Wednesday marks the start of the 2017 Big 12 Championship at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The hype surrounding this year’s tournament is incredibly high — as it should be, considering how strong the Big 12 was this season.

The conference ranks second in both the ratings percentage index (RPI) and strength of schedule nationwide. It boasts the No. 1 team in the nation, three others in the AP Top 25 and one sitting just outside the rankings at No. 27.

Eight of the 10 teams in the league finished the season with a winning record. And as of Tuesday, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi projected that five teams from the conference would earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. CBS bracketologist Jerry Palm projected six would make the “Big Dance.”

Yet many in the Big 12 don’t think that’s quite enough.

“Eight,” Oklahoma State coach Brad Underwood said when asked how many teams deserve to make the NCAA Tournament. “I don’t think we’ll get eight [teams], but I think we should. I think this league is by far and away the best league in the country.

“I’ve really grown to appreciate how good the coaching is, how good the players are, and I think sometimes we want to put too much emphasis on wins and losses in terms of within the league. Every night, when you throw in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, we’ve all been on a 19-game grind, and every single night has been a high, high level. The games are so close. They’re decided by a multitude of factors. That bodes well, and not any other conference can say that.”

This week in Kansas City marks a chance for many teams to improve their seeding for the tournament, or even push them off the bubble — something a few teams could use.

Iowa State coach Steve Prohm knows the opportunity is there for several teams to make a run at a tournament bid, too, and hopes the selection committee doesn’t fault Big 12 teams for their rigorous conference schedules.

“We’re the No. 2 RPI league in the country. We probably should get more than five teams in,” Prohm said. “We shouldn’t be hurt by beating each other up. Some leagues sometimes get benefitted by beating each other up; we shouldn’t be hurt by beating each other up. Hopefully some of these other teams, our No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 seeds can put themselves in a position this week to get in.”

Kansas State is one of those teams. The Wildcats, who were ranked No. 25 in week 10, were once projected to make the tournament. Now, Lunardi has them as one of his “First Teams Out.”

That’s not much of a surprise, though. Coach Bruce Weber and company lost six of their eight games in February and haven’t had a quality win in over a month. And while they do have solid wins over Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Baylor, their non-conference schedule is nothing to look twice at.

Kansas State did bounce back and win two games in a row to end the season, though. And if it is going to climb back into tournament consideration, Weber knows it starts with its opening game against No. 9 Baylor.

“All we told the players yesterday is that we just have to focus on getting another win,” Weber said. “We have to focus on the Big 12 tournament. Our first opportunity is Baylor. You’re talking about a team that people have as either a 2 or a 3 seed [in the NCAA Tournament], so if you can win that game, it’s got to help you.”

Yet after the grind of a tough 19-game stretch, entering tournament play can be difficult. If one is going to win the championship, it has to play near-perfect basketball three, if not four, nights in a row against some of the best competition in the country.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said the difference in tournament time is simple — especially for teams that might not be a lock for a postseason tournament.

“I think the difference is in the finality,” Huggins said. “You can’t say, ‘OK, on to the next game,’ because they’re aren’t any.”

Regardless of any implications, Prohm said he expects this year’s tournament to be extremely competitive. In his eyes, there isn’t a weak spot heading into the Sprint Center.

“You’ve got three teams tied for second place,” Prohm said. “You’ve got Kansas who is obviously the No. 1 seed and the league champion, and then you’ve got a team like Oklahoma State, who has played really, really well the last two months. I think TCU is very good. I know they’re on a little losing streak right now … but they’ve done some really good things this year. You’ve still got [Texas] Tech, K-State, all those guys.

“I think it’ll be extremely competitive each game. I think each one of these games, from the No. 7 vs. No. 10 game all the way to the championship, will be a lot of fun to be a part of.”