Big 12 Tournament 2012 Schedule: Breaking Down Today's Top Meetings

The Big 12 Tournament is underway with four matchups set to be held today. Baylor and Kansas State, the fourth and fifth seeds respectively, are already in action, but let's take a look at the three other games on today's slate:

No. 1 Kansas vs No. 9 Texas A&M

The Aggies landed a date with the Jayhawks by virtue of their opening round win over eighth-seeded Oklahoma.

Saying that Kansas has had Texas A&M's number of late would be a vast understatement. Rock Chalk Jayhawk has taken 18 of the last 19 contests from the Aggies since 1996, and with today's matchup marking the last time these two foes will battle each other in a conference game, both teams will by vying to end on a high note.

Kansas is in search of its third straight Big 12 Tournament title, while Texas A&M is simply trying to extend its season as a postseason berth is unexpected.

Junior forward Thomas Robinson lifted the Jayhawks to victory the first time these two teams met in Lawrence. Texas A&M held a two-point halftime lead, but it soon evaporated thanks to Robinson's 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks which led Kansas to a 64-54 win.

The conference foes met again a month later, but Robinson had a rough go of it that time around, shooting just 3-10 from the floor for 10 points. Elijah Johnson picked up the slack with 18 first-half points as Kansas cruised to a 10-point halftime lead and ultimately a 66-58 victory.

Kansas shouldn't take the Aggies lightly, seeing as they have already pulled off a mild upset in the Big 12 Tournament over Oklahoma. However, a win today by Texas A&M would be considered an upset of epic proportions, and the Aggies aren't properly equipped to shut down the high powered Jayhawks.

Look for Kansas to cruise to victory on its way to yet another appearance in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals.

No. 3 Iowa State vs No. 6 Texas

The Cyclones find themselves back in the AP Top 25 for the first time in seven years. For the Longhorns, it may take a win over a ranked opponent to put them over the top for an NCAA tournament berth.

If Texas is to pull of the upset, however, it must happen without starting center Alexis Wangmene who aggravated his left wrist in a game over the weekend.

Look for Iowa State to take advantage of the Longhorns' missing inside presence by pounding it in the paint early and often with star forward Royce White.

White had 14 points in the teams' first meeting, a Cyclones win in Ames. The Big 12 Newcomer of the Year had 15 in a losing effort a few weeks later in Austin.

Texas holds an impressive 12-4 mark against Iowa State under head coach Rick Barnes, but it may take a 13th win in order for the Horns to be dancing.

Iowa State, on the other hand, is simply looking to pad its resume as a berth in next week's NCAA tournament is imminent.

No. 2 Missouri vs No. 7 Oklahoma State

Missouri, like Texas A&M, is playing in its final Big 12 Tournament before departing for the SEC. This matchup is a tale of two teams headed in opposite directions with Oklahoma State on the decline, losing five of its last eight, and Missouri on the upswing, having one nine of its last 11.

Also on the line for Missouri in this tournament is a shot at a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance.

Injuries have told the story for the Cowboys thus far with second-leading scorer Le'Bryan Nash sidelined with a hand injury.

The freshman guard was remarkable for Oklahoma State in a huge January upset over then-No. 2 Missouri, tallying 27 points on 12-18 shooting on the way to a 79-27 Cowboys victory in Stillwater.

The Tigers got revenge the second time around with an 83-65 romp in Columbia a month later with Nash scoring just 11 points.

Without Nash in this contest, Oklahoma State will have a difficult time getting anything going against a Missouri defense that suffocated them in the last contest.

Look for the Tigers to roll into the semifinals in a big way with a convincing win over the shorthanded Cowboys.