Big 12 Conference Basketball Tournament: What to Expect ,Game-By-Game Analysis

For a conference that at one point this season looked to be far and away the best conference in all of basketball, much was left to be desired after all 12 teams finished their tough 16-game conference schedules. 

The Kansas Jayhawks, who have been at the perch of college basketball for nearly the entire season, came away with the Big 12 regular season title, going 15-1.

Kansas State seemed to surprise everyone in the college basketball world and finished 11-5 in conference, yet sputtered to the finish line with a lopsided loss to Kansas, and an extremely disappointing loss at home to Iowa State on Saturday. 

Texas A&M and Baylor also finished the season 11-5, and both programs will consider their finishes a high mark when they look back on the 2009-2010 season. 

The biggest disappointment of the Big 12 was Texas.

After holding strong at the No. 2 position in both the AP and Coaches polls through the non-conference portion of the season, Texas sputtered throughout the conference season.

For a team with such high expectations for this season, inconsistent play from its younger players, as well as a lack of cohesion in the back court, should be blamed for the Longhorns horrific finish to the season. 

The conference as a whole failed to live up to the glamorous expectations many had for it in the preseason. While five teams finished the season with double-digits in the conference winning column, most would have pegged six or seven when the season started. 

Looking back though, the Big 12 should be getting at least seven teams into the NCAA tournament come the CBS Selection Show this coming Sunday. With seven teams in, this would be a record for the Big 12. 

We'll be 10 days into March when the Big 12 tournament tips off.

Last season's tournament provided plenty of surprises as Missouri took out a streaking Baylor team in the Conference Final. 

This year could provide even more parity. I'll be taking a look at every single game in this season's tournament, and providing my predictions on how it will all shape up. 

First Round Games on Wednesday, March 10

No. 8 Colorado against No.9 Texas Tech 

This should easily be the best matchup of the four opening-round games. Obviously with seeds No. 8 and No. 9 facing each other, that is what you would expect. 

Colorado has really refused to vanish into the depths of the conference standings, and has put on some great performances along the way.

Texas Tech followed up a strong showing in non-conference play with lackluster play inside the conference.  

This game is a rematch of this past weekend's game where Colorado prevailed 101-90 in Boulder. 

I think Colorado will match their result from this past weekend, although I don't think the game will produce 191 points. 

No. 7 Oklahoma State against No. 10. Oklahoma

Bedlam will play out for a third time this season, this time in Kansas City's Sprint Center. 

Each team won at their home venues during the conference regular season.

The neutral floor could prove to be the equalizer in this game. Oklahoma State has more talent than Oklahoma, but whether or not they use it to their advantage is another matter. 

That said, the Cowboys are playing pretty well as of late, winning five of their last seven games. Oklahoma, meanwhile, has lost a staggering eight straight after starting 4-4 in conference. 

Current form is just too overwhelming to argue with. The Cowboys should prevail rather easily on Wednesday evening. 

No. 6  Texas against No. 11 Iowa State

As previously mentioned, several factors may have contributed to Texas finishing sixth best this season in conference play. 

That aside, they'll be facing an Iowa State team that comes off a huge win against the No. 5 ranked Kansas State Wildcats, in Manhattan. 

Iowa State gave the Longhorns all they could handle in Ames to open the conference season back in January, but came up short. 

That Cyclone team had two more quality players than it does now, yet Iowa State will be looking to mobilize some of its fan base south to Kansas City. 

If enough Cyclone fans decide to make the three-and-a-half hour journey to downtown Kansas City and provide an atmosphere, they may have a chance. 

Texas will be playing with a chip on its shoulder and they undoubtedly have the talent to crush the Cyclones, but its the exercising of that talent that has come into question all season. 

Barring phenomenal performances from both Marquis Gilstrap and Craig Brackins, the Longhorns shouldn't have many problems dispatching of the Cyclones on Wednesday. 

No. 5 Missouri against No. 12 Nebraska

Falling just out of the final four teams and given a first round conference tournament bye, Missouri is instead rewarded with a matchup against perennial Big 12 bottom feeder Nebraska. 

Missouri won both contests they had against the Huskers this season handily, and no one expects this result to be any different, especially with the large alumni base Kansas City possesses. 

Second Round Games - March 11

No. 4 Texas A&M against No. 5 Missouri

The Aggies were one of the two losses Missouri felt in its home venue this season when they lost 77-74 to A&M. 

A&M is 10-3 over their last 13 games; they certainly have to like how they matchup with Missouri. The Aggies will look to use their size to over power Missouri, similar to what Kansas did to the Tigers this past weekend. 

Not unlike the 8-9 game, paper indicates this to be the toughest of the contests on Thursday, and no one should doubt that it will be the toughest. 

The game will take place at 2:00 pm local time, and that may have an impact on the amount of Missouri fans making it into the Sprint Center. 

If Missouri can speed the game up, and continue to play at the frantic pace they thrive in, I'd imagine they would win. 

Whichever team dictates the pace in this one, will win. I think the Aggies' front court gets the job done. Look for this game to be marred by fouls. 

No. 3 Baylor against No. 6 Texas

After beating Iowa State, a close friend suggests that the win over the Cyclones will be Texas' last victory of the 2009-2010 season. 

