Selection Show TV Time: 2012 NCAA Tournament Field Revealed Sunday

The NCAA men's basketball tournament field is ready to be set this evening, and college basketball fans from all over will be watching to see not only if their team made it or not but who they will be playing. It's also the start of the wonderful "office pool" time of year as well. As CBS hosts the official selection show, there's more analysis this year than there has been in previous seasons.

Jerod Morris writes, "What is unique about this year’s Selection Sunday coverage is that the Selection Show crew will be hosting an hour-long special immediately after the Selection Show called Hardcore Brackets to break down the brackets with actual committee members. The show will be aired on truTV at 7:00 ET. They are promising more insight than we’ve ever gotten into why certain teams made it, why others did not, and why teams were seeded what they were seeded."

NCAA Selection Show

Date/Time: Sunday, March 11, 5:00 p.m. CT

TV: CBS

For more March Madness news and analysis head on over to SB Nation's College Basketball page.

Big 12 Tournament 2012 Bracket Reactions: Missouri Has Come A Long Way Since One Year Ago

The Big 12 Tournament has officially wrapped up as the Missouri Tigers will leave the 12 and head to the SEC as conference champions. While chants of "S-E-C" won't ring harmonious to other Big 12 fans, but it does recognize that a school will truly be missed from its prior conference home. The internets were watching last night, and here are some reactions and commentary from the Big 12 final between Baylor and Missouri.

Rock M Nation (Missouri Tigers): Exactly one year ago today, Missouri was getting run out of the Sprint Center by Texas A&M in the Big 12 Tournament, a precursor to an extremely short stay in the NCAA Tournament. Twelve months, a controversial coaching search, and a potentially catastrophic Laurence Bowers injury later ... Missouri is 30-4 and winners of its second Big 12 Tournament title in four seasons. This incredible team will be, at worse, a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament next week, hopefully ready to win another few games in this incredible season.

The Baylor Lariat's Tyler Alley: If anyone believes the magnitude of the Bears’ performance in the Big 12 Championship tournament is overrated, let me give you some numbers: 121.5, 40.3 and 125.7. That’s how far in miles Manhattan, Kan., Lawrence, Kan., and Columbia, Mo., are from Kansas City, Mo., respectively. Let’s be clear. All three of Baylor’s games this week were road games. Baylor beat Kansas State and Kansas and hung with Missouri in a hostile environment with little support (I am not hating on you, Bears fans. I know firsthand how far this tournament is from Waco).

Of course, I couldn't leave without dropping my own two cents. Watching Frank Haith show emotion the way he did last night was an awesome scene indeed. This tweet reflected my thoughts last night.

Man....i've never EVER been a fan of Missouri, but I like this squad a ton. Frank Haith over there tearing up. Damn.

— Eddie Maisonet, III(@edthesportsfan) March 11, 2012

Anybody can root for someone who's genuinely happy, right?

For more complete Mizzou coverage, make sure to head on over to Rock M Nation, while Baylor fans should check out Our Daily Bears. For more March Madness coverage head on over to SB Nation's College Basketball page. All are part of the SB Nation network of blogs.

Bracketology 2012: Kansas, Missouri No. 2 Seeds In Latest Projection

The latest tournament projections from SB Nation's Chris Dobbertean has both the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers as No. 2 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

Bracketology 2012: Kansas, Missouri Looking For No. 1 Seed

SB Nation's bracket expert Chris Dobbertean still has Kansas as a No. 1 seed but can the Jayhawks hold off Missouri after the Tigers won the Big 12 Tournament in convincing fashion?

Selection Sunday 2012: Time, TV Schedule And More

The NCAA Selection Show will be held on Sunday, March 11 at 6 p.m. ET and televised on CBS as many teams around the country will tune in hopes of hearing their names called and learning where they are headed in the tournament. The Kansas Jayhawks in particular will pay close attention as they are one of the teams fighting for a top seed in the tournament.

According to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament bracket expert Chris Dobbertean, the Jayhawks are still in line to earn a No. 1 seed in the tournament despite their semifinal loss to Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament. Dobbertean projects Missouri as a No. 2 seed and Kansas State as a nine seed. The big winner among Big 12 schools could be the Texas Longhorns who Dobbertean has in the tournament as a No. 3 seed.

NCAA Selection Show

Date/Time: Sunday, March 11, 6:00 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

For more March Madness news and analysis head on over to SB Nation's College Basketball page.

Missouri Vs. Baylor Final: Tigers Offense Too Much In 90-75 Victory

Missouri left the Big 12 with a flourish on Saturday, overwhelming Baylor with a balanced offensive effort in its last conference game before leaving for the SEC next season.

The Tigers had a double-digit lead for most of the second half, as they dissected the Bears' 1-3-1 zone with crisp ball movement and hot outside shooting, winning 90-75.

The clear star for Missouri was 6'6 senior Kim English, who was voted the MOP of the Big 12 Tournament after a dominant three-game stretch in Kansas City.

Despite playing out of position at the power forward spot against two future lottery picks in 6'11, 235 Perry Jones and 6'9, 200 Quincy Miller, English held his own in the post while burying shot after shot from the perimeter. He finished with 19 points on 6-10 shooting, including 5-8 from behind the three-point line.

Jones had 16 points and 11 rebounds, but Missouri's offensive dominance more than negated Baylor's advantage on the interior. Five Tigers had at least 15 points, with Phil Pressey, Marcus Denmon, Ricardo Ratliffe and Michael Dixon all taking turns scoring.

Missouri Vs. Baylor Halftime Score: Tigers Up 43-37

In a battle of contrasting styles, Baylor used their size to dominate an undersized Missouri team in the paint in the first half.

However, the Tigers were able to fillet the Bears 1-3-1 zone on the other end of the floor, racing out to a 43-37 lead after twenty minutes in the Big 12 Tournament Championship in Kansas City.

Missouri PG Phil Pressey only had 4 points, but he was able to exploit the huge driving lanes created by the Baylor zone to rack up 6 assists in the first half. Marcus Denmon and Ricardo Ratliffe, both with 11 points, were two of the biggest beneficiaries of Pressey's penetration.

The Bears were led by Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller, who combined for 15 points as they attacked the much smaller Tiger front-line in the paint.

With the 6'6 Kim English playing out of position at the power forward spot, the game may turn on whether Baylor can exploit their size differential without letting English get free on the three-point line.

Big 12 Tournament Finals, Missouri Vs. Baylor Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Missouri basketball program is exactly where they had wanted to be, playing for the Big 12 Tournament Title, before they head off to the NCAA's and the SEC Conference next season. However there is one glaring thing missing, the Kansas Jayhawks. While many of us were preparing for 2012's Part Three of the hotly-contested rivalry, the Tigers will instead be facing the Baylor Bears.

