Big 12 Tournament 2015: Round 1 Scores, Quarterfinals Bracket and Schedule

With the deepest conference in college basketball, the Big 12 tournament is likely to provide plenty of drama.

Even though only the bottom four teams will be in action on Day 1, there will still be plenty of talent on display. Based on what we have seen this season, any of the four squads can legitimately beat anyone in the conference, which should create some interesting scenarios for the rest of the week.

However, they must first get past each other in the opening round in Kansas City. Here is a look at the scores and results for Wednesday's action to be updated as the games end.

Time (ET)	Matchup
7 p.m.	TCU 67, Kansas State 65
9 p.m.	Texas 65, Texas Tech 53

No. 9 TCU 67, No. 8 Kansas State 65

Ed Zurga/Getty Images

A disappointing year for Kansas State came to an end as TCU knocked off the Wildcats in the first game of the Big 12 tournament.

The Horned Frogs were led by some fantastic efforts from key players in this one. Kyan Anderson was the catalyst, totaling 16 points and six assists, while Chris Washburn played well in the post with 16 points and eight rebounds. 

Trey Zeigler also added 15 points in the win

On the other end of the court, the Wildcats simply couldn't get much going, and star sophomore Marcus Foster was especially inefficient. Brian Hamilton of Sports Illustrated expressed his disappointment in the effort:

Foster ended up finishing with zero points while spending the second half on the bench. Thomas Gipson and Nino Williams picked up the slack with a combined 29 points and 17 rebounds, but it was clearly not enough.

Despite being the favorite in the game, Kansas State came out extremely flat, as TCU was able to take a 35-27 halftime lead. ESPN's Myron Medcalf had some harsh words for the struggling team:

The players were able to respond early in the second half. They showed more energy to get back into contention, and the Kansas City crowed responded:

TCU was able to build up a double-digit lead, but Kansas State once again came back to ensure a tight finish. Fortunately for the Horned Frogs, they were able to make enough free throws to survive the battle and escape with the upset victory.

Things will get much tougher for TCU in the next round, as top-seeded Kansas awaits in the quarterfinals. However, the uncertainty surrounding star forward Perry Ellis, who is recovering from a knee sprain, keeps the upset possibility alive.

No. 7 Texas 65, No. 10 Texas Tech 53

USA TODAY Sports

Texas took one step closer to the NCAA tournament thanks to a dominant 12-point win over Texas Tech that was more one-sided than the score indicates.

Cameron Ridley was the difference-maker for much of this one as he used his size to dominate Texas Tech in the low post. He finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks to set the tone for the game.

Kendal Yancy and Isaiah Taylor each did a great job distributing the ball, combining for 12 assists and just two turnovers in an impressive performance from the backcourt.

Texas certainly didn't seem like its season was on the line through the first half of the game as it got out to a slow start. Brian Hamilton of Sports Illustrated provided his thoughts at halftime:

However, the Longhorns were able to pull away once they got more physical inside. As Kevin Flaherty of 247 Sports noted, this was a major difference in the second half:

Ridley, Jonathan Holmes and Myles Turner started pounding the glass and earning second-chance points almost at will. The squad finished with 16 offensive rebounds in the game and a 38-24 overall advantage on the boards.

Toddrick Gotcher led the way for Texas Tech with 12 points, but the Red Raiders were clearly overmatched in the loss.

While this game certainly helps Texas' bubble standing, a win over Iowa State on Thursday would be enough to remove all doubt. After two close losses during the regular season, the Longhorns will try to show they have what it takes to beat one of the top teams in the conference.

Quarterfinal Preview

Time (ET)	Matchup	TV
12:30 p.m.	No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 5 West Virginia	ESPN2
2:30 p.m.	No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 9 TCU	ESPN2
7 p.m.	No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 7 Texas	ESPNU
9 p.m.	No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Oklahoma State	ESPNU

You can view an updated bracket courtesy of Big12Sports.com.

This should be one of the more entertaining sets of quarterfinal games you will see all season, as just about every team is capable of winning the entire tournament. These games will also play major roles when it comes to seeding for the NCAA tournament.

Of course, a team like Oklahoma State would love to be worried about that, as the squad has fallen from safely in the field to squarely on the bubble. Head coach Travis Ford defended his team's profile, arguing his nonconference schedule should help, via Mark Cooper of Tulsa World:

"

I have been told, not just lately, even over the summer, that they look...if you tried to make a strong schedule like we did with Missouri, like we did with Maryland, like we did with South Carolina, like we did with Memphis, and say some of those teams may not have the year they were supposed to have, whether it be injuries or just whatever it is, they’re supposed to give you credit for that.

"

Still, five losses in the final six games will make things interesting. Another loss to Oklahoma, and it will be a very scary Selection Sunday for the Cowboys.

Another interesting storyline for Thursday will be whether Baylor can beat West Virginia for the third time this season. Both squads have had excellent years, but the Bears can really get a boost heading into the NCAA tournament with a strong run in Kansas City.

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