Dane Massey is a second-year Digital Sports Production major and writes for The Daily News. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
No matter the odds, always bet on the Big 12 to deliver an amazing Tournament, as this tournament features some of the best basketball programs in the nation. Especially this year.
Heading into this year’s Big 12 tournament, both tournaments have a combined total of eight teams in the Top 25 in each of their respective brackets. It also features two of last year’s and this year’s favorites to win the national title. The Big 12 tournament always starts out with really high expectations from the start, but what about this year?
Where is the tournament taking place?
Both tournaments return to the Heart of America in Kansas City, Missouri, for the third consecutive year. The men’s tournament will take place inside T-Mobile Arena while the women’s tournament will take place inside the historic Kansas City Municipal Auditorium.
Who won the Regular Season title and holds the number one seed?
Rock Chalk Jayhawk! The reigning men’s national champions continue to reign over the Big 12 as Kansas snatched their third Regular Season Championship in a row as well as their 19th since 2000. They are looking to add tournament title number 17 and their 10th in the 21st century.
For the women’s bracket, Texas and Oklahoma are tied for the Regular Season Championship. Splitting the title would be interesting if the two teams met in the tournament finals, as Texas won last year’s tournament and is looking for a repeat.
Big 12 Tournament Brackets:
Men’s Bracket
First Round (March 8)
Game 1: No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed at 7 p.m.
Game 2: No. 7 seed vs. No. 10 seed at 9:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals (March 9)
Game 3: No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed at 12:30 p.m.
Game 4: No. 1 seed vs. Winner of Game 1 at 3 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 seed vs. Winner of Game 2 at 7 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed at 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Game 10)
Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 at 7 p.m.
Game 8: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 at 9:30 p.m.
Championship (March 11)
Game 9: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner 8 at 6 p.m.
Women’s Bracket
First Round (March 9)
Game 1: No. 8 seed vs. No. 9 seed at 6 p.m.
Game 2: No. 7 seed vs. No. 10 seed at 8:30 p.m.
Quarterfinals (March 10)
Game 3: No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed at 12 p.m.
Game 4: No. 1 seed vs. Winner of Game 1 at 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: No. 2 seed vs. Winner of Game 2 at 6 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed at 8:30 p.m.
Semifinals (Game 11)
Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 at 1 p.m.
Game 8: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 at 3:30 p.m.
Championship (March 12)
Game 9: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner 8 at 2 p.m.
Predictions for Big 12 Tournaments:
Men’s Tournament: Kansas Jayhawks
Historically speaking the No. 1, 3 and 5 seeds have made the finals in the last four Big 12 Tournaments, with the one seed winning two of the previous four tournaments. The No. 1 seed Jackawks’ Junior forward Jalen Wilson has taken a massive step forward for Kansas, averaging 19.6 points per game which is what Kansas will need to rely heavily on going into the tournament. Overall, Kansas will have to go through some stiff competition to get to the top, but they always find a way to get it done.
Women’s Tournament: Texas Longhorns
This year, Texas is the team to beat in the Big 12 after Baylor had a massive dropoff of a season this year. Texas has fought with the best of the best and over the last year they finally overcame the hump and won the Big 12 Conference Tournament title (the first in almost 20 years). Oklahoma this season seemed to be the next contender with Texas but Texas beat them by 20 points twice this season. Texas just looks like the better overall team coming into this tournament and they look like the team to rule the Big 12 for years to come.
Contact Dane Massey with comments at dtmassey@bsu.edu or on Twitter @danemassey22.
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