Baylor is coming off an 81-72 victory over KU on Friday evening, while the Tigers were 81-67 victors over the Texas Longhorns. In two previous match-ups with Baylor, the Tigers won by one point in Waco, while Missouri ran out to a 72-57 victory in Columbia.

Game date/time: Saturday, March 10, 5 pm CST

Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: ESPN

Online Streaming: ESPN3

For more complete Mizzou coverage, make sure to head on over to Rock M Nation, while Baylor fans should check out Our Daily Bears. For more March Madness coverage head on over to SB Nation's College Basketball page. All are part of the SB Nation network of blogs.

Big 12 Tournament 2012: Day Four Bracket, Schedule And More

The No. 1 seed in the 2012 Big 12 Tournament, Kansas, is gone, meaning Saturday's final between Missouri and Baylor will serve as a huge chance for one of those two at-large NCAA Tournament bids to make a case for the highest seed possible.

Based on prognostications, Baylor is looking to move past a No. 3 seed, and Mizzou could try to use a Big 12 tourney win to grab a No. 1 seed. CBS' Jerry Palm has the Tigers as a No. 2 seed (West) and the Bears as a No. 3 seed (East), while Joe Lundardi at ESPN has the exact same thing, minus a region change (Mizzou as No. 2 in the West, Baylor as No. 3 in the South). SB Nation's Chris Dobbertean has the same as well (Mizzou in the South, Baylor in the West)

Click here for an updated 2012 Big 12 Tournament bracket.

For more on Missouri, check out Rock M Nation, and for Baylor news and updates head over to Our Daily Bears. All your March Madness info can be found at SB Nation's college basketball page.

Missouri Vs. Texas Final: Tigers Pull Away Late, Win 81-67

Despite a game effort from a young Texas squad, the No. 5 Missouri Tigers' offensive firepower proved to be too much in their 81-67 victory in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

Now, with Kansas' loss to Baylor on Friday, Missouri is in position to win the Big 12 Tournament Championship in their last season before leaving for the SEC.

The Tigers multitude of offensive weapons more than made up for Marcus Denmon's disappointing 2 point performance, as Kim English was nearly perfect from the floor, scoring 24 points on 9-10 shooting. Phil Pressey, Ricardo Ratliffe and Michael Dixon all took turns scoring, as the Tigers maintained a relentless offensive pace for the entire 40 minutes.

Despite the struggles of J'Covan Brown and Myck Kabongo, Texas was able to maintain contact for most of the game thanks to 19 offensive rebounds, taking advantage of a small Missouri front-line.

But in the end, the Tigers simply had too much offense in what could the final meeting between the two programs.

2012 Big 12 Tournament: Baylor Bears And Missouri Tigers Advance To Final On Saturday

The Big 12 tournament championship will come down to two teams who both spent a good chunk of the season in the Top Ten of the rankings. Unfortunately for many fans in the Kansas City area one of those teams happens to be the Baylor Bears and not the Kansas Jayhawks. The other high ranked squad who will be facing Baylor in the finals is the Missouri Tigers who easily dispatched the Texas Longhorns in the nightcap by a score of 81-67.
In a mild upset in the first semi-final game at the Sprint Center the Bears withstood a typical KU second half run to earn a trip to the finals. The final score of 81-72 would make some think that Baylor won in a fairly comfortable fashion but that is anything but true. Unlike a typical Bill Self led team the Jayhawks came out somewhat lackadaisical in the first half on both offense and defense which allowed Baylor to build an eight point lead at the half. In the second half the Bears immediately jumped out to a 13 point lead and it looked like Baylor might cruise to an easy victory.
At that point the Jayhawks immediately went on a run to not only pull to even but at one point in the second half KU pulled ahead by two points. The final nine minutes of the game though were dominated by Baylor and specifically Brady Heslip who nailed three clutch three pointers to make sure Baylor advanced to the finals.
While the top seeded Jayhawks did not hold up their end of the bargain the Missouri Tigers definitely did. The Tigers were led by a barrage of three pointers from Kim English and Phil Pressey who each scored 23 points while going 8-11 combined from behind the arc.
The main topic following the game for the Tigers is the possible availability or lack thereof of senior Kim English for the final against Baylor. In the second half he sustained a quad injury which took him out of the game for a short time even though he returned later. By the end of the game he was sitting on the bench with ice on his leg as the outcome of the game was already determined.
So now the Missouri Tigers and their fans are one game away from winning the Big 12 tournament before they depart for the SEC. The last chance for fans of the Big 12 conference comes down to a Baylor squad which looks like they finally be reaching their potential at exactly the right time.
With the win tonight combined with a KU loss, the Missouri Tigers might possibly have moved themselves into a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. While the atmosphere inside the Sprint Center on Saturday may not be as crazy with Baylor reaching the finals instead of Kansas, everyone should expect a heckuva game between two schools who look like they both could make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament.

Missouri Vs. Texas Score Update: Tigers Up 39-32 At Halftime

With a possible No. 1 seed opening up with Kansas' loss to Baylor, the Missouri Tigers came out on fire in the first half of their conference semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns.

After twenty minutes, Missouri is up 39-32 on Texas.

Phil Pressey and Kim English dominated the game offensively, combining to score 32 points on 12-16 shooting, as many as the entire Texas roster.

The Longhorns were able to stay in the game thanks to a strong effort on the offensive glass, as Missouri's undersized front-line struggled to keep 6'8 freshman Jonathan Holmes, filling in for the injured Alexis Wangmene, and 6'10 senior center Clint Chapman, who had five offensive rebounds.

With the Tigers winning despite getting almost nothing from Marcus Denmon in the first half, Texas will need to dramatically increase their offensive efficiency if they want to give themselves a chance.

While the Longhorns improved their resume with their victory over Iowa State on Thursday, they still need to defeat Missouri to ensure their spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas Vs. Baylor Final Score: Jayhawks Fall In Upset 81-72

Kansas entered the Big 12 Tournament in line for a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament but may have saw those hopes vanish after suffering an 81-72 upset loss to Baylor in the semifinals. The Jayhawks fell behind 43-35 in the first-half and Baylor had an answer for every run the Jayhawks had in the second half.

For Kansas, Tyshawn Taylor scored a game-high 20 points while Thomas Robinson and Elijah Johnson finished with 15 each. Jeff Withey chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds and five blocks for the Jayhawks.

