Big 12 Conference Tournament Complete Preview and Predictions

TV Schedule

Big 12 Tournament TV Schedule Time (CT)

Wednesday, March 12
6 p.m. No. 8 Oklahoma St., No. 9 Texas Tech, Big 12 Network
8:30 p.m. No. 7 Baylor, No. 10 TCU, Big 12 Network

Thursday, March 13
11:30 a.m. No. 4 Iowa St., No. 5 Kansas St., ESPN2
2 p.m. No. 1 Kansas, Game 1 Winner, ESPN2
6 p.m.  No. 2 Oklahoma, Game 2 Winner, Big 12 Network
8:30 p.m. No. 3 Texas, No. 6 West Virginia, Big 12 Network

Friday, March 14
6 p.m. Game 3 Winner, Game 4 Winner, Big 12 Network or ESPNU
8:30 p.m. Game 5 Winner, Game 6 Winner, Big 12 Network or ESPNU

Saturday, March 15
8 p.m. Game 7 Winner, Game 8 Winner, ESPN

The Favorite

Kansas

The Jayhawks have been the class of the Big 12 for over a decade, and they have proved that with 10 straight regular-season conference championships, plus 12 of the last 13 conference championships. Without center Joel Embiid, the Jayhawks are not as much of a favorite as they would be with him playing, but Kansas still has Andrew Wiggins and is still the most dangerous team in this tournament.

The Dark Horse

Oklahoma State

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Cowboys had to deal with the suspension of guard Marcus Smart a few weeks ago, but his return has sparked an uprising in which the Cowboys won four of their final five games. When they are healthy and have all of their players in the starting lineup, the Cowboys have shown that they can compete with any team in this conference. As the No. 8 seed, and as a team having to open up play on the first day of the tournament, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are the perfect dark horse.

The Bubble

There is no bubble in the Big 12. Kansas, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Kansas State are all locked into the NCAA tournament next week. If any team is on the bubble it would be West Virginia, but the Mountaineers have to win the tournament this weekend and lock up an automatic bid. There really is no shot for them to get an at-large bid in the tournament.

The Champion

Iowa State

David Purdy/Getty Images

The Big 12 tournament could not be more wide-open. Outside of Kansas there is no clear favorite, and with Embiid out, that negates Kansas as the favorite. All seven of the teams that are locks for the NCAA tournament have a great shot at this, and the Cyclones of Iowa State will come out of that mix. Iowa State struggled at times this year on the road, but on a neutral court, the Cyclones have just as good a shot as anybody to take home the championship.