The Big 12 is home to some of the best programs in men’s college basketball, and it got even stronger with the additions of Arizona, BYU, and Utah this season. The Kansas Jayhawks were expected to run the conference after starting the year at No. 1 overall in the preseason AP Poll, but instead they find themselves in line for an 8- or 9-seed after a highly disappointing season.
As Kansas had a rare down year, the Houston Cougars rose to the top in their place. Kelvin Sampson’s program enters the Big 12 tournament as the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, and they should get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, too.
The 2025 men’s Big 12 tournament field is fantastic top-to-bottom. The league is projected to get eight teams into the NCAA tournament field already, and teams like Cincinnati are dreaming of making a run to the big dance by grabbing the auto-bid. It all gets underway from Kansas City on Tuesday until a champion is crowned on Saturday.
The Big 12 is ranked as the third best conference in America this season, ahead of both the ACC and Big East. Houston has become a dominant force around the country under Sampson, while Texas Tech continues to rise under head coach Grant McCasland, and Arizona is solid every year under Tommy Lloyd. This tournament is going to be so much fun. Here’s everything you need to know about the men’s 2025 Big 12 tournament.
Big 12 tournament bracket 2025
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Big 12 tournament stakes in 2025 for Kansas, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, and more
Our latest Bracketology projection has eight Big 12 teams making the NCAA tournament. Houston likely has its No. 1 seed already wrapped up for March Madness, but everyone else is playing for seeding among the likely at-large teams.
The most pressure rests on the shoulders of the Cincinnati Bearcats. Cincinnati is the No. 13 seed in the Big 12 tournament, and needs a long conference tournament run to have any hope for an at-large bid. Beating Iowa State and BYU in the conference tournament would give the Bearcats a decent shot, but they might need to win the whole thing to feel safe with the auto-bid.
Kansas also needs to prove their season isn’t already over. The Jayhawks do not want to end up on the 8/9 line, and would love to advance to at least the semifinals of this tournament to improve their March Madness seeding. It feels like Iowa State has to prove itself, too. The Cyclones should be a No. 3 seed, but a long run in the Big 12 tournament could bump them up a line.
Big 12 tournament schedule, tip times, TV info, and results
Tuesday, March 11 — First Round
- Game 1: No. 12 Oklahoma State vs. No. 13 Cincinnati | 12:30 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 2: No. 9 TCU vs. No. 16 Colorado | 3 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 3: No. 10 Kansas State vs. No. 15 Arizona State | 7 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 4: No. 11 Utah vs. No. 14 UCF | 9:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Wednesday, March 12 — Second Round
- Game 5: No. 5 Iowa State vs. Game 1 winner | 12:30 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2
- Game 6: No. 8 West Virginia vs. Game 2 winner | 3 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 7: No. 7 Baylor vs. Game 3 winner | 7 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 8: No. 6 Kansas vs. Game 4 winner | 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2/ESPNU
Thursday, March 13 — Quarterfinals
- Game 9: No. 4 BYU vs. Game 5 winner | 12:30 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2
- Game 10: No. 1 Houston vs. Game 6 winner | 3 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2
- Game 11: No. 2 Texas Tech vs. Game 7 winner | 7 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2
- Game 12: No. 3 Arizona vs. Game 8 winner | 9:30 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2
Friday, March 14 — Semifinals
- Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 7 p.m.
- Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 15 — Championship
- Semifinal winners | 6 p.m.