A.J. Abrams (University of Texas)

Last year (Dime #28) we debuted the “Player’s Ball” college hoops preview, where we went to some of the NCAA’s best players and had them preview their own conferences. This year we did it again, running the major conference previews in Dime #37 (on newsstands now). Since we didn’t have room in the mag for some of the mid-majors, we’re dropping them on DimeMag.com along with the big boys leading up to the tip-off of the college season. Today, Texas guard A.J. Abrams breaks down the Big 12:

BIG 12

THE EXPERT: A.J. Abrams, Texas, Jr., SG/PG
While Kevin Durant was getting all the love at Texas last year, A.J. Abrams quietly dropped buckets, knocking down 120 triples — fifth-best in the nation — and averaging 15.5 points a night. Abrams hit for 20-plus points in four of the Longhorns’ first six games, then averaged more than 18 a game during the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament.

EXPERT OPINION: “Even though we lost Kevin, I think we’ll be a better team this year. We have more experience and we know what to expect in the Tournament. It’s not gonna be one guy who replaces KD – it’s kind of hard to replace 30 points a game — but a combination. D.J. Augustin (PG, 14.4 ppg, 6.7 apg, 1.5 spg) has more experience and is more confident in what he can do. He does a great job of getting everyone involved. I think Damion James (SF, 7.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Dexter Pittman (C, So.) will have breakout seasons as well. Gary Johnson (PF, Fr.) will perform well for us, and Dogus Balbay (PG, Fr.) will come in and give us some minutes. Our ultimate goal is to win a national championship.

“Kansas will be pretty good this year. Mario Chalmers (PG, 12.2 ppg, 2.6 spg) locks people down on the defensive end and hits open shots. I’m not sure when Brandon Rush (SG, 13.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg) will be ready to play (knee surgery), but he’s a great player. Texas A&M lost Acie Law, but they have a lot of guys returning and some incoming freshmen who will help them a lot. Joseph Jones (PF, 13.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) will step up and replace Acie as a scorer inside, and they have Josh Carter (SG/SF, 11.8 ppg) and Dominique Kirk (SG, 7.2 ppg) on the perimeter. Baylor has all five starters back; Curtis Jerrells (PG, 15 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.8 apg) and Henry Dugat (SG, 11.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) will play big for them this year. Kansas State has Michael Beasley (SF/PF, Fr.) coming in, and Bill Walker (SF, 9.7 ppg) will be ready to go after being injured last year. Texas Tech lost Jarrius Jackson, but they still have Martin Zeno (SG, 16.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg), and Coach Knight is gonna have them ready to play like he always does.

“No game in the Big 12 is a gimme game. You have to play your best every single night, because on any given night you can lose to anyone. Some teams play where they run up and down, and some pound it inside to their big man. But we all play tough every night.”