Big 12 basketball notebook: Lon Kruger knows a good point guard when he sees one

But when the Sooners' coach looks at Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart, Kruger said he sees more than a good freshman point guard.

“He's one of the best players in the country,” Kruger said. “It seems like he doesn't look at himself as a freshman going against a senior.”

In Saturday's Bedlam game that Oklahoma State won in overtime, Smart led all scorers with 28 points.

“He's just a terrific player,” Kruger said of the Cowboys' freshman.

BOB HUGGINS' LOVE FOR KANSAS STATE

It's been a few years since Bob Huggins donned the purple of Kansas State. But the current West Virginia coach said Monday in the Big 12 coaches call that he loved Manhattan, Kan.

“The minute I got there, they embraced me,” Huggins said. “It's a lot like West Virginia people in I felt very much at home.”

Huggins coached the Wildcats for just one season, 2006-2007.  The team went 23-12, winning its most games in almost 20 years. The next season, Huggins left to coach West Virginia.

“I've said a thousand times now,” Huggins said, “I would have never left Kansas State other than to come back home to West Virginia.”

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