Haaland: Curtains on the Big 12

By Kirk Haaland, CycloneFanatic.com Contributor It’s kind of an eerie thing, really.  I actually remember life before the Big 12 came into existence and now, 15 years later, change is on the horizon.  The landscape of the conference and the Iowa State men’s basketball program has changed dramatically in that time. Fifteen years ago on March 2nd, Iowa State beat Colorado at home just as they did in 2011.  Fifteen years ago, we were all gearing up for the final Big Eight Tournament with high hopes as the number two seed.  Never having won the Big Eight Tournament before, how sweet would it be to finally get over the hump and win the last edition?  After winning a close first round game against Nebraska 62-60 and beating Missouri in the semifinals 57-53, the showdown was set.  Kansas—the number one seed—victors of the two previous meetings that year by score of 61-50 in Ames and 89-70 in Lawrence, was waiting for round three of the season. Kenny Pratt was dynamite.  Ed Hightower was o...