KANSAS CITY, Mo.

During the Big 12 basketball media days held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, players and coaches from all 14 conference teams expressed their thoughts, emotions, and even provided some humor for the fans. The festivities concluded with Kansas’ head coach Bill Self sharing a lighthearted moment about suffering two broken ribs while playing with his grandkids at Allen Fieldhouse before the team’s scrimmage.

While there weren’t any groundbreaking revelations during the event, there were a few interesting tidbits. Here are some highlights:

Houston’s Ronald Hughey Craves Stake Over Cheeseburgers

During the women’s portion of the media days, Houston women’s basketball coach Ron Hughey used an entertaining analogy to describe his team’s transition to the Big 12. He compared their previous smaller conference to eating cheeseburgers at a smaller table, while the Big 12 represented the larger table with steaks. Hughey emphasized that his team would have to earn their place at the steak table.

Cincinnati Transfers Denied Waivers

Cincinnati men’s basketball team will be missing two key players, Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds, this season. Both players were denied waivers to play right away, despite being second-time transfers. Head coach Wes Miller expressed frustration with the NCAA’s decision-making process and hopes that both players will be cleared eventually.

Taylor Swift Inspires BYU Basketball

BYU’s men’s basketball team, previously accustomed to being picked second or third in the preseason polls in the West Coast Conference, found themselves ranked 13th in the Big 12 coaches rankings. However, head coach Mark Pope sees this as a positive, as his daughter is a fan of Taylor Swift, whose favorite number is thirteen. Pope believes this bodes well for BYU’s basketball season.

UCF Takes Different Perspectives on Preseason Rankings

Both UCF basketball teams were ranked last in the preseason Big 12 coaches polls. The women’s team is using this ranking as motivation to prove themselves in the new conference. On the other hand, the men’s team, under the guidance of head coach Johnny Dawkins, is focused on improving their performance rather than getting distracted by rankings.

Kelvin Sampson’s Dog Analogy

As the only new program in the Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball scene to be ranked in the top half of the conference, the Houston men’s team has received recognition for their consistent performance over the years. Head coach Kelvin Sampson, who has previous experience coaching in the Big 12, humorously compared the conference teams to different dog breeds, emphasizing that the competition in the Big 12 is tough.

These were just a few highlights from the Big 12 basketball media days, where coaches and players provided insights and entertained the audience with their thoughts, humor, and anecdotes.

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Laura Davis

Laura Davis covers the world of basketball with precision. Her articles explore NBA and college basketball, offering game analysis, player profiles, and highlights. Laura’s passion for hoops is evident in her comprehensive basketball coverage.