Baylor had six players with double figure scoring led by Perry Jones III's 18 points. Pierre Jackson and Quincy Miller added 13 each while Brady Heslip and A.J. Walton finished with 12. The Bears advance to take on the winner of the Missouri-Texas matchup on Saturday.

For more on the Big 12 tournament follow this StoryStream and Big 12 Hoops. For Kansas basketball talk head over to Rock Chalk Talk, and go visit Our Daily Bears for all things on Baylor hoops. Make sure to visit SB Nation's college basketball hub for news and scores on Championship Week.

Kansas Vs. Baylor Score: Jayhawks Trail Bears 43-35 At Halftime

Kansas' No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament could be on the line as the Jayhawks enter halftime trailing the Baylor Bears 43-35 in the semifinals of the 2012 Big 12 Tournament.

Elijah Johnson scored nine points to lead the Jayhawks hitting 4-10 shots from the field. Jeff Withey and Tyshawn Taylor each added seven points while Thomas Robinson finished with just five points and one rebound to go along with three turnovers and two personal fouls.

Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller scored 10 points each to lead Baylor and the two also combined to grab 11 of the Bears' 18 first half rebounds. A.J. Walton added eight points off the bench while Pierre Jackson finished the half with seven points and six assists.

For more on the Big 12 tournament follow this StoryStream and Big 12 Hoops. For Kansas basketball talk head over to Rock Chalk Talk, and go visit Our Daily Bears for all things on Baylor hoops. Make sure to visit SB Nation's college basketball hub for news and scores on Championship Week.

Big 12 Tournament Semifinals, Missouri vs. Texas: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Missouri Tigers face the Texas Longhorns on Friday night in one of the two semifinals matchups in the Big 12 tournament in the Sprint Center in Kansas City at 9 p.m. (CT). The No. 2 seeded Tigers defeated the No. 6 seeded Longhorns in both of their regular season matchups by a combined score of 151-139. The Tigers are trying to get to the conference championship game for the first time since 2009 and for the last time since they leave for the SEC next season.

The Tigers are led by Marcus Denmon, who is averaging 18.2 points per game, and Kim English, who is averaging 14.5, while the Longhorns are led by J'Covan Brown, who is averaging 20.1 points per game, and Sheldon McClellan, who averages 11.3.

Even though the Tigers don't have to worry about making it into the NCAA Tournament and they're leaving the conference, English says that this game is still important to him and his teammates.

"We want this as bad as we wanted the Big 12," guard Kim English said. "That's why our loss (at Kansas) hurt so bad. It was the Big 12 championship game. We just want to win a championship. It's not a chip on our shoulder."

Game Date/Time: Friday, March 9; 9 p.m. CT

Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO

TV: ESPNU

Streaming: ESPN3

For more on the Big 12 tournament follow this StoryStream and Big 12 Hoops. For Missouri Tigers talk head over to Rock M Nation, and go visit Burnt Orange Nation for all things on Longhorns hoops. Make sure to visit SB Nation's college basketball hub for news and scores on Championship Week.

Big 12 Tournament 2012 Semifinals, Kansas Vs. Baylor: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks are taking on the No. 4 seed Baylor Bears for the right to go to the Big 12 championship game. Kansas has defeated Baylor three times this season and the prior two games have not even been close.

However, Baylor did play one of their better games of the year against Kansas State on Thursday, so Kansas better be prepared. There is so much on the line for Kansas with a possible No. 1 seed they should not be overlooking Baylor even though they have had no issues against them this season.

Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City State believes if Baylor plays like they did against Kansas State then they have a real shot to knock of Kansas:

If that's the real Baylor, or at least the one that will show up against Kansas tomorrow, I'll be the one mumbling cuss words to myself and walking around in circles trying to pretend I'm not about to cry.

Because that's the Baylor we've been expecting all season.

That Baylor is a Final Four team.

More specifically, that Baylor can beat Kansas.

Date / Time: Friday, March 9, 6:30 p.m. CT

Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.

TV: ESPNU

Radio: Jayhawks Radio Network

Streaming: ESPN3

Line: Kansas (-5.5)

For more on the Big 12 tournament follow this StoryStream and Big 12 Hoops. For Kansas basketball talk head over to Rock Chalk Talk, and go visit Our Daily Bears for all things on Baylor hoops. Make sure to visit SB Nation's college basketball hub for news and scores on Championship Week.

Missouri Hitting Its Stride On Way To Semifinal Against Texas

With two minutes left in the first half, walk-on forward Andrew Jones entered the game to get some serious playing time.

Yes, I said the first half.

That's all you really need to know about Missouri's dominating 88-70 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Quarterfinals on Thursday night.

It was pure dominance for the Tigers from the opening tip, capitalizing on poor defense by the Cowboys to go on a 30-to-6 run at one point. Missouri led by as many as 29 points in the win and got two standout performances from their senior leaders.

Kim English led the Tigers' charge out of the gate with 21 first-half points. The senior from Baltimore finished with 27 points, two shy of his career high, on 11-of-13 shooting.

Marcus Denmon did what he usually does: score 20 of the quietest points you will ever see. The 6-3 senior guard shot 9-of-14 from the floor, scoring 24 points while pulling down 8 rebounds.

Basically, this game was what happens when Missouri is clicking on all cylinders. The Tigers looked as dangerous as can be in a tournament setting and look extremely focused on winning their last eight games of the year.

The Tigers face a quick turnaround as they are set to face the Texas Longhorns tonight. Texas looked impressive in disposing of Royce White and Iowa State on Thursday night, removing themselves (at least temporarily) from the bubble and into the field of 68.

The Longhorns weren't an easy out for Missouri this year, as both the Tigers needed a last-second shot to beat Texas in Austin last month. J'Covan Brown averages 20 points per game and should be a tough matchup for the Tigers defense, which has struggled a bit lately.

Still, if Missouri gets the kind of performance it had on Thursday night, there aren't many teams in the nation that could hang with them for 40 minutes.

The key for the Tigers for the rest of the Big 12 Tournament will be the play of Phil Pressey. In the game against Oklahoma State, Pressey was basically unstoppable, both distributing the basketball and taking it away. Pressey finished the game with 12 assists, one away from the school record for a game, and five steals, two away from the school record.

As a result, Missouri scored at a high rate and the Pokes never had a chance. When he is at the top of his game, there are probably only 3-5 other point guards in the nation that are in the same class as Phil Pressey. If he can play like that all the way through March and into April, the Tigers will be cutting down some nets.

Missouri and Texas face off tonight at 9 p.m. The winner moves on to the Big 12 championship game set for 5 p.m. on Saturday

Big 12 Tournament 2012: Bracket, Schedule And More

The semifinals are set for the Big 12 conference tournament. The first game is between top-seeded Kansas against No. 4 seeded Baylor with the second game between No. 2 Missouri and No. 6 Texas.

