Big 12 Tournament 2012: Thomas Robinson and Players That Will Dominate in Semis

The Big 12 tournament has gone as expected for the most part thus far, and it has set up two intriguing semifinal matchups. Both Kansas and Missouri are favored to win their respective games, and for good reason, as each team has a number of high-impact players.

That being said, both Baylor and Texas bring a lot to the table, so both games ought to come down to the wire. With every team looking to make a statement ahead of the NCAA tournament, the stars figure to shine brightly in Kansas City.

Here are three studs who will dominate en route to a spot in the Big 12 tournament finals.

Thomas Robinson, Kansas

As one of the most dominant post players in the college game, Kansas' Thomas Robinson comes to play every night. That will surely have to be the case in the semifinals against Baylor if the Jayhawks are going to go all the way.

Robinson leads the team in scoring with 18 points per game and rebounding with nearly 12 per contest. Not only is he big at 6'10" and 237 lbs, but Robinson is one of the most athletic bigs in the nation, and it certainly showed in Big 12 play during the regular season.

Baylor found Robinson incredibly tough to handle earlier in the year. He averaged 21 points and 12.5 boards in those games. The Bears certainly aren't pushovers in the paint as they boast Perry Jones III and Quincy Acy, but Robinson has played at an entirely different level. If he continues his dominance, the Jayhawks should cruise.

Marcus Denmon, Missouri

The fast-paced Missouri Tigers have a bunch of players who can fill it up when they have the hot hand, but guard Marcus Denmon has consistently been their best scorer all season long.

The senior leads the team in scoring with over 18 points per game, but he is also a terror on the defensive end. His five rebounds per contest are excellent for a guard, and he also racks up 1.5 steals per game in the Tigers' high-pressure defense.

While Denmon played well in Mizzou's first meeting with Texas this season, the Longhorns shut him down to the tune of six points in their last game. The Tigers still managed to win by a point, though, which is a testament to their depth. That game was Denmon's worst of the season, and he has been excellent ever since, so look for him to atone for his poor performance with a great game in the semis.

Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas

While forward Thomas Robinson is the player who sets the Jayhawks apart from the competition, guard Tyshawn Taylor is the one who makes everything go on offense.

Taylor is an all-around threat as he averages over 17 points, five assists and a single steal per contest. He can do a little bit of everything as he has the explosion and finishing ability to excel near the rim. At the same time, though, he has a great shooting stroke as evidenced by his team-leading 56 three-pointers made and 44.1 percent clip from beyond the arc.

Taylor and Robinson help each other in a lot of ways, and it will be difficult for Baylor to strike a defensive balance in order to stop them both. If the focus shifts toward Robinson, Taylor can make the Bears pay. However, if Baylor pressures Taylor, he'll simply get the ball to Robinson in the post. Taylor tore up the Bears for 23.5 points per game during the regular season and he'll likely do the same in the tournament.