2026 Big 12 Tournament Preview & Conference Awards

CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 15. Up next: The Big 12 Tournament.

Arizona dominated the Big 12 this year and ended Houston’s run at the top. They went 16-2, with their only losses being against two of the top four teams in Kansas and Texas Tech. This was a very top-heavy conference, with the gap between the top five (Arizona, Houston, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Iowa State) being a large margin over the rest of the conference.

We saw teams like UCF surprise many with their 9-9 finish, while BYU limped to the same record. The freshmen were the story, with several players who were the best players on their team, like AJ Dybantsa, Kingston Flemings, and Darryn Peterson.

If you were brave enough to stomach the hideous Big 12 court last year, you got to see Houston complete the title sweep, taking down Arizona in the final. Colorado was the only team that really made noise, making it all the way to the quarterfinal after finishing dead last in the conference. Can we see a team like Kansas State or Oklahoma State do the same this year?

Right now, we’re looking at eight teams in the tournament. However, there’s still plenty of fights for seeding, and several teams on both sides of the bubble that would like to make their Selection Sunday less stressful.

2026 Big 12 Conference Awards

Player of the Year: JT Toppin, Texas Tech

Freshman of the Year: AJ Dybantsa, BYU

Transfer of the Year: Rob Wright, BYU

Coach of the Year: Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

First Team:

• G: Kingston Flemings, Houston (16.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
• G: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech (19.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 7.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3)
• F: AJ Dybantsa, BYU (24.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
• F: Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State (16.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG)
• F: JT Toppin, Texas Tech (21.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG)

Second Team:

• G: Jaden Bradley, Arizona (13.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.6 SPG)
• G: Brayden Burries, Arizona (16.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG)
• G: Emanuel Sharp, Houston (15.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG)
• F: Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State (17.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 50.0 3P%)
• F: Flory Bidunga, Kansas (13.8 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.7 BPG)

2025 Big 12 Tournament Simulation

First Round – Tuesday, Mar. 10

12. Arizona State (16-15, 7-11) vs. 13. Baylor (16-15, 6-12) – 11:30 a.m. CT on ESPN+

It appears that this might be the last game for Bobby Hurley at ASU if they can’t win this one. What a run it’s been for him. Baylor might’ve been the biggest disappointment in this conference, winning just six games and playing some really poor defense. However, the duo of Cameron Carr and Tounde Yessoufou will be too overpowering for this ASU team, which might still be waking up for this 9:30 AM PT tip.

Ariel’s Pick: 13. Baylor

9. Cincinnati (17-14, 9-9) vs. 16. Utah (10-21, 2-16) – 2:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+

This is another game where we might be seeing a coach in their last game for the team, this team being Wes Miller. Utah actually played Cincy close in their matchup, but this Utah team is comfortably the worst team in the conference, and Cincinnati has been playing well as of late. Far from an ideal first year for Alex Jensen, but now he can head into the portal and hopefully learn from his mistakes.

Ariel’s Pick: 9. Cincinnati

10. BYU (21-10, 9-9) vs. 15. Kansas State (12-19, 3-15) – 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+

It’s pretty shocking to see BYU slide all the way down to the 10 seed, but going 3-4 after the Richie Saunders injury, and 4-8 in their last 12, you find yourself there. Kansas State has been playing better since Jerome Tang was let go, but they’re still not talented enough to overcome this BYU team. Don’t be surprised if we see 30-point performances from PJ Haggerty and AJ Dybantsa, though.

Ariel’s Pick: 10. BYU

11. Colorado (17-14, 7-11) vs. 14. Oklahoma State (18-13, 6-12) – 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+

There was once a time when Oklahoma State was firmly on the bubble after starting conference play 4-5 and wins over UCF and BYU. Since then, they’re 2-7 and slid all the way to the 14 seed. With Parsa Fallah unfortunately suffering a season-ending injury, it’s hard to imagine Oklahoma State having enough juice to get past Colorado here.

Ariel’s Pick: 11. Colorado

Second Round – Wednesday, Mar. 11

5. Iowa State (25-6, 12-6) vs. 13. Baylor – 11:30 a.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2

Iowa State swept the season series with Baylor, and with the Iowa State fans traveling to Kansas City in large masses, this will feel like a home game. Joshua Jefferson might score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds in this one, which he nearly did earlier in the season when he had 19 and 17.

Ariel’s Pick: 5. Iowa State

8. UCF (20-10, 10-10) vs. 9. Cincinnati – 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+

After a dominant win on the road against BYU to get them off the bubble, UCF dropped three straight to Baylor, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia to join their old friends. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has looked really strong as of late, especially with its frontcourt. It’s a revenge game for Moustapha Thiam, and he’ll get the last laugh in this one as Cincy looks to give itself a chance to sneak into the NCAA Tournament.