Kansas made it this far by easily taking care of the Texas A&M Aggies 83-66 with Elijah Johnson putting up a career-high 26 points which included going 5-of-7 on three-pointers. Baylor advanced by defeating the Kansas St. Wildcats 82-74 on the back off Perry Jones III who scored 31 points and 11 rebounds.

Missouri made it to the the semifinals by easily taking care of the Oklahoma St. Cowboys 88-70; Kim English led the way for Missouri with 27 points on 11-of-13 points. Missouri is taking on Texas who advanced after upsetting the No. 3 seed Iowa St. Cyclones 71-65.

Here is Friday's schedule:

No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 4 Baylor Bears 6:30 p.m. CT (ESPNU)

No. 2 Missouri Tigers vs. No. 6 Texas Longhorns 9 p.m. CT (ESPNU)

The winners will play each other in the finals on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN.

For more on the Big 12 tournament follow this StoryStream and Big 12 Hoops. To follow all of Championship Week make sure to go visit SB Nation's college hoops hub.

Big 12 Basketball Tournament: Kansas, Missouri A Step Closer To One More Go At One Another In Championship

The Final Four of the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament is set. Only Iowa State will be missing from the four top teams in the league coming into the tournament as regular-season champion Kansas; No. 2 seed Missouri; Baylor, the four seed, and sixth-seed Texas will take the court at the Sprint Center in Kansas City Friday night for the semifinal round of the four-day tournament.

There were few surprises in the first three quarterfinal games on Thursday, save for Kansas State, who may have gotten the Sprint Center confused with Bramlage Coliseum, where the Wildcats lost four of nine conference home games this season due largely to lapses on defense and lackluster overall play. The same symptoms were apparent Thursday in Kansas State's 82-74 loss to Baylor. The Wildcats actually defeated the Bears at Baylor but lost in Manhattan and again on Thursday in the rubber match this season between the two teams.

Perhaps Frank Martin's Wildcats were blinded by the bright (and I mean bright) yellow uniforms worn by Baylor in their opening tournament game. Baylor's Perry Jones III had a career game for the victorious Bears, hitting 11 of 14 shots in totaling 31 points to lead all scorers in the game. Jordan Henriquez scored 22 to lead Kansas State. The Wildcats shot 49 percent for the game, but Baylor was even better, at 56 percent, and K-State couldn't stop them.

It was the first time this season that the Wildcats had given up 80 or more points in a game.

"We probably played our second worst defensive game of the year," Martin said afterwards. "We were so bad defensively today. It was a joke."

Kansas State (21-10, 10-8) now heads back to Manhattan to await its selection and seeding for the NCAA Tournament.

Top-seeded Kansas had no trouble whatsoever with Texas A&M, who was playing less than 24 hours after beating Oklahoma in the opening round. The Aggies held a short-lived five-point lead early in the opening half against the Jayhawks, but that was quickly erased and Kansas cruised through the second half, widening its lead to as many as 20 points before settling in for an 83-66 win over ninth-seeded Texas A&M.

Kansas scored on 10 of its first 11 possessions of the second half to salt the game away.

A&M coach Billy Kennedy said after his team defeated Oklahoma that Kansas had many players capable of beating you. On Thursday, it was junior guard Elijah Johnson, who fired in a career-high 26 points, including five of seven from beyond the three-point line.

In the two evening games of the quarterfinals, Missouri, one of the best shooting teams in the country, shot nearly 60 percent in burying the outmanned Oklahoma State Cowboys 88-70. The Tigers were led by senior guards Marcus Denmon and Kim English, their two floor leaders all season, who scored 27 and 24 points, respectively.

Missouri built a 21-point advantage 13 minutes into the first half, and it was fairly easy pickings thereafter as the Tigers won their program-best 28th game of the year against four losses.

The most exciting and clearly the most competitive game of the day was the final game on Day 2 with third-seeded Iowa State, probably the most improved team in the Big 12 this season, taking on sixth-seeded Texas. Throughout the first half and early into the second, it appeared that the Cyclones were going to run away and hide on their way to routing the Longhorns. That's when Texas caught fire, going from 11 down to an eight-point advantage in a little under eight minutes. It was a body blow from which Iowa "State would never recover.

Friday's semifinal action in the Big 12 Tournament pits Kansas against Baylor, who the Jayhawks defeated twice during the regular season. The second semifinal game will feature Missouri and Texas. The Tiger are 2-0 against the Longhorns this season, winning by 11 in Columbia in January and barely getting by the Horns in Austin, holding on to win by a single point.

Unless something goes totally wrong, which is always a possibility in this tournament, Kansas and Missouri will advance to Saturday's championship game and have one more chance to make the final statement in the long-running series between these neighboring-state rivals. Both won on their home floor in the two earlier games this season.

This is the game everybody wants to see, and they're most likely going to get their wish.

Iowa State Vs. Texas Final: Longhorns Escape With 71-65 Win

After chalk held serve in the first three games of the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals Thursday in Kansas City, No. 6 seed Texas pulled out a dramatic 71-65 win over No. 3 Iowa State in the final game of the day.

With the victory, the Longhorns have put themselves in an excellent position to make their 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament, as Texas had been sitting precariously on the bubble for most of the last month.

The Longhorns got huge games from their two veterans. Junior G J'Covan Brown hit the game-winning and-1 shot with :35 left while senior C Clint Chapman held Iowa State PF Royce White to 17 points on 6-17 shooting, keeping him in foul trouble for most of the latter stage of the second half.

Texas advances to the semi-finals, where they will face No. 2 seed Missouri in the night-cap after No. 1 Kansas faces off against No. 4 Baylor in a game that should be flooded with NBA scouts checking out Big 12 POY Thomas Robinson and Perry Jones III, who is coming off a career-high 31 point performance against Kansas State.

Iowa State Vs. Texas Score Update: Cyclones Up 28-25 At The Half

In the final game of the first round of the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Iowa State and Texas have struggled offensively, with the Cyclones up 28-25 at the end of the first half.

The 19-12 Longhorns, who are playing for a chance to move themselves off the NCAA Tournament bubble, have been unable to create consistent offense in the half-court. With no scoring from their front-court and the Iowa State guards hounding them on the perimeter, Texas has shot only 26% from the floor in the first-half.

However, the Longhorns have been unable to stay in the game thanks to a strong effort on the other side of the floor. Despite losing Alexis Wangmene, their best front-court defender, earlier in the week to a wrist injury, they've been able to keep Iowa Star PF Royce White mostly in check, holding him to 6 points in the first 20 minutes.

