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2020 Big 12 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Wednesday, March 11th (first round); Thursday, March 12th (quarterfinals); Friday, March 13th (semifinals); Saturday, March 14th (championship)

Format

Traditional bracket

Site

The T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri will host the Big 12 Tournament for the 13th season in a row (counting 2020) and has the rights until 2024.

TV/Streaming Info

Much like the ACC, the Big 12 Tournament’s ESPN channel designations will depend on the matchups available. The lone first-round game will appear on either ESPN2 or U, while the quarters and semis will be on either ESPN or ESPN2. The championship game; however, is locked in for ESPN at 6 Eastern on Selection Eve.

Participants

With Oklahoma State ineligible for the postseason, the 2021 Big 12 Tournament will feature just nine teams.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Wed., March 9)

Game 1: (9) West Virginia 73, (8) Kansas State (14-17, 6-12) 67

Quarterfinals (Thurs., March 10)

Game 2: (5) TCU 65, (4) Texas (21-11, 10-8) 60
Game 3: (9) West Virginia (16-17, 4-14) 63, (1) Kansas 87
Game 4: (7) Oklahoma 72, (2) Baylor (26-6, 14-4) 67
Game 5: (6) Iowa State (20-12, 7-11) 41, (3) Texas Tech 72

Semifinals (Fri., March 11)

ESPN2 will air both games.

Game 6: (5) TCU (20-12, 8-10) 62, (1) Kansas 75
Game 7: (7) Oklahoma (18-15, 7-11) 55, (3) Texas Tech 56

Championship (Sat., March 12)

Game 8: (3) Texas Tech (25-9, 12-6) 65, (1) KANSAS (28-6, 14-4) 74

Mayhem Potential

Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter in 2020 with my own additions for 2021 and 2022.

In the last 10 Big 12 Tournaments, the No. 1 seed has won four titles, with the No. 2 seed claiming just two. In 2021, Texas became the first 3 seed to win since Missouri in 2009.

• 1 seed (4): 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018
• 2 seed (2): 2012, 2015
• 4 seed (2): 2014, 2017
• 3 seed (1): 2021
• 5 seed (1); 2019

NCAA Bid Totals Since 2011

• 7 bids (5): 2014 (6-7 record), 2015 (5-7 record), 2016 (9-7 record), 2018 (12-7 record), 2021 (11-6 record, Baylor national champion)
• 6 bids (3): 2012 (10-6 record), 2017 (9-6 record), 2019 (8-6 record)
• 5 bids (2): 2011 (5-5 record, 12 members), 2013 (3-5 record)

The Big 12 has sent no fewer than five teams to the NCAA Tournament over the past 10 years. While it looked for a time like the conference would put seven or eight teams in the 2022 field, six is now far more likely barring a surprise winner here.

Note that Baylor’s 6-0 run to the title really boosted the conference’s success rate in 2021. No other team managed to make it out of the Second Round.

Last Conference Tournament Championships

Texas: 2021 (4 seed)
Iowa State: 2019 (5 seed)
Kansas: 2018 (1 seed)
West Virginia: 2010 (3 seed, Big East)
Oklahoma State: 2005 (3 seed)
Oklahoma: 2003 (3 seed)
Texas Tech: 1996 (1 seed, SWC)
Kansas State: 1980 (2 seed, Big 8)

In 2021, Texas won its first Big 12 title and first conference tournament title since 1995 (Southwest). That leaves West Virginia, Texas Tech, Kansas State, TCU, and Baylor in search of their first Big 12 crowns. Making matters worse for the Horned Frogs and Bears is the fact that neither team has a conference tournament title to its name.