Kansas and Baylor finished tied atop the Big 12 regular-season standings and also have the same odds to win the Big 12 tournament so this could be something to behold.
Baylor and Texas Tech, two of the top contenders, have never won the event so that is something to keep an eye on.
With Oklahoma State banned from playing in the postseason, this is a nine-team event. Kansas State and West Virginia open the tournament with a first-round game on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to meet top-seeded Kansas.
If Kansas and Baylor advance to the title game, the winner could be playing for a top seed in the March Madness bracket.
The championship game is on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Baylor and Kansas are among the top 10 teams in the odds to win the national championship game.
Here is a team-by-team look at the Big 12 tournament field with the March Madness odds included.
Teams to Beat
Kansas Jayhawks
- Record: 25-6
- Big 12 record: 14-4
- Last Big 12 tournament title: 2018
- Odds to win Big 12 Tournament: +200
- Odds to win national title: +1400
- NET ranking: 7
- What you should know: Kansas is 1-3 against the Las Vegas odds in its last four games.
Kansas shook off back-to-back losses to Baylor and Texas Christian with a pair of hard-earned wins to earn a share of the Big 12 regular-season title. The good news is that Big 12 preseason player of the year Remy Martin has returned to the court, but he has only played 34 minutes over his last four games. There have been no such issues with Ochai Agbaji, who has played at least 30 minutes in every game in which he has played.
Baylor Bears
- Record: 25-6
- Big 12 record: 14-4
- Odds to win Big 12 Tournament: +200
- Odds to win national title: +1100
- NET ranking: 3
- What you should know: Baylor has covered in just two of its last six games.
Could this be the year when Baylor secures that elusive Big 12 title? Baylor has reached the Big 12 championship game in 2009, 2012 and 2014 but has never cut down the nets at the end of the tournament. The Bears certainly miss injured big man Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, but Baylor has had players in and out of the lineup all season long.
Second-leading scorer LJ Cryer hasn’t played since Feb. 16 and it will be hard for the Bears to realize their championship dreams if he continues to be sidelined.
LJ Cryer is still officially a day-to-day, gametime decision. BUT Coach Drew did indicate today that he likely won’t be available until tournament time at best.
Drew said they are dealing with “Option B” right now, “Option A” being getting him on the floor ASAP. #SicEm #Baylor pic.twitter.com/9XbqLx1Bl3
— Jack Allen (@JackAllenKXXV) March 4, 2022
Challengers to Watch
Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Record: 23-8
- Big 12 record: 12-6
- Odds to win Big 12 Tournament: +325
- Odds to win national title: +2500
- NET ranking: 12
- What you should know: Texas Tech has failed to cover in each of its last three games.
It has been a bumpy finish for the nationally ranked Red Raiders, who lost to TCU, Kansas State and Oklahoma State in the final three games of the regular season. It’s not the best way to impress the NCAA selection committee. Something to keep an eye on for those who bet online: The Red Raiders did go 3-1 against tournament favorites Baylor and Kansas with the lone loss by three points, so perhaps the Red Raiders can make a run at that elusive first Big 12 tournament title.
Texas Longhorns
- Record: 21-10
- Big 12 record: 10-8
- Last Big 12 tournament title: 2021
- Odds to win Big 12 Tournament: +600
- Odds to win national title: +6600
- NET ranking: 16
- What you should know: Texas is 0-4-1 against the college basketball spread in its last five games.
Seven of the last 11 games for the Longhorns have come against ranked teams, so Texas should be ready for the tournament. Among the Big 12 teams, only Oklahoma has played more games against ranked teams.
Despite that tough schedule, the Longhorns rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense.
Will the Glass Slipper Fit?
TCU Horned Frogs
- Record: 19-11
- Big 12 record: 8-10
- Odds to win Big 12 Tournament: +1600
- NET ranking: 46
- What you should know: TCU is 5-1-1 against the spread in its last seven games.
The Horned Frogs lead the Big 12 in rebounds per game, offensive rebounds and rebounding margin. That rebounding prowess was on full display in the Horned Frogs’ upset of Kansas earlier this month.
A run deep into the conference tournament would aid the March Madness predictions of having six Big 12 teams in the NCAA field.
Oklahoma Sooners
- Record: 17-14
- Big 12 record: 7-11
- Last Big 12 tournament title: 2003
- Odds to win Big 12 Tournament: +2000
- Odds to win national title: +25000
- NET ranking: 43
- What you should know: Oklahoma has won its last three games and covered in each.
Oklahoma is playing some of its best basketball in the last few games even without double-digit scorer Elijah Harkless. The 24 steals during a three-game winning streak, including back-to-back contests with 10, have certainly helped.
Iowa State Cyclones
- Record: 20-11
- Big 12 record: 7-11
- Last Big 12 tournament title: 2019
- Odds to win Big 12 Tournament: +2000
- Odds to win national title: +15000
- NET ranking: 41
- What you should know: Four of Iowa State’s last five games have finished over the total.
Good luck trying to figure out what you’ll get from this Iowa State team. The Cyclones used an impressive start to break into the Associated Press Top 25 poll and receive praise as one of the surprise teams in the country. Since a 12-0 start, Iowa State is just 8-11. The Cyclones do own wins over Texas Tech and Texas but recently put up only 36 points in a loss to Oklahoma State.
Kansas State Wildcats
- Record: 14-16
- Big 12 record: 6-12
- Odds to win Big 12 Tournament: +5000
- NET ranking: 71
- What you should know: The total has gone over in each of Kansas State’s last seven games.
The good news for Kansas State is that it is looking like second-leading scorer and top rebounder Markquis Nowell has a chance to play in Wednesday’s tournament opener. Nowell averaged 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists in two games this season against West Virginia.
West Virginia Mountaineers
- Record: 15-16
- Big 12 record: 4-14
- Odds to win Big 12 Tournament: +5000
- Odds to win national title: +10000
- NET ranking: 78
- What you should know: West Virginia is 5-11 against the spread in its last 16 games.
West Virginia showed some signs of life late in the regular season, losing one-possession games to Iowa State and Texas and winning its regular-season finale against TCU.
Here’s your chance to win $1,000,000. Shoot your shot in the BetUS March Mayhem Bracket Contest.