Ariel’s Pick: 9. Cincinnati

7. West Virginia (18-13, 9-9) vs. 10. BYU – 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+

West Virginia won their only matchup at the end of February, but that was at home. Neither team was great away from it, so this will be a true test of star power vs. depth. While BYU makes some here, given the duo of Rob Wright and AJ Dybantsa, this BYU team has just looked so bad since the Saunders injury, and the depth of West Virginia will be too much for them.

Ariel’s Pick: 7. West Virginia

6. TCU (21-10, 11-7) vs. 11. Colorado – 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 or ESPNU

This is a rematch from last year, when Colorado beat TCU as the 16 seed. Look how far both teams have come in one year. TCU is the hottest team in the Big 12, winning eight of its last nine. That 10th game ago, though? A 26-point loss to Colorado. TCU’s defense has been much better since that game, and Xavier Edmonds will lead TCU to the victory here.

Ariel’s Pick: 6. TCU

Quarterfinals – Thursday, Mar. 12

4. Texas Tech (22-9, 12-6) vs. 5. Iowa State – 11:30 a.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2

Losing JT Toppin was devastating, but that didn’t stop Texas Tech from handing Iowa State their only home loss of the season on the final day of February. Donovan Atwell went for 18, and five players finished in double digits. Texas Tech proceeded to drop its next two to TCU and BYU right after, though. Iowa State hasn’t been able to get it done away from home lately, and even though it might feel like one in Hilton South, Christian Anderson has what it takes to put on a legendary performance and send Texas Tech to the semis.

Ariel’s Pick: 4. Texas Tech

1. Arizona (29-2, 16-2) vs. 8. Cincinnati – 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2

Not much to say here. Arizona dominated the Big 12, and while Cincinnati has been playing good basketball, they aren’t on the same level as this Arizona team.

Ariel’s Pick: 1. Arizona

2. Houston (26-5, 14-4) vs. 7. West Virginia – 6 p.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2

Houston was far from the terminators they usually are in Big 12 play, but even their four losses were to the top five teams in conference play. West Virginia is not one of them, and hopefully for them, they don’t lose 77-48 as they did in their lone matchup.

Ariel’s Pick: 2. Houston

3. Kansas (22-9, 14-6) vs. 6. TCU – 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2

This is, of course, a rematch from one of the most exciting games of the season, when Kansas came back from down nine with a minute to go to force overtime and eventually win. With the game being just a 45-minute drive from Allen Fieldhouse, expect a similar crowd ratio in this one. Darryn Peterson scored 32 points in that one, but he’s looking healthier than ever now, and Flory Bidunga will once again limit Xavier Edmonds, leading the Jayhawks to the semis.

Ariel’s Pick: 3. Kansas

Semifinals – Friday, Mar. 13

1. Arizona vs. 4. Texas Tech – 6 p.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2

A top-four semifinal is boring and chalky, but the way these teams played all season, you can’t be surprised. Plus, the top 4 seeds have made the semifinals in the previous two semifinals. Texas Tech handed Arizona one of its two losses this season in a thrilling overtime victory.

The biggest difference now, though, is that Texas Tech won’t have JT Toppin, who scored 31 and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Arizona will have Koa Peat, who left the game at halftime. Texas Tech will still keep it close because Grant McCasland is an excellent coach, but the size of Arizona, plus the lack of a consistent second option for Texas Tech, will be the difference-maker.

2. Houston vs. 3. Kansas – 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2

Kansas dominated Houston when the two teams played in late February thanks to a monster game from Tre White. Both teams haven’t been their best selves lately, but at their best are national title contenders. Kansas really exposed Houston’s shot-creating issues outside of Houston, and when you have a coach like Bill Self, he’ll make sure that this Kansas team remembers exactly what they did to win that earlier matchup. For the first time since joining the Big 12, Houston misses the final.

Ariel’s Pick: 3. Kansas

Championship – Saturday, Mar. 14

1. Arizona vs. 3. Kansas – 5 p.m. CT on ESPN

Sure, Kansas beat Arizona without Darryn Peterson at Allen Fieldhouse, but Arizona reminded Kansas in Arizona that they’re on a different level. They won by 23, and the size and physicality of this team were something Kansas couldn’t come close to matching up to. With Arizona fully healthy now, there’s only a handful of teams that can beat them on a neutral court, and it doesn’t seem like Kansas is one of them. Let’s see if Arizona can make it two straight years that the Big 12 champion makes it to the NCAA Tournament championship game.

Ariel’s Pick: 1. Arizona