With both teams struggling to create offense in the half-court, the one who can consistently get easier points in either the open court or on the free-throw line could have the edge in the second half.

Big 12 Basketball Tournament: Kansas Takes On Baylor In Semifinal

Twice the Jayhawks have squared off against the Baylor Bears and twice Kansas has emerged with a fairly easy win. How will round three between these two teams play out? Based on the way both teams played on Thursday it looks like it could be a good one.

Baylor was led by Perry Jones III who has struggled in big games throughout the year, but came up huge on Thursday with 31 points and 11 rebounds. For Kansas it was a superior shooting night including a 66% three point shooting night that led Kansas to an easy win over Texas A&M.

Bill Self and Kansas understand that they played well, but they are also well aware that Baylor handled their business in impressive fashion.

I anticipate getting their best shot tomorrow. Because they're really -- they're so talented, it's a joke. And Pierre is as good as any guard around. So it will be an interesting next 24 hours trying to get ready.

- Bill Self

So who shows up tomorrow? Playing a team for the third time is never easy. Beating a team for the third time is even harder. Kansas will have to pass that test if they want a shot at the Big 12 tournament championship on Saturday.

Missouri Vs. Oklahoma State Final Score: Tigers Defeat Cowboys 88-70, Advance To Semifinals

The Missouri Tigers easily took care of the Oklahoma St. Cowboys 88-70 and now move onto the semifinal round on Friday. The Missouri offense was on tonight as they shot 59 percent from the field including making 7-of-17 from three-point range. From the start this game went Missouri's way as they rushed out to a 30-11 lead and led 49-24 at the half. In the second half, Oklahoma State made a minor run, but they never really made a dent in Missouri's lead.

Kim English led all scorers with 27 points and shot a blistering 11-of-13 from the field while Marcus Denmon contributed with 24 points. As a team Missouri had four players score in double digits, and they also had their way on the boards by out rebounding Oklahoma State 38-17.

Missouri will take on the winner between the Texas Longhorns and Iowa St. Cyclones on Friday night.

For more on Missouri hoops go check out Rock M Nation and go visit Cowboys Ride for Free for Oklahoma State basketball news. Head over to SB Nation's college basketball hub for more on Championship Week.

Missouri Vs. Oklahoma State Score Update: Kim English Drives Tigers To 49-24 Lead At Halftime

Wednesday's quarterfinal games in the 2012 Big 12 Championship Tournament roll right along into the evening. In the first of two night games, the No. 2 seed Missouri Tigers are playing the No. 7 seed Oklahoma St. Cowboys. Through the first half of play, the game is all Mizzou. They enter halftime leading by a score of 49-24.

The Tigers jumped ahead early in the first half and went on a tear, going on a 17-0 scoring run at one point. They kept piling onto their lead and pulled away to a 20-plus point lead.

Kim English of the Tigers is absolutely on fire. He leads all scorers in the game with 21 points and six rebounds.

The winner of this game will go on to the semifinals on Friday, where they will face the winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal nightcap between the No. 6 Texas Longhorns and the No. 3 Iowa St. Cyclones. Barring a comeback by OSU and an upset by the Longhorns, it appears as though the top four seeds will all make it to the semis.

You can find the full 2012 Big 12 Championship schedule and bracket by clicking right here.

For full updates and results in the 2012 Big 12 Championship, please stay tuned to this StoryStream. For more on the Missouri Tigers, check out Rock M Nation. For Oklahoma State news go to Cowboys Ride For Free, and for all your March Madness news and info head over to SB Nation's college basketball page

SB Nation's Nick Fasulo On Kansas, Missouri Heading Into Selection Sunday [Video]

Kansas Vs. Texas A&M Final Score: Jayhawks Advance To Semifinals With 83-66 Win

The Kansas Jayhawks entered the 2012 Big 12 Championship Tournament on Thursday as the No. 1 seed. They had their eyes firmly set on a conference championship as they took on the No. 9 seed Texas A&M Aggies in the tourney's second game. They are one step closer to realizing that goal following an 83-66 win over the Aggies.

The Jayhawks opened up a sizable lead in the final five minutes of the first half and entered halftime leading by a score of 40-28. They would continue to keep their distance in the second half as they coasted to the win.

Elijah Johnson had a career game for the Jayhawks, leading all scorers with 26 points and picking up three rebounds, four assists and two steals.

The Jayhawks will now go on to face No. 4 seed Baylor Bears in Friday's semifinal round.

For full updates and results in the 2012 Big 12 Championship, please stay tuned to this StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks, be sure to visit Rock Chalk Talk. Get your Texas A&M news and info at I Am The 12th Man, and find everything about March Madness over at SB Nation's college basketball page.

Big 12 Tournament 2012, Iowa State Vs. Texas: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The 2012 Big 12 Tournament holds its quarterfinals on Wednesday. The No. 6 seed Texas Longhorns will play in the nightcap and will go up against the No. 3 seed Iowa St. Cyclones. Both teams will be playing in their first game in the tournament, having received first-round byes.

The two teams split home wins during the regular season. Iowa State picked up a 77-71 win on Jan. 4, while Texas evened up the series with a 62-55 victory on Jan. 24.

The winner of the game will advance to the semifinals, where they will play the winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal game between the No. 2 Missouri Tigers and the No 7 Oklahoma St. Cowboys.

Date / Time: Thursday, March 8, 8:30 p.m. CT

Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.

TV: ESPN2

Streaming: ESPN3

You can find the full 2012 Big 12 Championship schedule and bracket by clicking right here.

For more on the Big 12 tournament follow this StoryStream and Big 12 Hoops. For updates and perspective on the Texas Longhorns, please visit Burnt Orange Nation or Barking Carnival. For news and information regarding the Iowa St. Cyclones, head on over to Wide Right & Natty Lite. To follow all of Championship Week make sure to go visit SB Nation's college hoops hub.

Kansas Vs. Texas A&M Score Update:Jayhawks Enter Halftime Leading 40-28

In their first game in the 2012 Big 12 Championship tournament on Wednesday, the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks are taking on the No. 9 seed Texas A&M Aggies. The Jayhawks are the favorites to claim the conference championship, although they are already safely 2012 NCAA Tournament-bound. The Jayhawks took some time to warm up, but are now cruising, as they enter halftime leading by a score of 40-28.

The Aggies jumped out to a brief 21-20 lead past the halfway point in the first half, but the Jayhawks finally opened a bit of breating room and took a nine-point lead with 5:00 remaining in the half, which they would just keep adding to.

