2018 Championship Week Primer-Big 12

If there was any year that Kansas should have lost the Big 12, this would've been it. The Jayhawks had a depleted roster and a far weaker interior presence than years prior, but managed to win the conference by two games anyway. It wasn't easy; the Jayhawks lost three home games and got swept for the first time in the Bill Self era. But somehow, they won the title and in doing so, set an NCAA record with 14 conference titles in a row. 

 

The Big 12 Tournament will take place in four rounds with all ten teams. The top six teams received a bye to the quarterfinals. The entire tournament will take place at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. 

 

First Round-Wednesday, March 7th

#9 Oklahoma vs. #8 Oklahoma State

#10 Iowa State vs. #7 Texas

 

Quarterfinals-Thursday, March 8th

#9 Oklahoma vs. #1 Kansas

#5 TCU vs. #4 Kansas State

#7 Texas vs. #2 Texas Tech 

#6 Baylor vs. #3 West Virginia

 

Semifinals-Friday, March 9th 

#4 Kansas State vs. #1 Kansas

#6 Baylor vs. #2 Texas Tech

 

Final-Saturday, March 10th

Texas Tech has the ability to win this tournament and go far in March thanks to their defense. However, they've lost a step due to the POY candidate Keenan Evans suffering from a toe injury. Playing three games in three days won't help either. Kansas is the favorite to win the tournament, but with as brutal as the Big 12 has been, any team can win. I just have to make a deterministic choice. 

 

Texas Tech 65, Kansas 68