I don't know if I will go that far, but it's hard to see them beating this Baylor team. The Longhorns were losers both times these teams met during the regular season. 

Texas is not a very good shooting team, and Baylor plays a lot of zone defense, which means you have to shoot the ball well to win. 

If Texas can ride any momentum they may gain with their likely win over Iowa State, while Baylor has sat idle for several days, they may have a chance against the Bears. 

These two teams met in the final game of the regular season with Baylor winning by a score of 92-77. I'm guessing this one is a little closer than 15 points, but I still like Baylor. 

No.2 K-State against No. 7 Oklahoma State

K-State comes into the game saddled on a two-game losing streak, and Oklahoma State is playing well. 

The Cowboys won the only meeting between these teams in Manhattan earlier in the year. It was after that loss that K-State went on the hot streak that moved them into the nation's top 5. 

I'd expect coach Frank Martin to have his guys fired up to play on Thursday.

If Kansas State can contain Oklahoma State star James Anderson, they should have no problem scoring enough points to do the job. 

Oklahoma State can leave Kansas City with their heads held high, with an NCAA at-large bid in tow. 

No. 1 Kansas against No. 8 Colorado

Colorado was the first conference opponent that looked as though they would put a dent in the Jayhawks' then-perfect conference record in Boulder. 

A determined Kansas team buckled down and held on for a 72-66 decision in overtime. The rematch in Lawrence was never much of a game, and Kansas put up 94, winning by 20. 

Although the game will take place at 11:30 am local time, you would expect there to be plenty of Kansas fans in attendance to root on their Jayhawks. The atmosphere won't compare to Allen Fieldhouse, but it will still feel like a home game for the men in white and blue. 

Sherron Collins will be reminding his teammates about the disappointing second round exit, last season. As such, I'd expect Kansas to win big. 

Semi-Final Round March 12 

No. 2. Kansas State against No. 3 Baylor 

These two teams competed in one of the better Big 12 games during the regular season. No one watched because it was locally televised. 

K-State came out on top in Waco, 76-74 on a last-second shot. Baylor will be out for revenge, but beating Kansas State in Kansas City will be a tough task. 

This will be the late game on Friday night, and there will be thousands of Kansas State fans in the Sprint Center to root on the Wildcats. 

The game will probably become a track meet, much like the one from earlier this season. The home court feel of the Sprint Center should be enough to propel the Wildcats to the tournament final. 

No. 1 Kansas against No. 4 Texas A&M 

This game will be a rematch of the Big Monday clash that took place on Feb. 15. 

Kansas struggled for the majority of the game, and after a late surge by Kansas and a cold streak from A&M, Kansas prevailed 59-54 in College Station. 

The crowd should play a big role in this contest. The game will be played an hour after most people get off of work on Friday evening, so I expect there to be thousands of Kansas fans attending. 

Texas A&M is a great team, and I expect them to win one or two games in the NCAA tournament, but dealing with Kansas in front of what will seem like a home crowd is a task I don't believe they will be up to. 

Big 12 Tournament Championship Game March 13

No. 1. Kansas against No. 2 Kansas State

Throughout the entire Big 12 season, two teams have been a cut above the rest. K-State struggled in their last couple of games, but I don't think that is indicative of a lasting problem. 

The Kansas State players, coaches, and fans all will have a strong desire to see this one through, especially after suffering two defeats against Kansas during the regular season including a brutal loss in overtime, in Manhattan. 

This has the potential to be the best conference championship game of the entire lot. Neither team really have much to play for aside from the glory of lifting the Big 12 trophy. 

Kansas State, should they get to the championship game, will have locked up a No. 2 seed, and will in all likelihood be playing a first round NCAA tournament game in nearby Oklahoma City. 

Kansas, should they make it to the championship game, should have wrapped up the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. 

Both of those things said, each of these teams will want to win this game.

For Kansas it will be another year to add to one of their many championship banners. 

For Kansas State, a win would help Frank Martin announce to the nation that Kansas State is now a quality basketball program and is here to stay. 

The local markets will be hoping for this scenario, as Kansas City is the hub for many KU and K-State alumni. 

I'd expect another great game, and I'd expect another Kansas victory. 

Reflection: 

Looking back, I've picked "chalk" the whole way through. The likelihood of that actually happening is slim.

With the exception of the Missouri-Nebraska game, any one of the lower seeds in the first round games could prevail. 

Texas losing to Iowa State would not come as a total shock to me, or most who have been following the Big 12 this year. 

In the second round, the biggest question will be whether or not Kansas State can get by Oklahoma State.

I picked Kansas State because they've played there way into a position where they need that win to secure a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, as well as the fact they'll have the crowd on their side. 

However, Oklahoma State is good enough to beat Kansas State, and I don't think many would be surprised if that happens. 

Missouri could also give Texas A&M a hard time, but I think A&M have the talent and a big advantage in the front court with Davis. 

I wouldn't be surprised if A&M were to upset KU. It would take a poor effort from the Jayhawks matched by a solid game from the Aggies, but it's not out of the realm of possibility. 

Finally, if the final I've suggested becomes reality, K-State has what it takes to beat KU, we just have yet to see them put 40 minutes of solid basketball together against the Jayhawks.