Big 12 Basketball: How the Conference Tournament Is Going to Set Up

As we fly down the home stretch of the NCAA basketball regular season, there is still a lot to be decided in the Big 12 seeding race. The top two seeds are all but locked up, but with the rest of the seeds up for grabs the last two weeks of the season are going to be really exciting. Lets take a look at the field twelve though one.

Iowa State

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LAWRENCE, KS - FEBRUARY 12: Melvin Ejim #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones dunks during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on February 12, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

After a fairly successful non-conference run the Cyclones are currently on a 10 game losing streak. The team has shown signs of life at home only losing by five to Kansas. They have just not been talented enough to knock off many teams with their "Hilton Magic".  

Current Conference Record: 1-12

Games Left: Nebraska, Colorado, @ Kansas State

Projected Record: 1-2

Projected Finish: 12th place

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match-up: Kansas State

Texas Tech

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COLUMBIA, MO - FEBRUARY 15: Javarez Willis #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders hangs his head in the final seconds of the game against the Missouri Tigers on February 15, 2011 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

It has been a long winter in Lubbock. The Red Raiders have not shown very much life through out the Big 12 season with their best win coming against Nebraska. They are still apart of the 4 win pack and are coming on to a few winnable games down the stretch but who am I kidding this team isn't looking very good right now.

Current Conference Record: 4-9

Games Remaining: @Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, @Texas A&M

Projected Record: 1-2

Projected Finish: 11th

Projected First Round Tournament Match Up: Nebraska 

Oklahoma

The Sooners were projected to be by far the worst team in the conference this year. Well the Oklahoma faithful have that going for them. Despite a super embarrassing loss to Division 2 Chaminade in the Maui Invitational this team found a way to get a 4 game winning streak in conference play and have played some decent basketball. 

Current Conference Record: 4-9

Remaining Games: Kansas, @Texas Tech, Oklahoma State

Projected Record: 1-2

Projected Finish: 10th

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Baylor

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State has had their moments with wins over Missouri and Kansas State, but then have losses against Texas Tech and Colorado. The Cowboys have been close in a few games this year including a one point loss to Texas A&M. They are in the bottom of a pack of teams that are all sitting at 4 wins, I could see this team pulling up to a nine or ten seed in the conference tournament.

Current Conference Record: 4-9 

Games Remaining: Texas Tech, Baylor, @Oklahoma

Projected Record: 2-1

Projected Finish: 9th

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Colorado

Colorado

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 10: Alec Burks #10 of the Colorado Buffaloes shoots a free throw in the first half during the first round game of the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the Sprint Center on M

The buffs looked like this years surprise team at the beginning of the season when they started Big XII play 3-0, knocking off Missouri, Kansas State and Oklahoma State. Their lack of size has eventually started to kill the team as the bloodbath that is the conference season wore on. Led by Sophomore Alec Burks, they can beat anybody in the altitude in Boulder but on the road they are lacking the leadership that it takes to win.

Current Conference Records: 6-7

Games Remaining: Texas, @Iowa State, Nebraska

Projected Record: 1-2

Projected Finish: 8th

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Oklahoma State

Baylor

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HOUSTON - MARCH 28: Forward Quincy Acy #4 of the Baylor Bears reacts after making a slam dunk against the Duke Blue Devils during the south regional final of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Reliant Stadium on March 28, 2010 in Houston, Texas

Baylor played a must win game on Wednesday night at Mizzou Arena. They were unable to do accomplish their goal. After entering the season with fairly high expectations this team just never seemed to show up. Losing to Iowa State, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech has been to much to overcome for the team that is currently looking at the NIT. Their best win came on the road at Texas A&M but that is to little to make up for their bad losses. Its been a disappointing season in Waco.

