Last season the Oklahoma Sooners were a team in every sense of the word. We had so much cohesiveness and chemistry and seemingly played as one.

This season's team is different. That is not to say that we are lacking or that the formula for our success is any different in 2003. The recipe is the same as it has always been, but the ingredients are just different.

One new player makes the entire team new, regardless of how many returning players round out a given roster. And this season we have two true freshmen in our top seven.

As the season has moved along, both DeAngelo Alexander and Kevin Bookout have continued to show steady improvement. They have both developed nicely, as individual parts and as part of the overall team scheme.

It is always a challenge to replace veteran players, but replacing both the production and leadership of Aaron McGhee and Daryan Selvy has not been an easy process.

Fortunately, we have three seniors in our backcourt. Hollis Price, Ebi Ere and Quannas White have helped to stabilize the team.

There is no substitution for experience. No matter how much talent is assembled on a roster -- without experience and leadership -- you can struggle to find that cohesiveness and chemistry.

In October we -- like countless others -- had some questions and concerns. Through November and December we worked to find answers to those questions and we are just now molding as one.

We are in the midst of the stretch run in Big 12 conference play and -- just now -- I believe we are developing into a good team.

Following our loss at Texas, we stand at 7-2 in the conference, tied with Texas and still just one-half-game out of first place. There is a four-team log jam for the regular season title, which includes Kansas and Oklahoma State.

There is no doubt -- in my mind -- that the Big 12 is the toughest conference in America. When a team as good as Texas Tech is sixth or seventh in the league standings, it should be indication as to the quality of the conference.

Finally, I would be remised if I did not express my thoughts on Jim Phelan and all that he has meant to college basketball.

Recently it was brought to my attention that Mount St. Mary's and CollegeInsider.com have embarked on a mission to make March 1 "Jim Phelan Bow Tie Day."

I am big Jim Phelan fan. I have always had so much respect for the manner in which he has conducted himself and the high standards which he set.

We live in a society where talk radio and tabloid journalism has taken aim at so many coaches, but one place where that has never been directed is Emmitsburg, Maryland.

In an era when the media has often rained-down on coaches, Jim Phelan has been a beacon in the storm. He is all that is good about college athletics.

March 1, 2003 is a day when coaches will be able to salute that beacon. Coach Phelan is a role model to us all.