Houston Football Head Coach Willie Fritz joined the Big 12 today from the Big 12 Spring Business Meetings to discuss the upcoming season. Coach Fritz shares insights into his coaching style and his approach to developing the young men on his team.

He highlights quarterback Connor Weigman, emphasizing the positive expectations now that Weigman is healthy heading into the season. Fritz also discusses quarterback Keisean Henderson and whether we can expect to see him on the field this season.

Reflecting on his tenure at Houston, Coach Fritz provides an update on the program’s current status and his vision moving forward.

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Kansas Assistant Coach and Pitching Coach Brandon Scott joined Big 12 Today to discuss the upcoming Big 12 Championship for Kansas baseball. Coach Scott began by highlighting the excitement in Lawrence, especially since the team will be hosting a regional. 

He compared the energy typically seen at Allen Fieldhouse to the passion now evident in Kansas baseball. Coach Scott emphasized that a core value of Kansas Baseball is "be a good teammate," a principle instilled by Coach Fitzgerald from day one. He explained that this mindset has evolved into a culture, not just a saying.

Coach Scott also highlighted the importance of recruiting from junior colleges and the transfer portal, which has been instrumental in building a program where players come to Kansas to pursue their dreams.

Coach Scott talks about Arkansas and the challenges the Razorbacks will present, Coach Scott acknowledged Arkansas's strength but expressed confidence that Kansas will come out on top.

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Former NFL and Kansas State offensive tackle Barrett Brooks joined Big 12 Today to reflect on his career in both the NFL and at Kansas State, as well as share insights on the current Kansas State team.

Brooks discussed what fans can expect from head coach Collin Klein and shared his perspective on how the Big 12 Conference has evolved since his playing days when it was known as the Big 8. He remarked, "I went to Kansas State before it was cool to go to Kansas State."

Brooks recounted his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers under legendary head coach Bill Cowher and highlighted how playing for Coach Snyder at Kansas State was life-changing.

He credited Coach Snyder with helping him become a man, emphasizing that back in his era—when NIL money wasn’t a factor—Snyder focused on developing better men and football players. Brooks also shared a personal story about a time he wanted to quit Kansas State football, but Coach Snyder refused to let him give up.

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Max Olson, ESPN's National College Football & Transfer Portal Reporter, joined Big 12 Today to discuss his recent article on Oklahoma State football and their comprehensive transfer overhaul.

Oklahoma State has added 85 new players this offseason, prompting questions about the team's identity. Olson breaks down the narrative that Oklahoma State is merely "North Texas," emphasizing that the Cowboys are not the same team but still have the potential for instant success—highlighting Drew Mestemaker and Eric Morris as key factors.

Olson analyzes the transfer portal class and evaluates the hit rates of teams from this offseason, providing insights into how teams are shaping up. He shares his thoughts on Brendan Sorsby, noting the possibility that Sorsby could see playing time this season, while also acknowledging the chance he might enter the NFL Supplemental Draft.

Finally, Olson discusses whether the transfer portal has affected quarterback competitions, suggesting that programs prefer to enter the season with clear plans to succeed and minimize uncertainties.

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Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark joined Big 12 Today to discuss the present and future of the conference. He began by commenting on the RedBird Capital deal and its significance for the Big 12.

Yormark also shared his stance on college football playoff expansion, advocating for a move from 12 to 24 teams, believing that many talented teams are being left out of the current CFP format. He expressed support for NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament expansion, viewing March Madness as a vital part of American sports and believing that expansion will benefit the second best basetball league in the world. 

Yormark highlighted the NFL Draft, noting the 38 Big 12 players drafted, and touched on spring sports, including the NCAA Softball Tournament and the Big 12 Baseball Tournament.

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West Virginia Baseball Head Coach Steve Sabins joined Big 12 Today to discuss his team's recent success. Sabins highlighted the importance of their defensive strategy, emphasizing how strategic athletes have contributed to numerous wins.

He specifically credited Armani Guzman, one of the fastest players in baseball, describing him as a tremendous athlete. Sabins noted that Guzman didn't see much action during his sophomore year but seized opportunities with pinch hits during last season's Big 12 Tournament.

His performance was outstanding, leading the regional, advancing the team to a Super Regional, and demonstrating his selflessness and elite gold glove defense at first base.

Overall, Coach Sabins expressed confidence that his team has earned the right to host a regional.

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ESPN Analyst and Texas Volts GM Cat Osterman joined Big 12 Today to discuss the NCAA Softball Regionals. She highlighted the evolution of scouting compared to the old days and praised Texas Tech’s remarkable comeback victory over Ole Miss on Saturday.

Osterman also analyzed the performances of Oklahoma State, UCF, and Arizona State, celebrating their wins in the Regionals. Additionally, she shared advice for Nijaree Canady after her challenging weekend, emphasizing the importance of having a short-term memory and staying calm under pressure.

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Kansas State MBB Head Coach Casey Alexander joined Big 12 Today to discuss his new role as the Wildcats' head coach. He began by sharing why this opportunity was perfect for him and his family.

Coach Alexander reflected on his teams' historical success and how he's working to translate that to Kansas State with a new roster. He emphasized the importance of unselfishness and high basketball IQ when building his team. 
Coach Alexander also highlighted how the European style of play has transformed the game and contributed to its evolution.

Regarding his team's playing style, he mentioned a focus on strong defense, primarily man-to-man, aiming to limit the opposition's quality shots. He stressed that winning consistently requires excellence on both ends of the floor.
He credited former Belmont head coach Rick Byrd as a significant influence on his coaching philosophy. Outside of basketball, Coach Alexander enjoys playing golf and watching the Chicago Cubs with his family.

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Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker joined Big 12 Today to share his journey to Oklahoma State. He began by discussing his upcoming weekend plans to visit Disneyland for the first time, expressing his excitement. Mestemaker reflected on his path to becoming a quarterback, highlighting his progression from a freshman B-team QB to the top quarterback at North Texas, and now at Oklahoma State.

He credited Eric Morris for his development as a quarterback, along with RB Caleb Hawkins' contributions. Mestemaker addressed the significant jump in competition from the Group of 5 at North Texas to the Power Five conference in the Big 12. He also spoke about his relationship with quarterback Cam Ward and the development under Eric Morris’s coaching. Reflecting on his growth, Mestemaker discussed transitioning from playing safety to quarterback and vice versa. He shared his expectations for Oklahoma State’s upcoming season, expressing confidence in their potential to win the Big 12.

While mentioning the possibility of being drafted next season—finding it exciting to see his name in mock drafts—his primary focus remains on this season. He emphasized that he will consider the NFL Draft when the time comes. Mestemaker concluded by explaining that his decision to join Oklahoma State was based on trust in his teammates and the relationships built along the way.

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Matt Babcock, NBA Draft Analyst for Babcock Hoops, joined Big 12 Today to discuss the NBA Combine. He began by breaking down the various events at the combine, including 5-on-5 practices and medical evaluations.

Babcock addressed the ongoing debate over the top pick between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. When highlighting Big 12 players who have stood out at the combine, he credited Chris Cenac for his impressive workouts, describing him as a versatile developmental player capable of playing both the power forward and center positions.

Babcock also analyzed some of the mid to late first-round prospects from the Big 12 projected to be selected in the upcoming draft.

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