Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said if his conference is going to expand it will be on a shorter timetable as the Big Ten, which announced an exploratory process of 12 to 18 months in December.

Scott said "serious evaluation" of expansion will happen in the next six to 12 months. He spoke Tuesday on a conference call to announce the hiring of former Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg as his new deputy.

The hiring of Weiberg, the Big 12's second commissioner and who came from and left for the Big Ten, gives the Pac-10 an experienced hand in conference affairs.

Here's one totally unofficial vote for the All-Big 12 Conference basketball team were the season to end today following Kansas' victory at Texas.

Cole Aldrich, Kansas
Marcus Morris, Kansas
James Anderson. Oklahoma State
Jacob Pullen, Kansas State
Damion James, Texas

Player of the Year: Aldrich.
Rookie of the Year: Alec Burks, Colorado
Coach of the Year: Bill Self, Kansas

Someone will note, no doubt, the absence of KU's Sherron Collins. Someone else may note the absence of Missouri's J.T. Tiller, although I bring this up not because I believe Tiller deserves consideration.

In the kind of news that really isn't, the March 6 Border War basketball with Kansas at Mizzou Arena is officially a sellout.

Wednesday's game with Iowa State at Mizzou Arena is not.

So I'm just thinking back to Big 12 media days, when it was discovered that Kansas coach Bill Self and Texas coach Rick Barnes had been talking about scheduling a second game between the teams each season that would be nonconference and alternate between Dallas and Kansas City.

While that sounds like a fun idea for everyone involved, I'm not so sure it's the best way to get these two teams on an even playing field once a year. How about the Big 12 actually takes care of that by changing the way the Big 12 schedule is put together?

Even if Texas pulls it off tonight, Coach Rick Barnes said he doesn’t give his Longhorns or anybody else much chance of catching the Big 12-leading Jayhawks, who take a three-game lead in the loss column into the game.

“I think it’s pretty much impossible,” Barnes said. “I don’t see them dropping three games. I don’t. They would have to give it back. They’re extremely difficult to play at home, and they’re a good road team because of their experience. It will be extremely tough for anybody to catch them.”

LEADERSHIP LACKING

Bill Self paged through the history book to dismiss Texas’ recent woes of four losses in the last six games.

“Whenever you’re ranked as high as Texas, people can start reading things into it way too much,” Self said Monday during the Big 12 coaches teleconference. “We won the national championship and lost three out of five games. These things happen.”

Another history reminder from Self: His 2005 team started 10-0 in Big 12 play, lost four of final six and wound up tied for the conference title.

NOT MUCH PREP TIME

After scoring a season-high 30 points during Kansas State’s 79-75 win over Iowa State on Saturday, it’s safe to say Denis Clemente has found his shooting touch.

For the second consecutive game he made half the shots he attempted and scored more than 20 points. He is heating up, and teammates say they don’t see him cooling off anytime soon. Neither does his coach.

Afterthoughts on Super Sunday

After Kansas won at Kansas State, I heard so many declarations of the Big 12 race being over I thought we might see an Appomattox or Versailles treaty signed soon with General Self, sitting across from Gen. Barnes and Gen. Martin with the other coaches standing behind.
I still won’t declare the race over, but if the Jayhawks don’t win the conference with a three-game lead at the halfway point, we’re looking a gag of epic proportions.

George Pinkel, 83 and the father of Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel, died on Saturday.

Condolences to the Pinkel family.

As much as Missouri’s home loss to Texas A&M hurt, this second road victory - 84-66 at Colorado - in conference play may have restored some of the sheen to Missouri’s NCAA Tournament resume.

Kim English, who scored 21 points, wasn’t biting.

“I don’t work for the selection committee, I have no clue,” English said. “I don’t know what it will take to get in. Some crazy things have happened in the past.

“All we control is today, the next day in practice and then Iowa State (at Mizzou Arena) on Wednesday.”