This upcoming week will include a tough four-day tournament called the Big 12 Championship. According to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and his projected NCAA Tournament bracket, the Big 12 Conference has eight of its 10 teams heading to the big dance. 

The Iowa State Daily men’s basketball beat writers made their picks for the upcoming weekend with winners of each game, eventually crowning a Big 12 champion on Saturday. 

Brian Mozey:

Game 1: No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Oklahoma 

Oklahoma has lost six of its last eight games to close out the regular season and Oklahoma State will take advantage of that with a big win to close out the season against Kansas. Cowboys all the way!

Winner – Oklahoma State, 84-76

Game 2: No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Iowa State 

It’s been a tough year for Iowa State and Cyclone Nation and it won’t get any better on Wednesday night. Texas is 2-0 against the Cyclones this season and I expect the Longhorns to make it a trifecta. Hook ’em Horns!

Winner – Texas, 78-75

Game 3: No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 5 TCU

This matchup is interesting because it’s two good teams that need one particular player to catch fire for a win. That team will be Kansas State and that player will be Dean Wade. 

Wade has led the Wildcats with 16.7 points per game and I believe he’ll reach at least 20 points on Thursday against the Horned Frogs. Wade will make waves in the Big 12 Tournament. 

Winner – Kansas State, 86-85

Game 4: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State made history on Saturday with beating Kansas for a second time creating the first sweep in the Bill Self era. I understand that the Jayhawks have a new mentality with the Big 12 Tournament, but it won’t stop the Cowboys. 

Oklahoma State will get the win for the third time this season and make the needed statement to reach the NCAA Tournament next week. The Cowboys will advance to the semifinals. 

Winner – Oklahoma State, 75-68

Game 5: No. 2 Texas Tech vs. No. 7 Texas

The Red Raiders will be ready to prove its No. 2 seed and take an early lead against the Longhorns. After that lead, Texas Tech will never look back and head into the semifinals with ease. Wreck ’em Red Raiders!

Winner – Texas Tech, 75-60

Game 6: No. 3 West Virginia vs. No. 6 Baylor

I think this could be one of the best games in this tournament because of the physical presence from each team. There’s also a difference between the two teams because of West Virginia’s press style and Baylor’s zone defense. 

It’ll be a close game and it will come down to the final buzzer, but the Mountaineers will come out on top. Press Virginia all the way!

Winner – West Virginia, 76-75

Game 7: No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State

It seems weird to have a No. 4 and No. 8 semifinal game in the Big 12 Tournament, but it’ll still be a thrilling game. The Cowboys will try to make the finals as a low seed, but Kansas State will prove its worth with the help of Dean Wade and Barry Brown. 

Go to the 2:26 mark in the video for a little inspiration of a Wildcats win.  

Winner – Kansas State, 77-70

Game 8: No. 2 Texas Tech vs. No. 3 West Virginia 

This could be a great game if Texas Tech can break “Press” Virginia and its defense. The Red Raiders will be able to do that and dominate in the game resulting in a trip to the finals against the Wildcats. 

Winner – Texas Tech, 85-70

Game 9: No. 2 Texas Tech vs. No. 4 Kansas State

This will be all Texas Tech as Kansas State won’t be able to stop the Red Raiders. It’ll be a memorable Big 12 Tournament throughout the three days before Saturday when Red Raiders ride home to Lubbock, Texas, with the Big 12 title. 

Big 12 Champions – Texas Tech, 79-62

Aaron Marner:

Game 1: No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Oklahoma 

Trae Young is really good. He killed Oklahoma State earlier this year, but in the second game the Cowboys won. Oklahoma State has gotten better as the year has gone on and I think that continues in the Big 12 Tournament.

Winner – Oklahoma State 82-78

Game 2: No. 7 Texas vs. No. 10 Iowa State 

Iowa State got dangerously close this season to reenacting the Hoosiers scene where Gene Hackman tells the ref, “my team is on the floor,” even though the team only has four players out there.

Injuries have piled up for an already-thin squad that was three players short to begin the season. Help is on the way, but not until next November. I think Iowa State’s run this year will be short.

Winner – Texas, 85-74

Game 3: No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 5 TCU

These two teams split the season series and each won 21 games overall. This is probably the best game of the first two days. I really don’t know what to expect, so I’ll side with KenPom, which has TCU winning by three.

Winner – TCU, 78-75

Game 4: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State

Never bet against Kansas.

Winner – Kansas, 84-76

Game 5: No. 2 Texas Tech vs. No. 7 Texas

In the interest of not being deathly boring with my picks, I’m gonna roll with Texas here. The Longhorns handled Tech in the first matchup and took them to overtime in game two. I’ll pick an upset here.

Winner – Texas, 70-63

Game 6: No. 3 West Virginia vs. No. 6 Baylor

West Virginia swept Baylor this year, and the Bears have lost three of their last four games. It should be close but I’m taking West Virginia.

Winner: West Virginia, 74-69

Game 7: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 5 TCU

Never bet against Kansas.

Winner – Kansas, 87-73

Game 8: No. 3 West Virginia vs. No. 7 Texas

Texas just barely survived the Mountaineers last weekend. West Virginia is built for tournaments like this — they’ve made the championship in both of the last two Big 12 Tournaments — and I think they can pull off another win.

Winner – West Virginia, 80-68

Game 9: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 3 West Virginia

Never bet against Kansas.

Big 12 Champions – Kansas, 81-72