University of Oklahoma basketball star Keith “Tiny” Gallon may have violated a cardinal NCAA rule by accepting thousands of dollars from a guy who appears to have been courting him.

Gallon — a freshman center for the Sooners – scored a $3,000 wire transfer last August, according to a document obtained by TMZ. The money was deposited in a bank account jointly held by Keith and his mom, Sylvia Wright.

As for who gave Keith the dough — the document shows it’s Jeffrey Hausinger, a Merrill Lynch financial advisor who reps several professional athletes.

It’s a violation of NCAA rules for any player or player’s relative to receive money that isn’t readily available to other players — for example, a student loan or scholarship. We’re told the rule clearly prohibits any agent, lawyer or financial advisor from trying to lure a player with money.

Keith made headlines last week when he announced he would return to OU next year rather than turn pro.

OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione says the school is committed to following NCAA rules, and “any activity not in compliance is taken seriously and is acted upon swiftly.”

We could not reach Keith. His mom had no comment. We called Hausinger for comment about the $3,000 wire transfer — he said, “I don’t think I want to talk to you,” and hung up.

• The first round game against Texas A&M will be the second straight game the Aggies of Utah State have played a team with the same nickname.

• Utah State was the last at large team to get in.

• The recently late Merlin Olsen is Utah State’s most famous athlete alum.

• The school is north of Salt Lake City

• Their leading scorer is Tai Wesley, a 6’7” junior forward, averaging 13.6 points per game. He is also their leading rebounder. This is an evenly balanced scoring team, with three guys averaging over 10 points per game.

• Next leading scorer is the dude who is probably their best player, senior guard Jared Quayle. He is averaging 12.5 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, has 38 steals, is their 3 point gunner (44%) and is 90% from the charity stripe.

• Then Nate Bendall, a 6’-9” junior forward averaging 10.4 points per game.

• They play a three guard set and have started the same 5 guys damn near every game this year.

• They are very pale.

• One figures the mormon runs strong with this group. They are the BYU wannabes.

And check out how great they are:

Wow. Orangebloods got ahold of some videos of Mike Leach’s after game speeches. Good Lord. More f-bombs than a Quniton Tarintino movie. After the Baylor game – language is highly NSFW:

“We thought we were too good to play Texas Fuckin’ A&M”

As of Friday morning, A&M RPI = 12
Strength of Schedule = 6

A&M’s 8 losses are to teams with the following RPI’s:

1 Kansas
4 West Virginia
6 Kansas State
7 Baylor
8 New Mexico
28 Oklahoma State
29 t.u.
52 Washington

A&M’s wins over teams in the top 50 RPI:

7 Baylor
28 Oklahoma State
29 Texas
43 Missouri

So, A&M has played a tough schedule, has a great RPI and SOS. The downside? A&M’s best win of the season was over Baylor. Then OSU. We keep pointing to the high RPI’s of the teams we lost to. But if we expect to be a 3 seed, we need to have beaten more than one of them once. (p.s. – that applies to Baylor as well).

If we could have found a way to win one more of those games against the Top 10 RPI teams, I think a 3/4 seed would be a lock. We were 1-5 agains the Top 10 RPI teams. IF we beat KU today, that all changes. But otherwise, a 4/5 seed – probably 5 seed – looks about right.

We’ve go the right four teams playing today – this is the cream of the conference. My predictions:

Kansas vs. Texas A&M
Big 12 Network
6:00 p.m.

This is the game I’ve been looking forward to. Unfortunately, with Dash Harris out, A&M’s offense isn’t as good as it usually is. It’s going to take a huge effort from Bryan Davis to win this one. Thankfully, Harris ought to be back for the tournament that counts and there is zero sense in playing him today if there is any doubt about his wrist. But if one of the young turks like Middleton has abreal out game, look out.

But, KU is peaking right now and healthy. And in front of a home crowd. I gotta take KU in this one. But I think if KU is going to lose this weekend, this is the one they lose

Kansas State vs. Baylor
Big 12 Network
8:30 p.m.

KSU came out and smoked OSU yesterday in surprising (at least to me) fashion. Where has THAT team been the last couple of weeks?

But Baylor looked good yesterday too. Sure, it’ll be home game for KSU, but I like Baylor here. They are playing their best ball of the year these last few weeks and I think it continues today. Give me the Battlin’ Baptists.

I don’t fault these guys for giving it one last shot. The grieving process when you realize you can no longer play a game you love is a tough road. Ask LaDainian Tomlinson. A couple of these guys will get signed after the draft only to be cut in the summer. I doubt any of them are drafted. Jordan Pugh has the best shot, and I hope the best for him.

