Big 12 Tournament Preview

Third in my series of seven conference tournament previews. Big 12 is now (with cool bracket that the Pac-10 didn't have unless the women's bracket was included too).

First Round

Nebraska vs Oklahoma St. - Cornhuskers aren't very good away from home and I feel like they have overachieved whereas Oklahoma St. has underachieved. Regression to the mean is coming here. Oklahoma St. will win easily.

Colorado vs Iowa St. - Iowa St. beat Colorado last week, but that was in Ames. Colorado will be better on a neutral court and Alec Burks is the type of player that can carry a team in a tournament.

Baylor vs Oklahoma – Baylor is just so annoying to watch with all of its underachieving talent while Oklahoma finally shook off its headcase issues from last season. The problem is the method used was exiling all of the talent. Baylor will win on talent alone, but not because they actually do anything together.

Missouri vs Texas Tech – The Red Raiders really have nothing to play for. The coach has been fired, the record stinks and there is no way this team wins four straight games. Its pack-in time and an easy Missouri win.

Second Round

Kansas vs Oklahoma St. - We saw this matchup not to long ago. Its doesn't end well for Oklahoma St.

Kansas St. vs Colorado – The Wildcats will be motivated for revenge after losing to Colorado twice during the season. Too bad for Alec Burks that Jacob Pullen of Kansas St. is also the type of player who can carry a team through a short tournament like this.

Texas vs Baylor – We just saw this on Baylor's home floor. If desperation against a cold Texas team didn't save them then, it won't help now.

Texas A&M vs Missouri – This was one of the best games of the season and it showed Missouri is as good as A&M if not better. The game was on the road and Missouri was close. Bad omen for the Aggies.

Semifinals

Kansas vs Kansas St. - Neither matchup this season is particularly relevant here. They were both ugly blowouts in favor of the home team. Kansas St. is on fire though and will pull through here against a Kansas team that has already likely locked up a top seed.

Texas vs Missouri – Texas hasn't been playing well and still won't here. The Longhorns will only get this far because they play dysfunctional Baylor in their first game. Missouri will be out to prove that road woes don't mean neutral court woes to and they will here.

Final

Kansas St. vs Missouri – Kansas St. is just the better team. No 40 minute press will change that and if the game in Columbia was played again today, the Wildcats would win.