I have several topics on my mind after the first day of the Big 12 tournament at Oklahoma City’s Ford Center. I’ll try to break them down into a numbered list.

Here goes:

1. Really, Texas A&M?

The Aggies looked dreadful in the second half of an 88-83 loss to Texas Tech. Apparently, a 21-point lead (in the second half, mind you) wasn’t enough for A&M. KUSports.com online editor Jesse Newell brilliantly pointed out what scared him the most about the Aggies in the latest Big 12 Soundoff podcast: No lead is safe with A&M. Texas Tech exploited that weakness Wednesday night.

And who was that genius who had A&M as his sleeper team in the tournament? Guilty as charged. I’ll admit it.

2. Could A&M now miss the NCAA Tournament?

I’ll say this much: A&M is far from a Tournament lock, and players and coaches will have to watch Sunday’s selection show on the edges of their seats. Just a day ago, the Aggies were considered a near-lock.

3. A&M may have opened a massive door for K-State.

The Big 12 has never sent seven teams to the Big Dance, and I don’t think 2009 will be any different. If that’s the case, K-State has a huge opportunity at 2 p.m. today against Texas. If the Wildcats were the odd Big 12 team out of the NCAA Tournament discussion, imagine what a victory over the Longhorns would do in the minds of committee members. K-State would look a whole lot more attractive than A&M. Plus, Kansas State defeated A&M head-to-head. In College Station. Really, the only advantage A&M has on K-State is its non-conference (victories over LSU, Arizona). A&M’s biggest conference victory? Missouri, which K-State also defeated.

4. Player of the day: Mike Singletary, Texas Tech.

The 6-foot-6 sophomore forward was flat-out ridiculous, setting a Big 12 tournament record with 43 points. Texas Tech’s 21-point comeback was essentially all because of Singletary. At one point, he scored 29 straight points for Tech.

http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2009/Mar/12/singletary.jpg

So who in the heck is this guy? Well he’s from Humble, Texas. He didn’t even start for the Red Raiders on Wednesday night. Singletary’s previous high this season was 24 against Oklahoma State on Feb. 18 in Lubbock, Texas. He came into the game averaging only 11 points per game. The Red Raiders exploded for 59 points in the second half Wednesday night behind Singletary.

5. Can Big Dex last four straight games?

Texas’ Dexter Pittman was dominating in the Longhorns’ 67-56 opening-round victory over Colorado, scoring 26 points and grabbing 10 boards. The junior center did all of this in only 28 minutes. UT players were consistently feeding him the ball no more than three to four feet away from the hoop, where he’d make one move and score with relative ease.

My only concern is that he dunked at least three times in the first half and looked more fatigued in the second half, opting to lay the ball up instead. He could have had 30 because he missed two bunnies in the second half. If Texas is to advance to the finals, a position it has been in the last three years, it would have to play four straight days. Texas has been searching for alternate scoring options to A.J. Abrams and Damion James for a while now, and they found a goldmine on Wednesday with Pittman’s performance. I’m just not sure the 6-10, 300-pound big fella can produce like this for four straight nights, should the ‘Horns keep rolling.

Can’t wait for games to begin today. Should be another exciting day of hoops. Hope everyone enjoys.

That’s all for now, friends. As always, discuss.