Ideally, our program should have enough depth stockpiled to be sending multiple players to the Combine each year. Realistically, we don’t. What is the silver lining? Well, based on who we are losing, it will be nearly impossible to be any worse next year. Oh, and Melvin Bullitt showed up, which is nice.

I want to make some far-too-early projections on what I believe to be NFL talent remaining on the roster. For the sake of this post, here are some guidelines:

• I am not going to include the 2010 recruiting class.
• Players are sorted by draft class.
• I am placing players in draft classes based on expiring eligibility – not early departures.
• I am only including those who I believe have a sniff at an NFL roster.

2011 Draft
Locks to be drafted:
Jerrod Johnson QB
Von Miller DL/LB

Potential to be drafted, but needs work:
Terrence McCoy WR
Matt Allen OL

Possible free agent signees:
Kenny Brown WR/TE
Lucas Patterson DL

Notes: the last of the Fran castoffs. This is another huge indicator to just how young our team currently is.

2012 Draft
Locks to be drafted:
Jeff Fuller WR
Cyrus Gray RB

Potential to be drafted:
Garrick Williams LB
Terrence Frederick DB
Ryan Tannehill QB/WR
Evan Eike OL

Possible free agent signees:
K.J. Williams TE
Bradley Stephens RB
Roger Holland WR
Randy Bullock K
Danny Baker OL
Joe Villavisencio OL

Notes: we will learn a lot about his class during their junior year in 2010. Tannehill is the biggest variable as he is likely to start at QB in 2011. I could see several of these guys shifting catagories.

2013 Draft
Locks to be drafted:
Uzoma Nwachukwu WR
Christine Michael RB

Potential to be drafted:
Sean Porter LB
Jonathan Stewart LB
Kyle Mangan LB
Kendric McNeal WR
Brandal Jackson WR

Possible free agent signees:
Tommy Dorman TE
Dustin Harris DB
Steven Terrell DB
Ryan Swope WR
Colton Valencia DB
Andrew Wolridge DL
Kalvin Guyton RB
Josh Ayers OL
Rhontae Scales OL
Spencer Nealy DL

Notes: massive speculation on my part with this youth. This is obviously ignoring factors such as attrition, injury, etc. However, I think it underscores the point that the talent on our roster lies in 18 and 19 year olds. Several of these guys might be locks by the time they are seniors.

Summary:

Texas A&M should be churning out NFL talent on an annual basis. Like Fran, Sherman is hauling in solid recruiting classes. Hopefully the key differences are that Sherman’s boys won’t wind up in jail, kicked out of school, or hitting the lean with Reggie McNeal. Also, let’s hope Sherm and company can develop these kids while they are on campus. Hell, it might translate to a win or two.

I am sure I forgot some guys. What do you think?

Gig ‘em.

I think every one who has ever made a play has had that same thought at one time or another. But I didn’t need her telling me that.

As for today – now it’s time for the big boys and I think some of them are ripe for the picking. And betting 180 degrees against my picks may be a good strategy.

Kansas vs. Texas Tech
ESPN2
11:30 a.m.

Obviously the Jayhawks are above and beyond the best team in the Big XII, and regardless of what they do in this tournament, KU will be a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Overall, this season has been a wildly successful one for the Jayhawks, but Bill Self and his team will not be satisfied unless they’re hoisting the trophy in Indianapolis.

Cole Aldrich is a force inside

Tech played their best game in the last month – hell, two months – yesterday. They haven’t played two good games in a row all year and there is no reason to think they will today. KU treats Tech like Ike treated Tina in front of a home crowd and send the Lubbock boys home to anxiously await their NIT bid. Rock Chalk Jawhawks!

Texas A&M vs. Nebraska
Big 12 Network
2:00 p.m.

Your Fightin’ Texas Aggies have fought back throughout this season after the loss of Derrick Roland (imagine Gaylor losing LaceDarius Dunn – it was the same kind of impact). Behind the great leadership of Donald Sloan and Bryan Davis, the Ags had a legitimate shot at finishing with the two seed last weekend. Even though we didn’t achieve that feat, Mark Turgeon’s team looks pretty good heading into the conference tournament as the winners of three straight. I think if anyone is going to beat Kansas again it could be the A&M. We are just a team they match up badly against.

Bryan Davis – Heart and Soul of the Aggies

I was worried about a match-up with Mizzou today, but thankfully Korn came out with their hair on fire and took care of the mercurial Tigers. If they could shoot like that two games in a row, they wouldn’t have been 2-14 in conference play. The Ags put this Cornhusker season out of its misery today in dominating fashion. And hopefully it’s a blow out so some of the dinged up guys can get some rest.

Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State
Big 12 Network
6:00 p.m.

Both the evening games appear to be fun ones to watch, and that’s a good thing.

