Big 12 Tournament 2016: Schedule, Bracket Predictions and Players to Watch

There will be a lot of conference tournaments throughout the first couple of weeks in March, but few will be as competitive as the Big 12 tournament.

Not only does the league have legitimate national title contenders at the top, but it also has as many as seven teams that can earn bids to the NCAA tournament. In a conference with just 10 teams, this means there aren't many "easy" games during the season or in the postseason. Once the quarterfinals begin, anything can happen in this loaded event.

While the seeding is not set, here is a look at what you need to know before things kick off from the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

Date	Game No.	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV
March 9	1	No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed	7 p.m.	ESPNU
March 9	2	No. 7 seed vs. No. 10 seed	9 p.m.	ESPNU
March 10	3	No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed	12:30 p.m.	ESPN2
March 10	4	No. 1 seed vs. Game 1 winner	2:30 p.m.	ESPN2
March 10	5	No. 2 seed vs. Game 2 winner	7 p.m.	ESPNU
March 10	6	No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed	9 p.m.	ESPNU
March 11	7	Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner	7 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
March 11	8	Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner	9 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
March 12	9	Championship Game	6 p.m.	ESPN

Players to Watch

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma

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There might be some competition with Denzel Valentine as the National Player of the Year, but Buddy Hield is a shoo-in to win his second consecutive Big 12 Player of the Year award.

Hield was a good scorer a year ago while leading the Sooners to the Sweet 16, but he often took wild shots and lacked efficiency. That isn't the case this year, as the senior has become one of the best offensive players in college basketball.

The guard jumped from 17.4 points per game to 25.4 this season thanks in part to an incredible 48.1 percent from three-point range. As his coach explained, it has nothing to do with luck.

"Never had anyone in 35 years come as close to spending as much extra time," Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said, per Bleacher Report's C.J. Moore. "Not even close."

The extra effort has made him an elite player and the biggest star to watch in the Big 12 tournament.

Perry Ellis, Kansas

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

It might seem like Perry Ellis has been in college forever, but he simply continues the trend of impact seniors in the Big 12.

The 6'8" forward is averaging 16.3 points per game and is a matchup nightmare with his ability to score both inside and out. He is also as consistent as they come, with double-digit points in 28 of 30 games this season, including three double-doubles.

While Kansas has a number of contributors, Ellis is someone this team can trust to make plays and should remain the steadiest option heading into the postseason.

Monte Morris, Iowa State

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Georges Niang is Iowa State's leading scorer, but Monte Morris might be the team's best and most important player. The point guard is also a scoring threat, but his real contribution is leading the conference with 7.2 assists, helping key one of the top offenses in college basketball.

Reid Forgrave of Fox Sports gave high praise of the junior:

Morris has an incredible 4.13 assist-to-turnover ratio, which leads all players with at least 150 assists on the season. He has also developed a knack for hitting big shots when the Cyclones need him the most, even from three or on a drive to the basket.

Few players in the country are more trustworthy with the ball than the Iowa State guard.

Preview

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This will be one of the toughest tournaments to predict since so many teams have the chance to make serious runs.

West Virginia might be the scariest team in the field due to its unconventional style. The hard-pressing squad is a nightmare for opponents, and without preparation, you can expect a lot of turnovers and easy layups on the other end.

On the other hand, it should be easier for teams in the third matchup of the year, especially those with great guard play.

Iowa State and Baylor are two of those teams with strong backcourts that can score on any team in the nation. The Bears also contribute one of the top rebounding teams in college basketball behind Rico Gathers. The problem for both teams is defense, while the Cyclones also have a problem with depth. 

Either squad can pull off an upset or two, but winning three games in a row might be a challenge.

The same can be said about Oklahoma, which features one of the top shooting teams in college basketball. The team is making 42.8 percent of three-point shots this year and gets 39 percent of its points from beyond the arc—12th in the nation, according to KenPom.com. 

This will lead to plenty of wins when the shots are falling, but one off day from the outside, and the Sooners will be knocked out of the tournament.

This leaves the obvious choice of Kansas, which is a predictable guess but also the smartest based on how the team has played. The 30-point win over Texas showed just how good this squad can be, especially when it makes 64 percent of shots from the field.

Doug Gottlieb of CBS Sports discussed the team's peak:

Obviously, it won't always be that easy, but the Jayhawks have a deep rotation of contributors, playmakers on offense and a willingness to defend. After winning yet another Big 12 regular-season title, there is no reason to expect anything less than another championship in Kansas City.

Predicted Winner: Kansas 

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