Christian Royston, Sports Editor
First Round:
No. 12 UCF vs. No. 13 Oklahoma State
I really like both these picks as dark horse teams, especially with the recent fight they both showed to finish the season. The only difference is that in the last three weeks, Oklahoma State started to look like its old self while UCF continues to surprise.
UCF should have no problem in this matchup after securing a momentum win over TCU to end the regular season. The Knights match-up well with the Cowboys and have the better chance at causing chaos in the tournament.
Moving on: No. 12 UCF
No. 11 Cincinnati vs. No. 14 West Virginia
This is another matchup that could be a toss-up. On one hand, Cincinnati is actually not a bad team. On the other hand, West Virginia is kind of scary.
Now, I know this matchup happened not long ago, and the outcome puts Cincinnati as the clear-cut victor, given its nearly 40-point win. However, the Bearcats are not in Cincinnati anymore. Anything can happen in the Big 12 Tournament, and with the Mountaineers having a full team of scorers, things could get interesting.
I think West Virginia will be the hungrier team and will look to enact revenge for the humiliation that went down at Cincinnati. With this possibly being their last game of the entire season, the Mountaineers will come out to play Tuesday.
Moving on: No. 14 West Virginia
Logan Shanks, Assistant Sports Editor
First Round:
No. 12 UCF vs. No. 13 Oklahoma State
Both teams have had a rollercoaster second half to end the regular season, each displaying multiple upset opportunities. UCF has been the more consistent team, as just when it looks like Oklahoma State might pull off a big win, it collapses.
The Golden Knights have one of the top defenses in the conference, which is what has kept them in close games. Combine that with their size advantage at nearly every possession, UCF should have an easy ride in the first round, and possibly a chance to get to make a little run to end its season.
Moving on: No. 12 UCF
No. 11 Cincinnati vs. No. 14 West Virginia
While I do not see the Bearcats beating up on the Mountaineers like they did in their regular-season finale, to the tune of a 36-point win, the result will not be significantly different. West Virginia has looked much better down the stretch regardless of its record, but its lack of attention defensively has cost the team in tight spots.
West Virginia has consistently let up 80 to 90 points, often allowing teams to go on runs throughout the game. Although Cincinnati boasts the fourth-lowest scoring offense in the league (69.5), I believe the team will stick to what worked in its last outing against the Mountaineers and put the final nail in the coffin of the disastrous season.
Moving on: No. 11 Cincinnati
