The 2024 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament tips off on Tuesday, March 12th at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s edition promises to be wide open, with several teams capable of making a run to the championship game. Here’s a breakdown of the key storylines to watch:
Favorites Take Center Stage:
- #1 Houston Cougars (15-3): The undisputed favorite. Led by the nation’s leading scorer, Marcus Sasser, the Cougars boast a high-powered offense and suffocating defense. They’ll look to avoid an upset and lock up a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.
- #2 Iowa State Cyclones (13-5): A balanced and experienced team, the Cyclones have a deep roster and a knack for winning close games. Guard Caleb Grill will be key to their championship aspirations.
- #3 Baylor Bears (11-7): Don’t count out the Bears. Despite a down year by their standards, Baylor’s veteran core and coaching know-how make them a dangerous threat in the single-elimination format.
- #4 Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-7): The Red Raiders are known for their gritty defense and physical play. Look for them to grind out games and challenge any opponent.
BYU Makes First Appearance:
Fresh off a successful debut season in the Big 12, BYU enters the tournament with a chip on their shoulder. The #5 seeded Cougars, led by Alex Barcello, are a threat to pull off an upset and make a deep run.
Wide-Open Field:
Beyond the top contenders, several teams can’t be overlooked. #6 Kansas, despite a down year, has a rich tournament history and Shouldn’t be written off. #9 Oklahoma, with a healthy Rivaldo Sores, can be a matchup nightmare. Don’t discount #7 Texas or #8 TCU either, who both possess the talent to make noise.
Players to Watch:
- L.J. Cryer (Houston): Is a tough matchup with his shooting prowess.
- Keshon Gilbert (Iowa State): A clutch scorer and playmaker for the Cyclones.
- Ja’Kobe Walter (Baylor): Can take over games with his scoring ability.
- Joe Toussaint (Texas Tech): A defensive anchor who disrupts opposing offenses.
- Jaxon Robinson (BYU): A leader for the Cougars, who is known for his clutch shooting and playmaking.
Prediction:
This tournament promises to be a battle. While Houston is the clear favorite, expect some close games and upsets along the way. A potential Baylor-Kansas rematch in the semifinals could be a classic, with the winner facing a tough test against the high-powered Cougars in the championship game.
However, don’t be surprised if BYU or another dark horse crashes the party and makes a run for the title. Buckle up for an exciting week of Big 12 basketball!
Tournament Schedule
Tuesday, March 12
Game 1: No. 12 UCF vs. No. 13 Oklahoma State (Big 12 Now on ESPN+), 11:30 a.m. CT/12:30 p.m. ET
Game 2: No. 11 Cincinnati vs. No. 14 West Virginia (Big 12 Now on ESPN+), 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 13
Game 3: No. 5 BYU vs. Game 1 Winner (ESPN2), 11:30 a.m. CT/10:30 a.m. MT
Game 4: No. 8 TCU vs. No. 9 Oklahoma (Big 12 Now on ESPN+), 2 p.m. CT
Game 5: No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Kansas State (Big 12 Now on ESPN+), 6 p.m. CT
Game 6: No. 6 Kansas vs. Winner Game 2 (ESPN2), 8:30 p.m. CT
Thursday, March 14
Game 7: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Winner Game 3 (ESPN2), 11:30 a.m. CT
Game 8: No. 1 Houston vs. Winner Game 4 (ESPN), 2 p.m. CT
Game 9: No. 2 Iowa State vs. Winner Game 5 (ESPN2), 6 p.m. CT
Game 10: No. 3 Baylor vs. Winner Game 6 (ESPN or ESPN2), 8:30 p.m. CT
Friday, March 15
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 (ESPN or ESPN2), 6 p.m. CT
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 (ESPN or ESPN2), 8:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 16
Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 (ESPN), 5 p.m. CT
Health Is Key For The Sooners
Oklahoma has absolutely been bitten by the injury bug this season, and at the very top of the list of concerns is the health of Rivaldo Soares. He tied a career 21 points against Texas last Saturday (on 7-of-9 shooting) before leaving the game with an injury. The speculation is that he aggravated an ankle injury that he’s been dealing with, but what’s absolutely certain is his value to the team. Over the last 11 games, Soares is averaging a team-best 14.5 points per outing and shooting 68.4% (52-76) from the floor and 59.4% (19-32) from deep.
NCAA Tournament | Win And You’re In?
In Joe Lunardi’s most recent version of Bracketology for ESPN, he has the winner of Wednesday’s game between Oklahoma and TCU getting a tournament bid and the loser on the outside looking in.
Sports Illustrated has Oklahoma as a lock for the NCAA Tournament, saying that they locked it up with their win over Cincinnati last week.
The Michigan State Spartans locked up their bid by beating the Northwestern Wildcats on Wednesday night, and the same goes for the Oklahoma Sooners with their Tuesday win over the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Sports Illustrated
Meanwhile, SB Nations has the Sooners as a #10 Seed in the West.
OU is at 20 wins for the first time in the Porter Moser Era and while that’s marked progress for a coach who literally has had to rebuild his roster each offseason, the Sooners have yet to go dancing with him at the helm. This is the best shot that Oklahoma has had at the NCAA under Moser and while they may be trending towards a tournament berth, it almost seems certain that a win over TCU on Wednesday would lock them in.
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