Elijah Johnson is leading all scorers with 15 points.

The winner of this game will go on to face No. 4 seed Baylor Bears in the semifinals on Friday.

For full updates and results in the 2012 Big 12 Championship, please stay tuned to this StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks, be sure to visit Rock Chalk Talk. Get your Texas A&M news and info at I Am The 12th Man, and find everything about March Madness over at SB Nation's college basketball page.

Kansas State Vs. Baylor Final: Wildcats Fall 82-74 In First Round

Despite losing by only 8 points, Kansas State was never really in their first round Big 12 Tournament game against Baylor on Thursday.

The Wildcats had no answer for Bears star Perry Jones III, who finished with a career-high 31 points on 11-14 shooting while also grabbing 11 rebounds.

However, unless they run into Kentucky, they aren't going to see any 6'11+ 235 forwards with elite ball-handling skills, a vertical jump north of 30 inches as well as a perimeter jumper in the NCAA Tournament.

For Kansas State, the bigger concern is the play of Rodney McGruder, the Wildcats leading scorer who was held to 14 points on 5-13 shooting, as well as a disappointing effort from their bench, who had only two players get into the scoring column.

The bright spot was the play of junior C Jordan Henriquez, who had 22 points and 14 rebounds in one of his best games of the season.

Kansas State Vs. Baylor Score Update: Wildcats Down 45-36 At The Half

Despite not having the same caliber of NBA-bound talent as most of the Big 12's top teams, Kansas State was able to lock up a spot in the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens in the Big 12 Tournament.

But in the first half of their game against Baylor Thursday, that talent differential reared its ugly head, with Perry Jones III scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds while going 8-8 from the floor.

With Brady Heislip making the Wildcats pay for double teams on the interior, there was little Frank Martin could do to prevent the 6'11 235 power forward from dominating on both ends.

However, Kansas State is still only down nine despite Jones' incredible performance and Rodney McGruder struggling to a 5 point first half on 2-7 shooting.

The Bears have let teams come back against them all season, so if the Wildcats can keep the game close until the game's final five minutes, they could sow some seeds of doubts in Baylor's mind.

Big 12 Tournament 2012, Missouri Vs. Oklahoma State: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Missouri Tigers (27-4, 14-4 Big 12) hope to continue their record setting season as they begin Big 12 Tournament play Thursday evening in Kansas City, having already set a school record for wins. They'll face Oklahoma State, who beat Texas Tech on Wednesday to advance to the second round.

One of the Tigers' four losses on the season came at Stillwater against OSU. One stat to possibly watch is the Tigers' shooting percentage, as they've been historically miserable playing at the Sprint Center, according to the Mizzou athletics web site:

Historically speaking, Mizzou has had trouble shooting the ball in Big 12 Tournament action in the Sprint Center. In its 4 Big 12 Tourney games at Sprint, Mizzou is a combined 36.9% from the floor (87-of-236), and it has also been outrebounded by an average margin of 10.3 per game (minus 41 in 4 games)...

Date / Time: Thursday, March 8, 6 p.m. CT

Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: Big 12 Network

Radio: Missouri Radio Network

Streaming: ESPN3

Line: n/a

For more on the Missouri Tigers, check out Rock M Nation. For Oklahoma State news go to Cowboys Ride For Free, and for all your March Madness news and info head over to SB Nation's college basketball page.

2012 Big 12 Basketball Tournament: Kansas, Missouri Next Up For First-Round Winners Texas A&M, Oklahoma State

It was like the opening act, setting the big stage for the main performers, and the relatively sparse crowd at the Sprint Center in Kansas City at the first-round games of the 2012 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship reflected the lower position in the standings of the combatants as well as their non-local nature.

Because of the Big 12's 10-team structure this year, the top six teams in the conference standings were awarded first-round byes, leaving the teams seeded six through ten in the final standings to open the tournament with a so-called play-in game on Wednesday, essentially for the right to match up in Thursday's quarterfinal round against the top two seeds in the tournament, which this year are Kansas and Missouri.

That dubious reward goes to Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. The Aggies, the No. 9 seed, pulled away from Oklahoma in the second half and knocked off the higher-seeded Sooners (the No. 8 seed) 62-53. Oklahoma State parlayed a balanced scoring attack into a 16-point win over 10th-seeded Texas Tech. Four Cowboy starters scored in double figures, led by senior point guard Keiton Page with a game-high 20 points, as Oklahoma State, the six seed in the tournament, eventually wore down the Red Red Raiders for a 76-60 victory.

Oklahoma State carved out a five point lead at halftime, but Texas Tech came out on fire to start the second half, outscoring the Cowboys 9-3 in the first three minutes after intermission to take a one-point lead at 36-35. It was Texas Tech's first lead in the game.

From that point, OSU went on an electifying 15-0 run to retake the lead and run it out to a 14-point advantage. The Cowboys, now 15-7 overall and 8-11 in the Big 12, will live to play another day. No. 2 seed Missouri (27-4, 14-4) will be Oklahoma State's opponent in Thursday's second round. The two teams split their two games during the season, with the Cowboys upsetting the Tigers by seven in Stillwater and Mizzou running up an 18-point win over OSU in the rematch in Columbia.

The victory Wednesday over Texas Tech (8-23, 1-18) was Oklahoma State's ninth first-round victory in the postseason Big 12 Tournament without a loss.

In the opening game of the tournament, senior Texas A&M forwards Khris Middleton and David Loubeau combined for a team-high 15 points apiece, and guard Elston Turner chipped in 14, in the Aggies' victory over Oklahoma. The Aggies never trailed in the second half after mounting a 27-22 halftime advantage. Loubeau also grabbed a season-high nine rebounds. OU had beaten A&M 65-62 last Saturday in the regular-season finale inb Norman.

A&M's halftime lead was the first time the Aggies had led a game at the half since Feb. 6 vs. Texas. This game was one of the rare times all season that the Aggies have had all of their leaders healthy and on the court at the same time.

The score was tied with a little over nine minutes to go in the game, but that was as close as the Sooners were able to get as Texas A&M took advantage of Oklahoma's poor shooting. The Sooners were held to 39 percent shooting from the field, one of the Aggies' best defensive games of the year, according to their coach Billy Kennedy. Texas A&M made 15 of 17 free throw sttempts, which ended up being an important factor in the outcome.

Junior forward Romero Osby led the Sooners in scoring with 17 points, nine of which came from the free throw line. Oklahoma shot an abysmal 18 percent from three-point range, going two for 11. The Sooners' 22 first-half points tied their lowest total of the season.

