The 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament will be hosted at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, from March 12th-16th.
The Big 12 is now represented by 14 teams, as it used to have only 10 teams. Last year, the Big 12 added the Houston Cougars, BYU Cougars, UCF Knights, and Cincinnati Bearcats.
This year however, many other teams have improved and the conference tournament is the most competitive it’s been. Twelve out of the fourteen teams in this year’s tournament have an overall record above .500, while nine teams before conference tournament play are projected to land themselves a seed in March Madness.
Contenders: Iowa State Cyclones and Baylor Bears
Iowa State went 24-7 during the regular season along with a 13-5 conference record. The team is led by Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey, as they average nearly identical stats. Gilbert, who is a junior, averages 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Lipsey, who is a sophomore, averages 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. The Cyclones also dealt the Houston Cougars one of its three losses this year.
Ceiling: Championship
Floor: Quarterfinals
The Baylor Bears are also another team to look out for in the Big 12 Tournament. The Bears went 22-9 this year and had an 11-7 record in conference play. They are led by their star freshman Ja’Kobe Walter. Walter, who is projected to be a lottery pick in this year’s upcoming NBA Draft, is averaging 14.7 points and 4.5 rebounds. The backcourt duo of RayJ Dennis and Jayden Nunn both give experience and leadership to this Bears team. Dennis averages 13.5 points and 6.7 assists per game. Nunn averages 10.8 points and is shooting 45% from three-point land.
Ceiling: Championship
Floor: Quarterfinals
On Upset Watch: BYU Cougars
BYU, who went 22-9 this season with a 10-8 conference record, is the team to watch this week. The Cougars are led by senior Jaxson Robinson, who is averaging 13.9 points per game. BYU is slated to either play No. 12 UCF or No. 13 Oklahoma State. Both are teams that BYU has struggled against. BYU is 1-1 against Oklahoma State and 2-0 against UCF but only beat UCF by five points and two points.
Ceiling: Semi-Finals
Floor: Second Round
Could Go Either Way: Kansas Jayhawks
The University of Kansas has been a powerhouse throughout all of college basketball, as they are always competing at a high level and have earned themselves numerous conference titles. The Jayhawks went 22-9 with a 10-8 conference record; yet, they are having a disappointing season. The Jayhawks have been riddled with injuries as of late, and it has been evident. The Jayhawks have lost three of its last four games. Kansas is led by two players: Hunter Dickinson, who transferred from Michigan, and Kevin McCullar Jr., who is a fifth-year senior. Dickinson is averaging himself a double-double this season, with 18 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. McCullar is averaging 18.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. The Jayhawks will have to win four games to win the Big 12 Tournament.
Ceiling: Championship
Floor: Quarterfinals
On the Up and Coming: Texas Tech Raiders
The Texas Tech Raiders are having a huge turnaround season as they went from a 5-13 record in conference play to a 11-7 conference record. The Raiders are led by sophomore Pop Isaacs, who is averaging 16.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Senior Joe Toussaint is averaging 12.3 points per game and sophomore Darrion Williams is averaging 11.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Ceiling: Semi-finals
Floor: Quarterfinals
Sleeper Team: Texas Longhorns
Even with a record of 20-11, with a conference record of 9-9, the Texas Longhorns could make a surprising run. The Longhorns are a two-headed monster led by Max Abmas and Dylan Disu. Abmas is a transfer from Oral Roberts, who led the squad to the Sweet 16 in the 2021 March Madness Tournament. Abmas is averaging 16.8 points and 4.3 assists per game. Disu is averaging 16.1 points and 4.9 rebounds. This duo, along with their complemented bench depth, will be a threat in the Big 12 Tournament and will not be a team you want to face in March Madness.
Ceiling: Championship
Floor: Second Round
The Pick: Houston Cougars
In its first season in the Big 12, after coming from the American Conference, the Cougars have dominated its competition. Its overall record is 28-3, and its conference record is 15-3 which earned the Cougars the No.1 seed in the Big 12 Tourney. With its three losses this season coming on the road to Iowa State, TCU, and Kansas, the Cougars are undefeated at home. Houston is led by its senior trio: L.J. Cryer, Jamal Shead, and J’Wan Roberts. Cryer leads the team with 15.7 PPG and shooting splits of 41/38.9/87.1. Shead averages 6.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game this year, with facilitating being his strong suit, and Roberts averages 7.0 rebounds per game. As they have 8 upperclassmen on their team, the Cougars are destined to make a deep run into the Big 12 Tournament.
Ceiling: Championship
Floor: Semi-finals
