Big 12 Conference Tournament Preview
As the NCAA Tournament approaches, the Big 12 Conference is showcasing a wealth of teams that could potentially thrive during March Madness. A successful outcome in the upcoming conference tournament may provide the necessary momentum for several squads as they head toward this prestigious event. Arizona appears to be virtually guaranteed a No. 1 seed for the national tournament, but the opportunity for either Houston or Iowa State to claim the final top seed is within reach if they can triumph in the Big 12 championship.
Key Players and Teams
Key players are stepping up, notably Kansas, who could contend for the conference crown, particularly with the recent return of Darryn Peterson. The talented prospect, expected to be a leading pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has been performing at an impressive level, logging over 30 minutes in each of his past four games. Additionally, the outcomes of the Big 12 tournament will be crucial for other teams like TCU, UCF, and Cincinnati that are competing for at-large NCAA bids.
Projected Big 12 Tournament Schedule
At present, here’s how the Big 12 tournament bracket stands as of March 4, with only one game remaining in the regular season:
Projected Big 12 Tournament Schedule (all times Eastern):
- Tuesday, March 10
- Game 1: No. 12 Arizona State vs. No. 13 Oklahoma State, 12:30 p.m.
- Game 2: No. 9 West Virginia vs. No. 16 Utah, 3 p.m.
- Game 3: No. 10 BYU vs. No. 15 Kansas State, 7 p.m.
- Game 4: No. 11 Colorado vs. No. 14 Baylor, 9:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 11
- Game 5: Winner of Game 1 vs. No. 5 Iowa State, 12:30 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
- Game 6: Winner of Game 2 vs. No. 8 Cincinnati, 3 p.m. | ESPNU
- Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. No. 7 UCF, 7 p.m. | ESPNU
- Game 8: Winner of Game 4 vs. No. 6 TCU, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2/ESPNU
- Thursday, March 12
- Game 9: Winner of Game 5 vs. No. 4 Kansas, 12:30 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
- Game 10: Winner of Game 6 vs. No. 1 Arizona, 3 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
- Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. No. 2 Houston, 7 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
- Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. No. 3 Texas Tech, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
- Friday, March 13
- Game 13: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10, 7 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
- Game 14: Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 12, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN/ESPN2
- Saturday, March 14
- Game 15: Championship game, 6 p.m. | ESPN
The unfolding dynamics of these matchups underscore the competitive spirit within the conference, promising an exciting lead-up to March Madness.