Oklahoma finishes the season with a sub-.500 15-16 record and 5-14 against Big 12 opponents. Texas A&M, meanwhile, moves on to play No. 1 seed Kansas in the second afternoon game on Thursday. The Aggies lost both of their regular-season encounters with the Jayhawks, falling 64-54 in Lawrence and by eight points, 66-58, two weeks ago in College Station.

As if it's not going to be a difficult enough task for the ninth-seeded Aggies, Kansas is 31-7 all-time in the Big 12 Basketball Championship and has won the tournament five of the past six seasons, including the last two. Baylor or Kansas State will lie in wait for the winner of Thursday's game between Kansas and Texas A&M.

A&M's Kennedy had this to say in his postgame press breifing Wednesday about having to play Kansas in the next round: "Kansas is so good, other guys (other than Thomas Robinson) are capable of beating you," Kennedy said. "We have to hope they miss from the three-point line, because they're so good in the post. Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey together is probably one of the best post tandems in the country. So we gotta be inside out and hope they miss perimeter jump shots and we give them one shot."

Texas A&M is now 6-15 all-time in the Big 12 Championship and 2-10 in first-round action. Oklahoma's record in Big 12 Tournament play dropped to 20-13. The Sooners are 4-2 in first-round games.

Big 12 Tournament 2012, Kansas Vs. Texas A&M: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The No. 1 seeded Kansas Jayhawks look to win their ninth Big 12 Tournament title when they face Texas A&M. The Jayhawks were undefeated at home this season but a "mere" 2-3 on neutral courts, however, they're 13-3 in the Sprint Center. Kansas has dominated the series with Texas A&M, leading 18-1 and winning the last eight meetings. The Jayhawks are 14-1 in their first Big 12 Tournament games.

As Kansas looks to win the tournament and lock down a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, they'll enter today's game as the No. 1 seed in the Big 12, and five of KU's eight Big 12 Tournament titles have come when the Jayhawks were No. 1 in the conference.

Date / Time: Thursday, March 8, 2 p.m. CT

Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: ESPN2

Radio: Jayhawks Radio Network

Streaming: ESPN3

Line: n/a

For more on the Kansas Jayhawks, be sure to visit Rock Chalk Talk. Get your Texas A&M news and info at I Am The 12th Man, and find everything about March Madness over at SB Nation's college basketball page.

Big 12 Tournament 2012, Baylor Vs. Kansas State: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Kansas State (21-9, 10-8 Big 12) opens the second day of Big 12 Tournament play against Baylor (25-6, 12-6), in a game that's not vital for either team's NCAA Tournament at-large status, but could certainly help the Wildcats with a quality win, as K State has a RPI of 43, with six wins against the RPI Top 100.

The Wildcats have been red hot to close the season, winning four of their last five, including back-to-back victories over Baylor and Missouri, both Top 10 teams (a first in school history). These two teams split their season series, with each school winning the road game.

Date / Time: Thursday, March, 11:30 a.m. CT

Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: ESPN2

Radio: Wildcats Radio Network

Streaming: ESPN3

Line: Baylor (-2.5)

For more on the Kansas State Wildcats, check out Bring On The Cats. For more on the Baylor Bears, visit Our Daily Bears, and for everything March Madness, be sure to visit SB Nation's college basketball page.

Big 12 Basketball Tournament 2012: Bracket, Schedule And More

The first day of the Big 12 tournament is in the books and the quarterfinal matchups are all set. Wednesday's opening round games saw Texas A&M defeat the Oklahoma Sooners 62-53, and now they get the privilege to take on top-seed Kansas.

In the night cap of the opening round it was Oklahoma State who had a big second half to defeat Texas Tech 76-60, and they will be playing No. 2 seed Missouri.

Kansas and Missouri have a lot on the line in the Big 12 tournament, because whichever school can win the tournament they have a very good chance of being awarded with a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament.

Here is the schedule for Thursday's games:

No. 4 Baylor Bears vs. No. 5 Kansas St. Wildcats 12:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 9 Texas A&M Aggies 2 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

No. 2 Missouri Tigers vs. No 7 Oklahoma St. Cowboys 6 p.m. ET (Big 12 Network)

No. 3 Iowa St. Cyclones vs. No. 6 Texas Longhorns 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

For more on the Big 12 tournament follow this StoryStream and Big 12 Hoops. To follow all of Championship Week make sure to go visit SB Nation's college hoops hub.

Texas Tech Vs. Oklahoma State Final Score: Cowboys Have Big Second Half To Defeat Red Raiders, 76-60

The Oklahoma St. Cowboys had a big second half to defeat the Texas Tech Red Raiders 76-60 to move into the quarterfinals round where they will take on the Missouri Tigers. After a closer than expected first half, Oklahoma State had a big second half where they outscored Texas Tech 44-33 to easily get the victory.

Texas Tech did put a scare into Oklahoma State when they took a 36-35 lead early in the second half, but Oklahoma State responded by going on a 15-0 run to put away Texas Tech for good.

Texas Tech Vs. Oklahoma State Halftime Score: Cowboys Lead Red Raiders 32-27

Texas A&M Vs. Oklahoma Final Score: Aggies Advance With 62-53 Win Over Sooners

Texas A&M successfully avenged a loss to the Sooners in the regular season finale with a 62-53 win in the first-round of the Big 12 Tournament. The Aggies will advance to play top seeded Kansas on Thursday.

David Loubeau finished with 15 points and nine rebounds while Khris Middleton added 15 points of his own and seven boards to lead A&M. The Aggies out rebounded the Sooners by a 36-26 count including 13 offensive rebounds. Elston Turner added 14 points while Ray Turner chipped in 12 off the bench.

Romero Osby scored 17 points to lead the Sooners. Sam Grooms finished with 13 points and seven rebounds while Andrew Fitzgerald added eight. Steven Pledger finished with just six points while going 2-8 from the field.

For more on the Texas A&M Aggies, check out I Am The 12th Man. For Oklahoma news and info, go to Crimson And Cream Machine. For all your March Madness news, head over to SB Nation's college basketball page.

Texas A&M Vs. Oklahoma Score: Aggies Lead Sooners 27-22 At Halftime

Texas A&M got off to a quick start in the opening game of the Big 12 tournament taking a 27-22 lead over Oklahoma at halftime.

Elston Turner scored 10 points to lead the Aggies going 4-9 from the field and 2-4 from three-point range. Khris Middleton added eigh tpoints and five rebounds. Texas A&M hit 12-32 field goal attempts in the first half for 37 percent shooting but hold a 20-15 rebounding advantage and already have eight offensive boards.

