Bohls: Texas' Marcus Carr is driven to big-time success in the Big 12 and beyond

While I got ya, here are nine things and one crazy prediction:

1. Carr's in another gear. Marcus Carr is a man on a mission. And it shows. The graduate guard is clearly the heart and soul of the Texas men’s basketball team as its leading scorer, leading shot-taker, leading spokesman, leading man. He’s been so front and center on this guard-driven team that he ought to be strongly considered as a candidate for the Big 12 player of the year award, frequently known as the Best Player on the Kansas Team. Asked this week if he thinks his game is at that level, Carr said, “That’s not even in any conversations I’ve had. If that comes, it comes.” His competition will come from seven other players who also made the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Top 50 watch list last week, including Kansas' Jalen Wilson, Kansas State's Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell and TCU's Mike Miles Jr. I’m betting Wilson wins, but Carr’s right there. … Carr was a third-team All-Big 12 selection last season and should be a cinch for first team now. His game has sure come a long way. He leads the Longhorns in scoring (17.4 ppg), assists (80), steals (32) and minutes (31.9 mpg). He ranks in the top five in seven offensive categories and has increased his scoring average by six points and his 3-point percentage from .338 to .404. … A Kansas player has won Big 12 player of the year honors 11 times since the league’s formation in 1996-97. P.J. Tucker and Kevin Durant are the only two Longhorns to have claimed the award, in 2006 and 2007.

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2. Bears on a roll. Hadn’t seen a lot of Baylor basketball, but was thoroughly impressed when the Bears popped Kansas 75-69 Monday night in a terrific game. Looks like the Bears are hitting their stride with a great offensive rebounding team (17 boards) that led to a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points. Baylor has Langston Love coming on a year after knee surgery and has loads of scoring options while the Jayhawks look as limited as I can remember. Did you notice that Kansas had all of two bench points in the game? Anything but a vintage Bill Self team, which can only mean Kansas will repeat and defend its title.

3. Texas-OU courtside. Big 12 men’s hoops may not miss the Longhorns and Sooners once they depart for the SEC. But the women will since only the Oklahoma women (14th) and Iowa State (18th) are ranked. Texas would be No. 27 if the Top 25 was extended, but this week marks the first time no team from the state of Texas is ranked since Dec. 4, 2000. “It is what it is. All it is is a stat,” said UT coach Vic Schaefer, whose team tries to topple OU on Wednesday night to forge a tie for first in the league. But if Texas (16-2) wants to be a first-round NCAA host, it’s going to have to improve quickly. … Something has to give because OU is the top scoring team in the Big 12, averaging 87.3 points with eight games in the 90s and one with 105. The Longhorn D allows just 57.6 points a game. … Rori Harmon looks to be fine after her scary tumble in Waco made everyone hold their breath. Schaefer said she’s practicing and will play against OU, but I’m guessing not the full 40 minutes as usual. Probably only 39.

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4. How 'bout them 49ers. Jerry Jones could have an easy decision to fix what has kept his Dallas Cowboys out of an NFC championship game, much less a Super Bowl, since 1996. After falling to San Francisco 19-12 despite a heroic effort from his defense, Jones must study whether to retain head coach Mike McCarthy, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and talented free agents like running back Zeke Elliott and tight end Dalton Schultz. At the same time he may well lose defensive guru Dan Quinn to another NFL outpost. So, Jerry, some free advice: Can McCarthy, who's an average head coach when he doesn’t have Aaron Rodgers, and pay the price to get Sean Payton. If it’s too steep, replace McCarthy with Quinn. It’d be a win-win. Yeah, McCarthy won a playoff game — big deal, huh? — but beat an 8-9 Tampa Bay team that was terrible all year. The year before, the Cowboys lost a first-round wild card home game and looked awful against San Francisco. … Quinn’s been to a Super Bowl and would have a ring but for some suspect play-calling from his offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who has since atoned for that with some brilliant coaching and drafting with the 49ers. Not that Quinn should be blameless for blowing a 28-3 lead to Saint Brady. But if a third of the league wants to hire him, maybe you should just promote him, Jerry. I’m not the biggest fan of Moore, who at times seems overmatched. … Also let Zeke go at any price. He’s expensive as a pass blitz blocker while Tony Pollard’s star is ascending. And keep Schultz if you can, but remind him you need two feet in bounds in the NFL. … Dak Prescott is a tougher issue. It’d cost Dallas too much salary cap money to part ways. I’ve always been a Dak fan, but 17 interceptions is the stuff a Zach Wilson is made of. He has clearly regressed. … Quarterback is just an impossible position to get right at times. Brady, remember, was the 199th pick. No one thought he’d be this good. Same for Brock Purdy, who is now 7-0 as the 49ers quarterback. After being Mr. Irrelevant in last year’s NFL draft by being taken with the 262nd pick, the former Cyclone is Mr. Irreplaceable. After trading all those picks to land Trey Lance — three firsts and a third — San Francisco has its star in Purdy. … For that matter, I didn't see Jalen Hurts playing at this level. I loved him in college but didn’t think he’d be this polished a passer in the league. All that said, is Joe Burrow the best quarterback in the NFL today? No, it’s Patrick Mahomes, but Burrow may be coming for that mantle. … For all those who think only a pocket-passer can win a Super Bowl, the dual-threat Hurts may just win it all, and Mahomes is as mobile as they come, even with a high ankle sprain. So is Josh Allen, who's only 26 and a terrific runner, but the Bills’ defense really missed Von Miller up front.

5. Catch this. Great get by Texas in Georgia wideout Adonai Mitchell, a hero in two of the Bulldogs’ biggest games. I did see a national report that the transfer brings a lot of help to “a weak receiving corps.” Weak, really? The receivers are the strength of this Texas team with Mitchell joining Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, Isaiah Neyor and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. They and the offensive line and hopefully Quinn Ewers will be strengths. … Smart hire by Steve Sarkisian to scoop up former LBJ miracle man Jahmal Fenner as his high school liaison man. Excellent move.

6. Great Scott. Sophomore third baseman Mia Scott is the lone Longhorn on the preseason All-Big 12 softball team? Those are fighting words. Can’t believe a Texas team that finished as national runner-up to Oklahoma (maybe the best softball team of all time) doesn’t have enough talent to merit more consideration. Mike White is on the case.

7. Hey, Guv. One last Riggles story. Early one afternoon in the fall of 2007, sports editor Rich Tijerina and Riggles were alone in the sports department at the American-Statesman when in walked Gov. Rick Perry and his handlers. Riggles was then covering the Aggies, who were looking for a replacement for Dennis Franchione. Perry, a former Aggie yell leader, said, “Hey, Riggs, are my Aggies getting their guy today?" Randy didn’t miss a beat, replying, “I don't know, Coach. You tell me.” Tijerina said he went over to Riggles’ desk and told him how smooth he was in calling Perry “Coach,” which totally caught Riggles by surprise. “THAT was Rick Perry?" Randy exclaimed. "I had no idea.” God love him.

8. Scattershooting. While wondering whatever happened to former SMU running back/Mike Leach nemesis Craig James.

9. On the couch: Watched “Devotion.” Jonathan Majors does a terrific job portraying pilot Jesse Brown and there are some terrific scenes, but I don’t ever sense a strong enough chemistry between him and Glen Powell. An entertaining 7 ducks.

Crazy prediction: Prescott will quarterback the Cowboys five more years.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas guard Marcus Carr driven to big-time success, winning