RADIO
March is here, and the college basketball season is starting to heat up. Conference tournaments have already begun. There has been no surprise that the Big 12 has once again been viewed as the toughest conference in the nation regarding basketball, but only one Big 12 team will be crowned the 2024 tournament champion.
This week, all 14 teams will battle it out at the T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City for the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament. The teams hope to become tournament champions and then punch their automatic ticket into March Madness.
Let's dive into the tournament, where we will discuss the outlook and predictions of how the bracket will unfold. So buckle up because this week could redefine the season for many of these teams.
First and Second Round Preview
The first round of the Big 12 Tournament begins on Tuesday. Game 1 will feature No. 12 seed UCF against No. 13 seed Oklahoma State, and Game 2 will feature No. 11 seed Cincinnati versus No. 14 seed West Virginia. Both of these first-round games should be close and exciting, as this could be the last game of the season for all four of these teams.
After day one is complete, the winners of Game 1 will play No. 5 seed BYU, and the winner of Game 2 will face No. 6 seed Kansas. Games already set in stone for round two are No. 8 seed TCU versus No. 9 seed Oklahoma and No. 7 seed Texas against No. 10 Seed Kansas State. The second round will be fascinating to watch as most of the teams in that round are projected to be selected to compete in March Madness later this month.
Big 12 Tournament Odds
On Bet MGM, the Houston Cougars have the best odds of winning the Big 12 Tournament at -165. Houston is 28-3 on the season and is coming off one of its most vital wins, a blowout performance against a tough Kansas team. Iowa State is listed as the second-best odds at +400, followed by Baylor at +800. The complete list is provided below.
- Houston -165
- Iowa State +400
- Baylor +800
- BYU +1000
- Kansas +1400
- Texas Tech +2000
- Texas +2500
- TCU +5000
- Oklahoma +8000
- Cincinnati +10000
- Kansas State +10000
- UCF +15000
- Oklahoma State +20000
- West Virginia +20000
A value play that viewers should consider could be the Kansas Jayhawks, 22-9 on the season. Kansas is the No. 6 seed in the tournament, and its odds are set at a drooling +1400. The Jayhawks have been one of the more dominant teams in the first half of the season, but depth and injuries have produced more losses, which has caused Kansas to seed low. With both Hunter Dickinson and Kevin McCullar listed as out for the tournament, the Jayhawks' value has sky rocketed. Another value play could more safe is BYU, 22-9. BYU can get hot quickly from long-range, which could cause problems for higher-seeded teams in the tournament. BYU is a team nobody wants to face in the tournament.
Tournament Prediction
The Big 12 Tournament will be enjoyable to watch, but which team will come out on top? It would be difficult not to choose the Houston Cougars. Houston has been one of the most dominant teams this season, sitting at 28-3 on the year, and has lost all three games on the road. The Cougars saw just three conference losses this season and have recent wins over Iowa State, Baylor, BYU, and Kansas. Houston will lean on guards L.J. Cryer and Jamal Shead to bring home Houston’s first Big 12 Tournament Championship. The Championship game is scheduled for Saturday, March 16th, at 6 pm ET.
Stay tuned for all the college basketball news and updates here at RotoBaller throughout the entire season!
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