. Colorado

Projected Starters: Julian Hammond, Javon Ruffin, Andrej Jakimovski, Trevor Baskin, Elijah Malone
Key Reserves: Bangot Dak, RJ Smith, Assane Diop

Thoughts: Colorado finds itself in a transition period after losing three players to the NBA off of a very good team. Boyle is a more than solid coach but usually takes some time to build and replacing that many good players with next to no NIL is a tough ask.

16. Utah

Projected Starting 5: Miro Little, Gabe Madsen, Mike Sharavjamts, Ezra Ausar, Lawson Lovering
Key Reserves: Mason Madsen, Hunter Erickson, Keanu Dawes, Zach Keller

Thoughts: Another team who lost a ton to the portal and graduation and lacking in NIL to replace them. Miro Little and Mongolian Mike could be kinda fun I guess?

It'll be a warm afternoon before the game, quiet conditions Saturday evening.

High that day around 89, lots of sunshine. Kickoff low 80s, near 70 by the end of the game. Clear sky, light wind out of the NE/E.

Sunset Saturday is 7:35.

Guns Up!

This is a throw back but entertaining nonetheless. Cobb is absolutely one of a kind.
This interview is after he lost to Larry Holmes. It was absolutely one of the most brutal beat downs in history but Cobb just wouldn't go down. I remember Cosell constantly wanting the referee to stop the fight and I think this fight was the last he called this bothered him so much.

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Firestick says Prime app has to be updated to watch. When I select update app, I get error message. Tried clearing cache and data of Prime app and resetting fire stick many times. No help. Keeps getting error. There is enough storage left on my fire stick. Anyone else with this problem?

Say I hypothetically went to Whataburger and got stuck in the drive thru for an hour and half again, what would we discuss!?

Do we still have hot topics that aren’t known by everyone!? Seems l like insider knowledge is a thing of the past

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Cincy going ⚫️⚪️⚪️
I’m guessing we still go ⚫️⚫️⚫️

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He camped with Tech each of the last two summers and I believe visited for the UNT game a couple weeks ago

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@Williermo

In 2016, a Trump staffer got drunk at a bar and told an individual he was sitting next to the Trump campaign’s internal polling looked good. That person he was sitting next to happened to be a Russian. This started a years long scandal, which included special prosecutors and congressional investigations, of an alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians.

Today, it has come out that the Iranians have hacked the Trump campaign, and sent sensitive information to the Harris and Biden campaign. Their campaign then shopped the information around the media outlets.

This is a massive, massive scandal. But somehow I doubt the media will treat it the same.

Oh, and Iran will have 12 nukes by the time Biden leaves office. Cheers!

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https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/18/fbi-says-iran-sent-hacked-trump-info-to-biden-campaign-00179951

“The Islamic Republic now has the technical know-how and resources to get more than a dozen nuclear bombs online in just four months — possibly before Joe Biden, the man who enabled this, officially leaves office on Jan 21, 2025.”

Iran is set to go nuclear, thanks to Biden — and the mullahs want Harris to win

As November approaches, it’s crucial to remember that Iran wants Kamala Harris to win — and may, per a new analysis, be in a position to rush a nuclear weapon to readiness as the US election fight …

nypost.com

"Hearing FSU and Clemson have rejected the ACC proposal that would keep them with the conference and end all legal battles. Do I hear a clock ticking?"

"The door isn’t closed for an agreement to be reached, but a settlement seems more likely."

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Color rush?
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Pretty solid Doc on HBO Max; if you haven’t watched it’s worth 4 hours of your time. The original soundtrack is solid if you’re into that kind of stuff like I am. (Seeing Hans Zimmer in FW tonight actually)

Tiger King meets chimps. Made by the same guys. Some pretty brutal stories.