Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big 12 Basketball Tournament: Kansas State, Texas Tech favored to win

By Chris Kern

MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 12: Kansas State Wildcats players huddle after a foul against the Denver Pioneers during the second half on November 12, 2018 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 12: Kansas State Wildcats players huddle after a foul against the Denver Pioneers during the second half on November 12, 2018 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 8
Next
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 24: Barry Brown #5 of the Kansas State Wildcats controls ball against the Loyola Ramblers in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 24, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 24: Barry Brown #5 of the Kansas State Wildcats controls ball against the Loyola Ramblers in the first half during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 24, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Semifinals

(1) Kansas State vs (5) Iowa State

The Kansas State Wildcats are the better team in this matchup. They have been playing very well since their home loss a couple of weeks ago against this same Iowa State team. With how the Cyclones are struggling, I expect the Kansas State defense to give them a lot of fits.

Iowa State’s recent success in the Big 12 Tournament shows that they are more than capable of winning this game. Both road teams won the regular season matchups so this game could go either way. The Cyclones shot the ball extremely well in the matchup in Manhattan and it may take a similar performance to get this win.

In regards to the NCAA Tournament, Iowa State needs this win more than Kansas State would. Both teams are solidly in the field but the Cyclones want to improve their seeding as much as possible to avoid a second-round matchup with a one or two seed. I expect them to play extremely well as they pull off the upset of the top-seeded Wildcats.

(2) Texas Tech vs (3) Kansas

This game would be the marquee matchup in this conference tournament even though it would just be a semifinal game. They will very likely be the top two teams in the Big 12 in terms of NCAA Tournament seeding. Kansas needs a good showing in the conference tournament to secure a three seed and a win over Texas Tech would likely do that.

This matchup features the two best players in the Big 12 in Dedric Lawson in Jarrett Culver. Both teams dominated on their home court in the regular season matchups so it’ll be interesting to see how they stack up on a neutral court. Texas Tech has been playing at an elite level since their loss in Lawrence and they will look to keep that going in the Big 12 Tournament. The way that they defend will give the Kansas freshmen a lot of problems. I expect the Red Raiders to win this game in a fairly close game but one they control throughout.

Next. Cinderella hopefuls in the Big Dance. dark

Finals

(2) Texas Tech vs (5) Iowa State

A matchup without at least one of the two Kansas teams would surprise some people but this conference is extremely tough. The Big 12 Tournament is full of surprises and these are two very talented basketball teams.

The way Texas Tech has played they are the favorite to win this tournament as they should be. Iowa State won’t be picked by many to get the championship game but very few would be surprised if they did. They have all the talent in the world and have shown signs this season of being a Final Four contender.

This will be a very exciting matchup between two teams who have different styles they like to play. I expect Iowa State to play well but they will struggle to score and rebound the basketball as they have in previous matchups with the Red Raiders. I have Texas Tech winning the Big 12 Tournament which locks them up with at least a top-three seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Home/Big 12