After losing two straight games, one to Kansas in Lawrence and another to lowly Iowa State at home, it’s safe to say that KSU backed its way into the Big 12 Tournament. Kansas State was one of the many surprise teams in the conference this year, and they’ll hope to continue surprising people all the way into April.

KSU has stumbled badly the last week

OSU can play with anyone when Anderson is hot. I see this as a close game and with KSU not playing well right now, I would normally go with OSU. However, the burden of back to back games will be too much for OSU and I see KSU taking this one.

Baylor vs. Texas
ESPN2
8:30 p.m.

Baylor is probably the best team in college basketball that few people are really talking about. Ranked #20 in the nation, Baylor has the resume to be a three seed in the NCAA tournament. Scott Drew has done a great job with his team this year.

LaceDarius Dunn is crazy good

That being said, Texas was my upset pick to lose yesterday. Today, the Horns are my upset pick to WIN! Scott Drew always seems to find a way to minimize his best player’s impact. In addition, I think that huge, slow line of theirs is going to have trouble handling the speed of Brown and James. Sure, Baylor looked good last weekend against Texas, but they were in jihad mode – at home – on Senior Day – well, you get the picture. Take the Horns.

Most certainly should be the most entertaining game of the day. Both these teams want to win a couple to make a case for an NIT invite. I think Colorado has the best shot and the most going for them so they are my pick.

Find me one person in Boulder that isn’t happy with an eighth place finish in the Big 12 and I’d be surprised. CU has finally gotten themselves out of the cellar, and this could be enough reason for Cory Higgins to skip the draft and make a run at the NCAA Tournament next season.

Cory Higgins – the best Big XII basketball player we never get to see

What started out as a promising year for the Red Raiders has ended quite terribly. Right now Tech is riding a seven-game losing streak and even if they were to beat Colorado in the first round of the conference tournament, it is highly unlikely they could beat KU to make some kind of improbable run. But that’s what they are faced with. It has always sucked to be Tech but it sucks just a little harder right now.

(5) Missouri vs. (12) Nebraska
Big 12 Network
2:00 P.M.

The Tigers are still adjusting to life without Justin Safford (1-2 without him, the one win coming off of a last second buzzer-beater in OT against Iowa State). Mizzou has the best shot to improve their tournament seed if they can beat A&M in the quarterfinals. A third shot at Kansas is what everyone in Columbia is wishing for, but I’m not sure another 20-point loss to Kansas is what MU needs before the NCAA Tournament.

Mizzou still trying to find themselves

The Cornhuskers and Mizzou will meet for the third time this season, and the good news for NU is that usually its hard to beat the same team three times in the same season. Unless one team is the New York Yankees and the other the Bad News Bears.

I don’t see the Huskers pulling off an upset of that caliber, and it looks like NU fans can finally focus on the women’s team, which is undefeated. I pick Mizzou.

(7) Oklahoma State vs. (10) Oklahoma
Big 12 Network
6:00 p.m.

What fun! If the Cowboys want to make some more noise on the national level now is the time to do it. James Anderson will keep you them just about every game, but the other players around him need to step it up.

I think this team could be the surprise of the Big 12 Tournament this season, remember they beat Kansas State in Manhattan back in late January and the Wildcats would be their second round matchup if OSU gets past Oklahoma.

James Anderson = Scoring Machine

OU fans would love to see an upset of their in-state rival in the first round game, but I also think many Sooners fans feel the same way about this season that the Coates family felt about Old Yeller. Sure, you’d love to see the season go on, but it might be time to put this team out of their misery and head to the offseason. Go with OSU.

(6) Texas vs. (11) Iowa State
Big 12 Network
8:30 p.m.

Does anybody really care at this point?

If there is any sportswriter in the world that picked Texas to finish sixth in the Big 12 please come forward and let me bask in your wisdom. I think its safe to say Texas is the surprise team of the season in this conference, even more so than Oklahoma.

The Longhorns have one of the most talented teams in the nation and they will probably end up being a #7 seed in the NCAA tournament. No one in Austin is satisfied. However, if the Longhorns go on a run we could still have the Big 12 final that everyone expected, Kansas vs. Texas. But really?

I think ISU pulled off the biggest upset of the year in the last game of the regular season. The Cyclones are playing their best basketball at the right time, and Texas can’t take this first round game lightly or they could find themselves on a bus back to Austin as early as Wednesday night.

This is my upset special as I think Barnes coughs up a hairball and Iowa State comes out en fuego playing for their NIT life and deep six the sips.

Sip basketball continues their current trend

New Bowl Game in New York City

ESPN officials announced a multiyear agreement today to televise the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, which will debut this season in New York with a Big 12 team opposing a school from the Big East. The inaugural game will be played Dec. 30 in Yankee Stadium. ESPN’s agreement to televise the post-season contest runs through the 2015 season.

Big XII football in the Big Apple reminds me of…