Snyder, Self close

Missouri coach Quin Snyder has a great relationship with Kansas University coach Bill Self.

“Yes, oh yes,” he said, asked if the two were friends. “I met Bill about the same time I met Doug (Compton, Lawrence businessman) and R.C. Buford (former Larry Brown assistant, now San Antonio general manager). I came and worked camp with those guys, hung out with Turg and Pipe,” Snyder said of ex-Jayhawks Mark Turgeon and Chris Piper.

Knight on stage

Texas Tech coach Bob Knight likes the NCAA rule allowing teams to hold official practices for a total of two hours a week in the offseason.

“I think that’s probably a rule somebody else made other than the NCAA because I have never seen a rule they have made that made as much sense as that one does,” said Knight, who is a big critic of the organization.

“I think somehow that must have come from the United Auto Workers or Teamsters or somebody because the NCAA is not capable of having come up with something that’s actually that beneficial to the game of basketball.”

Tech, by the way, has a whopping eight newcomers this season. Who is the captain following the graduation of Ronald Ross?

“Me,” Knight said, drawing laughter.

Curry best in league?

Self said Oklahoma State sophomore JamesOn Curry very well could win postseason Big 12 player-of-the-year honors.

OSU head-coach designate Sean Sutton, who subbed for head coach Eddie, who has a bad back and didn’t make the trip, seems to agree:

“He’s been a privilege to coach and have in our program,” Sutton said. “He was probably the difference in our winning 26 games, especially down the stretch, winning the Big 12 tournament and getting back to the Sweet 16. He’s maybe as gifted an offensive player as we’ve ever had at Oklahoma State. He’s going to be a leader this year, and our staff believes in him.”

Curry wants to lead. “I am not going to say it’s easy but it is a task at hand. This is my role and I have to show the ropes because I’ve been there before.”