Missouri governor says Big 12 basketball will be better without Colorado, Nebraska

Missouri gov disses Colorado, Nebraska basketball

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says the Big 12 will be a stronger basketball conference without Colorado and Nebraska.

Nixon on Tuesday called the departing universities “the two weakest basketball programs” in the Big 12. Colorado is leaving for the Pac-10 in 2012 while Nebraska is joining the Big Ten next year.

The Missouri governor says the remaining Big 12 schools could have a better shot of making the NCAA tournament. He said poor win-loss records and weaker schedules by Nebraska and Colorado were dragging down the rankings of other Big 12 schools.

Last December, Nixon suggested Missouri should consider joining the Big Ten because it had stronger academics than some Big 12 schools. That invitation never came.