Morning Hangover: Suh for Heisman over Colt?

The Morning Hangover gets you caught up on sports stories that pertain to the Austin area, every weekday morning. Because you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.

Mark Rosner of the Austin American-Statesman – “Junior Dogus Balbay set a career mark with 11 assists Monday, but the biggest development for the Longhorns might have been the proficiency of two freshmen. Avery Bradley scored 17 points, and Jordan Hamilton added 13, as second ranked Texas defeated Long Beach State 107-74 in front of 6,082 in the Erwin Center. Balbay produced his assists without committing a turnover. His previous best was 9 assists against Oklahoma last season. Long Beach (4-4) plays fast-paced basketball, a welcome change for the Longhorns after facing a series of opponents who are more methodical on offense. ‘That is kind of my style,’ said Balbay, a native of Istanbul, Turkey. ‘In Turkey, my (national) team was always running.’ Texas (7-0) shot a season-best 59 percent. Coach Rick Barnes said Monday might help prepare the Longhorns for games later this month against North Carolina and Michigan State, both of which make use of the fast break.”

Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express News – “I voted for Colt McCoy, and the decision wasn’t easy. It came down to McCoy or Stanford’s Toby Gerhart. For third on my Heisman ballot. Alabama’s Mark Ingram was second, given the weight of the SEC title game. And first went to someone who helped McCoy last Saturday and will help him again in a month. Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh has the power to influence people, all right. Suh likely won’t win the Heisman, given that he rarely opts for a stiff-arm pose in the end zone. Players such as these aren’t Heisman worthy; Suh is only the most disruptive lineman anyone has seen in years. Such a force can’t be, as Heisman instructions direct, the ‘most outstanding college football player.’ Suh will have to settle for being on top of current NFL draft boards. Still, Suh earned enough votes to be invited to New York for the Heisman presentation. And there he will tower over someone, just as he towered over him in Cowboys Stadium. ‘Yeah, we’re best friends,’ McCoy kidded after the Big 12 title game. McCoy should see Suh as a friend. Suh chased McCoy on that final pass play, as Suh did all the previous ones, too. And maybe Suh’s presence encouraged McCoy to release the football when he did. If McCoy had taken another step, wouldn’t the last second have ticked off the clock?”

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