Current Conference Record: 6-7

Games Remaining: Texas A&M, @Oklahoma State, Texas

Projected Record: 1-2

Projected Finish: 7th

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Oklahoma

Nebraska

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 10: Lance Jeter #34 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers moves the ball in the second half against the Missouri Tigers during the first round game of the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 10,

Nebraska has been the surprise of the league this season. They have played some of the best defense in the Big 12 this season. After a monumental win against Texas on Saturday put them squarely on the NCAA tournament bubble they fell back off the bubble with a loss against Kansas State on Wednesday.

Current Conference Record: 6-7

Games Remaining: @Iowa State, Missouri, @Colorado

Projected Record: 2-1

Projected Finish: 6th

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Texas Tech

Kansas State

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 23: Jacob Pullen #0 of the Kansas State Wildcats in action during the CBE Classic championship game against the Duke Blue Devils on November 23, 2010 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty

What a roller coaster ride the Wildcats have been this season. Predicted by many to win the league and ranked number 3 in the country at the beginning of the season this team just had troubles pulling it together on and off the court. The low point was after they started one and four in conference play, and the media was leaving them for dead in the NIT. Though they have pulled it together and upset then number one Kansas and now look primed to make a tournament run.

Current Conference Record: 7-6

Games Remaining: Missouri, @Texas, Iowa State

Projected Record: 2-1

Projected Finish: 5th

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Iowa State 

Missouri

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COLUMBIA, MO - JANUARY 17: Laurence Bowers #21 of the Missouri Tigers dunks during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on January 17, 2011 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

It looks as though Missouri should be able to slip into the important top 4 spots, assuring them a bye though the first round of the conference tournament. Although a three seed would be possible, it would take a slip up by Texas A&M, and a stolen victory by the tigers. This team has the potential to shock some people this March, but the question is if the team can actually play a complete game outside of the friendly confines of Mizzou Arena.

Current Conference Record: 8-5

Games Remaining: @Kansas State, @Nebraska, Kansas

Projected Record: 1-2

Projected Finish: 4th

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Winner of Kansas State/Iowa State

Texas A&M

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SPOKANE, WA - MARCH 21: Khris Middleton #22 of the Texas A&M Aggies drives the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Spokane Arena on March 21, 2010 in Spokane, Washington. Purdue

The Aggies seem to have the 3 seed almost locked down, and with solid play the rest of the way they should. This team has gotten blown out by Texas twice, but has beaten the teams that they should, and that is how they got to the position they are in now. Their best win came against Missouri in an overtime thriller in College Station. 

Current Conference Record: 9-4 

Games Remaining: @Baylor, @Kansas, Texas Tech

Projected Record: 2-1

Projected Finish: 3rd

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Winner of Nebraska/Texas Tech

Kansas

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LAWRENCE, KS - FEBRUARY 12: Markieff Morris #21 of the Kansas Jayhawks dunks during the game against the Iowa State Cyclones on February 12, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Now, for the by far two best teams in the league. Kansas is one game behind Texas with three to play, and barring anything crazy the results should hold. There are not an awful lot of weaknesses among this Jayhawks roster, although they have been known to play very inconstantly. Expect this team to face off with Texas in the Big 12 final, it will be epic.

Current Conference Record: 11-2

Games Remaining: @Oklahoma, Texas A&M, @Missouri

Projected Record: 3-0

Projected Finish: 2nd

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Winner of Baylor/Oklahoma 

Texas

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GREENSBORO, NC - DECEMBER 18: Jordan Hamilton #3 of the Texas Longhorns against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Greensboro Coliseum on December 18, 2010 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Texas is an incredibly scary team come tourney time. They play great lockdown defense and score well too. I wouldn't be surprised to see them make a run deep into the NCAAs. Led by Sophomore Jordan Hamilton, this team has the make up of a potentially great team. After playing a brutal non conference schedule the Longhorns went on a huge run though conference play until they ran into a buzzsaw in Lincoln on Saturday. Look out for the 'horns.

Current Conference Ranking: 12-1

Games Remaining: @Colorado, Kansas State, @Baylor

Projected Record: 3-0

Projected Finish: 1st

Projected First Round Conference Tournament Match Up: Winner of Colorado/Oklahoma State