Romero Osby leads Oklahoma with eight points at the half and also grabbed four rebounds. Andrew Fitzgerald chipped in six points while Steven Pledger had a quiet first half finishing with just two points on just two shot attempts.

For more on the Texas A&M Aggies, check out I Am The 12th Man. For Oklahoma news and info, go to Crimson And Cream Machine. For all your March Madness news, head over to SB Nation's college basketball page.

Oklahoma State Vs. Texas Tech: Game Preview, TV Info And More

In the night-cap of the first day of action in the Big 12 Tournament, No. 7 seed Oklahoma State takes on No. 10 seed Texas Tech for the right to play No. 2 seed Missouri on Thursday.

The Cowboys will probably be without Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year LeBryan Nash in Kansas City, as the 6'7 230 small forward broke his hand in the last week of the regular season.

But even without Nash, they should have more than enough talent to get past Texas Tech, as Pat Knight left the cupboard absolutely bare for new coach Billy Gillispie in Lubbock. The Red Raiders finished the year 8-22 with one win (over Oklahoma) in conference play and only one player (6'7 freshman F Jordan Tolbert) with a scoring average in double digits.

Oklahoma State, meanwhile, is one of the most dangerous 14-17 teams in the country, as their three freshman and one sophomore starters have grown considerably since the beginning of the season. The Cowboys have wins over Missouri, Texas and Iowa State this year and could cause trouble for a higher seed later in the Big 12 Tournament.

T'hey won both meetings between the two teams in the regular season by an average of 12 points.

The 8:30 PM game will be broadcast regionally on the Big 12 Network.

For more on Oklahoma State basketball head over to Cowboys Ride For Free while Double T Nation is your one-stop internet shop for Texas Tech athletics.

Oklahoma Vs. Texas A&M: Game Preview, TV Info And More

In a game between a program trending up and one trending down, No. 8 seed Oklahoma plays No. 9 seed Texas A&M in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.

The winner will face No. 1 seed Kansas on Thursday.

After making six consecutive NCAA Tournaments and being discussed as a possible contender for the Big 12 title, Texas A&M has regressed considerably in their first year under new coach Billy Kennedy.

Kennedy was diagnosed with Parkinson's before the season started, while their best player, junior F Khris Middleton, has struggled since undergoing knee surgery in November. As a result, the Aggies haven't been able to generate enough offense to remain competitive in the Big 12, finishing the regular season with a 13-17 record and a 4-12 mark in-conference.

Oklahoma, meanwhile, has rebounded from the epic collapse of the program under former coach Jeff Capel, with new coach Lon Kruger leading them to a 15-15 record in his first season in Norman.

The two schools split the season series, with both teams holding serve in games that weren't decided until the final moments.

The 6:00 PM game will be broadcast regionally on the Big 12 Network.

For more on Texas A&M basketball, head over to I Am The 12th Man while Crimson And Cream Machine has all the latest news and notes on Oklahoma athletics.

Kansas Awaits Winner Of Oklahoma And Texas A&M

Wednesday marks the beginning of the Big 12 tournament and unlike years past, this years version will have just four teams playing on day one. With the new ten team format, six teams actually receive a first round bye with the Kansas Jayhawks being one of them.

It's a change from years past where eight teams played on Wednesday afternoon and the four teams receiving first round byes had a marked advantage going forward. In fact no team was ever able to successfully win four games in four days during the old format and win the league tournament championship.

With now six teams only needing to win three in three days, it would seem that the pool of potential winners has expanded, at least in theory. So what is the major benefit for the top two seeds in Kansas and Missouri? Besides having the opportunity to play one of the four bottom tier teams in the league during the quarterfinals, Kansas and Missouri will also face a team coming off a night game just 24 hours earlier.

For the Jayhawks that team will be either the Oklahoma Sooners or the Texas A&M Aggies. Kansas finished the season with a clean sweep of both teams while managing an average margin of victory of over 12 points per contest.

While Oklahoma is the higher seeded team of the two, the Aggies might be the more difficult matchup for Kansas as the Jayhawks managed an eight point win against a healthy A&M team in College Station. That win was the closest margin of victory in all four games against the two potential opponents. A&M also managed to give Kansas a pretty solid game through one half of play in Lawrence when they were shorthanded and facing a tough environment.

As for Oklahoma and Texas A&M, the two split their season series with the Aggies taking the first one at home in overtime and the Sooners winning the return trip by three. On paper this is a very even matchup with just one game separating the two teams in the league.

For Kansas the best case scenario is to have the two teams grind out a sloppy game that takes the energy out of both teams. If that happens the Jayhawks will face an opponent coming off of short rest and Kansas they should already have a decided advantage against whoever it is that moves on.

The worst case scenario for Kansas is that one team comes out hot and rolls to an easy victory taking them into Thursday's game with some positive momentum and nothing to lose. Regardless of the winner and how they win, Kansas should expect to win on Thursday and that win would put them one step closer to cementing a no. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Big 12 Basketball Tournament 2012: Bracket, TV Schedule And More

The first day of Big 12 mens basketball action won't feature top seeds Kansas and Missouri, but the action will directly affect both teams' path to the NCAA Tournament. The Oklahoma / Texas A&M winner will face the Jayhawks on Friday, while the Oklahoma State / Texas Tech winner sees Missouri.

A loss by either school in the second round would be considered a colossal upset: The Jayhawks were perfect against both of their potential opponents this season, beating the Sooners by 12 and 22 points during the regular season, and did the same to the Aggies by 10 and 8 points. Missouri swept Tech with 13 and 22 point wins, but lost at Stillwater on January 25 by seven before avenging the loss at home with a 17 point victory. Additionally, the Tigers would likely prefer to see TTU because of their freshman-heavy starting lineup, as most of the Red Raiders will be in tournament play for the first time.

Wednesday, March 7

Gm1: No. 8 Oklahoma Vs. No. 9 Texas A&M - 7 p.m. ET - Big 12 Network

Gm2: No. 7 Oklahoma State Vs. No. 10 Texas Tech - 9:30 p.m. ET - Big 12 Network

For full coverage of March Madness in the Big 12 and nationwide, be sure to visit SB Nation's college basketball page.

2012 Big 12 Basketball Tournament: Kansas City Is The Big Financial Winner

For the past few years Kansas City has been lucky enough to host the men's and women't basketball tournaments. While the total economic figures can be debated there is no doubt it is a positive thing for the city financially.

Big 12 Basketball Tournament Will Be One Of The Most Hotly Contested On The Court And For Fans Wanting A Ticket

Kansas won its eighth straight Big 12 men's basketball championship last week and this week sets its sights on its ninth Big 12 Tournament championship.