If there is a conference tournament that consistently feels like a preview of the NCAA Tournament, it is the Big 12.
That should be the case again in 2026.
The conference sends one of the deepest and most competitive fields in college basketball to Kansas City this week, where 16 teams will compete for the Big 12 championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed after a remarkable regular season under head coach Tommy Lloyd. The Wildcats finished 29-2 overall and 16-2 in conference play while establishing themselves as one of the most balanced teams in the country.
But nothing comes easy in this league.
Houston brings the relentless defense that Kelvin Sampson has built his program around. Kansas is led by Hall of Fame coach Bill Self, whose teams are rarely intimidated by tournament pressure. Texas Tech continues to grow under Grant McCasland, while T.J. Otzelberger has Iowa State playing its usual physical brand of basketball.
With elite coaching, experienced rosters and several teams capable of making a national tournament run, the Big 12 Tournament often produces some of the best basketball of Championship Week.
The 2026 tournament runs March 10 through March 14 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
A historic #Big12MBB season has led us to this moment.
The OFFICIAL 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket is here 👀 pic.twitter.com/tkKZYPWggt
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 8, 2026
2026 Big 12 Tournament Bracket and Seeds
1 Arizona: 29-2 (16-2 Big 12)
2 Houston: 26-5 (14-4 Big 12)
3 Kansas: 22-9 (12-6 Big 12)
4 Texas Tech: 22-9 (12-6 Big 12)
5 Iowa State: 25-6 (12-6 Big 12)
6 TCU: 21-10 (11-7 Big 12)
7 West Virginia: 18-13 (9-9 Big 12)
8 UCF: 20-10 (9-9 Big 12)
9 Cincinnati: 17-14 (9-9 Big 12)
10 BYU: 21-10 (9-9 Big 12)
11 Colorado: 17-14 (7-11 Big 12)
12 Arizona State: 16-15 (7-11 Big 12)
13 Baylor: 16-15 (6-12 Big 12)
14 Oklahoma State: 18-13 (6-12 Big 12)
15 Kansas State: 12-19 (3-15 Big 12)
16 Utah: 10-21 (2-16 Big 12)
The structure of the bracket gives the top teams a clear advantage.
Arizona, Houston, Kansas and Texas Tech all receive double byes into the quarterfinals, meaning they will not play until Thursday. Seeds five through eight begin play in the second round, while the bottom eight teams must win five games in five days to claim the title.
In a conference this competitive, even the early rounds are capable of producing major upsets.
2026 Big 12 Tournament Schedule
All games are played at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
First round — Tuesday, March 10
Arizona State vs Baylor: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN+)
Cincinnati vs Utah: 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
BYU vs Kansas State: 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Colorado vs Oklahoma State: 8:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Second round — Wednesday, March 11
Iowa State vs Arizona State/Baylor winner: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
UCF vs Cincinnati/Utah winner: 2:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
West Virginia vs BYU/Kansas State winner: 6:00 p.m. (ESPNU)
TCU vs Colorado/Oklahoma State winner: 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN2)
Quarterfinals — Thursday, March 12
Texas Tech vs Game 5 winner: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Arizona vs Game 6 winner: 2:00 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Houston vs Game 7 winner: 6:00 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Kansas vs Game 8 winner: 8:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Semifinals — Friday, March 13
Semifinal 1: 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
Semifinal 2: 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Championship — Saturday, March 14
Big 12 Championship Game: 5:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Arizona Enters Kansas City as the Favorite
Few teams in the country have been as complete this season as Arizona.
Tommy Lloyd has quickly turned the Wildcats into a national power since arriving in Tucson, and his current roster might be the most balanced group he has coached. Arizona plays fast, shares the ball and has the size to dominate the interior.
Freshman Brayden Burries has emerged as one of the league’s most dynamic scorers. Jaden Bradley provides stability and playmaking in the backcourt, while Koa Peat and Motiejus Krivas give Arizona a physical frontcourt capable of controlling the paint.
The Wildcats also have depth that allows Lloyd to rotate fresh players throughout the game, which could be especially valuable in a tournament setting.
Houston’s Defense Makes the Cougars Dangerous
Kelvin Sampson has built one of the toughest programs in college basketball.
His Houston teams are known for relentless defense, physical rebounding and disciplined play. That identity has helped the Cougars remain among the nation’s elite programs over the past several seasons.
Guards Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan lead the offense, while freshman Kingston Flemings has quickly become a key contributor.
Houston’s ability to control tempo and force opponents into difficult possessions makes the Cougars a serious threat to repeat as tournament champions.
Kansas Always a Factor in March
Kansas may not have dominated the conference standings this year, but Bill Self’s teams are rarely overlooked when tournament play begins.
Self has built one of the most successful programs in college basketball history, and his teams consistently perform well in postseason play.
Freshman guard Darryn Peterson has been one of the most exciting players in the conference this season. His scoring ability and confidence late in games give Kansas a player capable of taking over a tournament matchup.
Players such as Flory Bidunga, Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. provide additional depth and balance, giving the Jayhawks a lineup capable of competing with anyone in the bracket.
Iowa State’s Toughness Could Carry the Cyclones
T.J. Otzelberger has turned Iowa State into one of the most disciplined teams in the conference.
The Cyclones rely on defense, rebounding and strong guard play, a formula that often works well during conference tournaments.
Point guard Tamin Lipsey controls the offense while setting the tone defensively. Milan Momcilovic adds scoring from the perimeter, and Joshua Jefferson provides versatility across the lineup.
If Iowa State finds momentum early in the tournament, the Cyclones could become one of the toughest teams to eliminate.
Dark Horse Teams that Could Make a Run
The Big 12 rarely produces a predictable tournament.
Several teams in the middle of the bracket have the talent to surprise higher seeds.
Cincinnati has quietly built one of the better defensive units in the conference under head coach Wes Miller. The Bearcats have already proven they can compete with top teams and could become dangerous if their offense finds consistency.
BYU also has the potential to make a run behind elite scorer AJ Dybantsa. When the Cougars are hitting shots from the perimeter, they are capable of beating almost anyone in the conference.
UCF, led by head coach Johnny Dawkins, has the athleticism and defensive ability to frustrate opponents and could become another bracket disruptor.
Players Who Could Shape the Tournament
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU: 24.7 points per game
- P.J. Haggerty, Kansas State: 23.3 points per game
- Christian Anderson, Texas Tech: 19.2 points per game
- Cameron Carr, Baylor: 19.0 points per game
- Robert Wright III, BYU: 18.6 points per game
Dybantsa has been the most explosive scorer in the conference this season and could quickly turn BYU into a dangerous tournament team.
Last 10 Big 12 tournament Champions
2025: Houston
2024: Iowa State
2023: Texas
2022: Kansas
2021: Texas
2020: Tournament canceled
2019: Iowa State
2018: Kansas
2017: Iowa State
2016: Kansas
What to Expect in Kansas City
Arizona may arrive as the top seed, but the Big 12 tournament rarely unfolds according to expectations.
Houston’s defense, Kansas’ tournament experience and Iowa State’s physical style all make them legitimate contenders. Meanwhile, teams like BYU, Cincinnati and UCF have the talent to pull off major upsets.
That depth is exactly why the Big 12 has become one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.
And it is why the five days in Kansas City should deliver some of the best basketball of Championship Week.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.