The Big 12 is arguably the deepest league in college basketball this year. KU and Baylor shared the regular season title, but there are plenty of others capable of making a run this week in Kansas City. Kansas State and West Virginia will kick things off Wednesday and we’ll be off to the races. Let’s take a look at what to watch for throughout the week.
Big 12 Tournament Bracket
The Favorite: Baylor Bears
Though they enter the field as the #2 seed, it’s Baylor that Vegas currently gives the slight edge to at +200. The Bears split the season series with Kansas, and they’ve only lost 2 games since the calendar hit February. This is a well balanced group that simply reloaded after last year’s National Championship. Multiple guys can give you double-digit scoring outputs, and a run this week would land Scott Drew’s group a top seed in the Big Dance.
Player To Watch: Ochai Agbaji
Kansas’s All-American wing was unanimously named Conference Player of the Year earlier this week. Agbaji developed into a superstar over his 4 years, and will be central to the Jayhawks’ chances at title runs this year. Simply put, this group goes as far as Ochai takes them. With Agbaji coming home to KC for the conference tournament, all eyes will be on him.
Team To Watch: TCU Horned Frogs
TCU currently sits on the 8 seed-line in Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology. I think it’s safe to say this a team no 1 seed wants to see in the Round of 32. Despite a few losses to end the year, this is a group that consistently competed with everybody in the conference and holds wins over Kansas, Texas Tech and LSU. Mike Miles Jr. is the type of player that can get hot over a weekend. If they get by Texas on Thursday, this is a group that can make some noise against Kansas and beyond.
Current Tournament Teams: 6
As it stands, 60% of the conference appear to be locks to find their way into March Madness. Oklahoma State is banned from postseason play this year, but they likely weren’t dancing anyways. Kansas, Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas, TCU, and Iowa State should all hear their names called come Selection Sunday. Oklahoma might have an outside chance if they are able to snag a win or two this week. Top to bottom, this could be the most complete conference in basketball. Look for the Big 12 to make some serious noise as a whole next week.
Prediction: Kansas
I give Kansas the edge over Baylor just due to the path. The Jayhawks avoid a date with either Texas Tech or Baylor thanks to securing the 1 seed on tiebreaks. That Tech-Baylor matchup will be incredibly physical, that the turnaround to the next day could be the difference. Texas and TCU both beat Kansas earlier this year, but I can’t see either pulling it off again in the Jayhawks’ backyard. One of Christian Braun, Jalen Wilson, or David McCormack will need to match Agbaji, but if they do, I think they secure their 2nd piece of hardwood this season.
