Big 12 Tournament 2012: Bracket, Dates, Start Time and TV Schedule

The 2012 Big 12 Tournament is under a week away, and once it begins, it will not disappoint. 

It's finally March, and that means only one thing for college basketball: Madness! 

Three Big 12 teams are currently ranked in the Top 10, and each has a strong chance to take home the tournament trophy and get the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

Of course, since the prize for winning is so great, the other teams in the tournament will certainly be giving it their all, hoping to earn the automatic bid. 

Big 12 basketball has been great to watch this season, and the tournament should be even better. The pressure is on to win, and that's what makes great basketball. 

With that said, here's what you need to know about the 2012 Big 12 Tournament.

*All games played in the Sprint Center in Kansas City. All times CT.

First Round—March 7th, 2012 

Game 1: Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma, 6:00 p.m on Big 12 Network 

Game 2: Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech, 8:30 p.m on Big 12 Network

Quarterfinals—March 8th, 2012 

Game 3: Kansas State vs. Baylor, 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2

Game 4: No. 9/No. 8 Seed Winner vs. Kansas, 2:00 p.m. on ESPN2 

Game 5: No. 10/No. 7 Seed Winner vs. Missouri, 6:00 p.m. on Big 12 Network

Game 6: Texas vs. Iowa State, 8:30 p.m. on Big 12 Network

Semifinal—March 9th, 2012

Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 6:30 p.m. on Big 12 Network or ESPNU

Game 8: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 9:00 p.m. on Big 12 Network or ESPNU

Championship—March 10th, 2012 

2012 Big 12 Basketball Tournament Championship, 5:00 p.m. on ESPN

You can view the tournament bracket layout here. 

Teams to Watch 

The Kansas Jayhawks, Missouri Tigers and Baylor Bears are the teams with the best shots at winning the tournament. 

For Missouri, this will be its last time competing in the Big 12 Tournament, so the Tigers are hoping to make it memorable by walking away victorious. They're led by senior Marcus Denmon, and in addition to him, three other players average double-figures in scoring each game. 

The Tigers have strong senior leadership, which will help them in this tournament. Having beaten Kansas and Baylor earlier this month, they know they're capable of getting hot and being crowned champions on March 10. 

For Baylor, the best way the Bears are going to win is if they rebound better and get hot at the right time. They're playing great basketball right now, but that will have to continue once the tournament starts. 

Perry Jones III, Pierre Jackson, Quincy Ash and Quincy Miller all have to rise up and carry the team through the tournament in order to win. 

Kansas will be vying for its third straight Big 12 Tournament championship. The Jayhawks have won five out of the last six Big 12 Tournaments, and this year, there is a very strong chance they win it all again.

Bill Self has his team playing very well, and because the Jayhawks have had close calls and upsetting losses during the year, it will help make them stronger for this tournament as well as the NCAA Tournament.

The Jayhawks are the favorites to win, but Missouri and Baylor will definitely give them a tough challenge. In the end, I predict Kansas will come out on top, but it wouldn't be shocking to see the Tigers or the Bears win it all, as all three teams are capable of winning big.