Game 1: #4 Iowa State vs. #5 Kansas State
If you ask anybody in Kansas City, MO they will tell you that the Kansas-Oklahoma State game is the highlight game of the day. Well Iowa State and Kansas State certainly gave them a run for their money.
In an exhilarating match up with 8 lead changes and 11 ties #4 Iowa State was able to defeat #5 Kansas State 91-85 despite the Wildcats shooting 54.5% from the field and 21 points from freshman guard Marcus Foster.
It was a collective team effort from the Cyclones with 5 players scoring in double figures. Big 12 Player of the Year Melvin Ejim had his 10th double double of the year finishing with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Dustin Hogue also had a double double finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Georges Niang added 18, Naz Long contributed 14, and DeAndre Kane finished with 11.
Iowa State improves to 24-7 and will adavance to the Big 12 semifinals where they will meet the winner of the Kansas-Oklahoma State game.
Game 2: #1 Kansas vs. #8 Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State and Kansas certainly brought the madness to Kansas City today. This game was everything it promised to be and more.
Despite shooting just 37.9% from the field, Oklahoma State was able to force the game into overtime where they eventually fell to #1 Kansas with a score of 77-70. Andrew Wiggins, who is starting to look more and more like a #1 draft pick as the season goes on, scored 30 points for the Jayhawks including a step back jumper with less than a minute in regulation to tie the game at 67. The only other Jayhawk to score in double figures was Wayne Selden Jr. who finished with 14.
LeBryan Nash led Oklahoma State with 19 points while Phil Forte and Marcus Smart added 16 and 14 respectively. Despite falling to the Jayhawks and being eliminated from the Big 12 Tournament, this game should help the Cowboys get an at large bid into the NCAA tournament.
Game 3: #2 Oklahoma vs. #7 Baylor
In the third quarterfinal of the day, #7 Baylor upset the #2 seeded Oklahoma Sooners 78-73 to advance to Friday’s 2nd semifinal where they will meet the winner of the Texas-West Virginia game.
Baylor jumped out on the Sooners and never looked back leading the entire game and by as many as 18. The Sooners fought back and made it a four-point game off of a three pointer by Buddy Hield with 1:30 to play. But the Bears were able to sustain their run and beat the Sooners for the first time this season.
It was a collective effort by the Bears with all five starters scoring in double figures. Leading the way was sophomore center Isaiah Austin who finished with 18 points. Corey Jefferson and Royce O’Neal each recorded double doubles with 14 points and 11 rebounds and 12 points and 10 rebounds respectively. Baylor has now won nine out of their last ten games and this latest win over the #18 team in the country should get them an at large bid into the NCAA tournament.
Game 4: #3 Texas vs. #6 West Virginia
#3 Texas beat #6 West Virginia 66 to 49 in the last quarterfinal of the day.
West Virginia came out ice cold scoring only 14 points in the first half and shooting just 18% from the field. The shooting woes for the Mountaineers didn’t get much better in the 2nd half as they finished the game shooting just 30% from the field. Leading the way for Texas was Jonathan Holmes who finished with 20 points and Javan Felix who added 16 for the Longhorns.
Texas will advance to the semifinals where they will play #7 seed Baylor for the third time this season on Friday at 8:30pm. The Longhorns convincingly beat Baylor both times in the regular season by 16 and 14 points respectively but the Bears have won their last nine out of ten and are coming into this game playing the best basketball they have all year. They are currently still sitting on the bubble so a win over Texas should guarantee them a bid into the NCAA tournament.
Semi-final Predictions
With Andrew Wiggins playing at such a high level right now, I think he will carry his team to a victory over the Iowa State Cyclones. Both teams played tough games earlier today so they will both be tired tomorrow. Still, nobody has an answer for Wiggins right now. He is finally playing like a #1 draft pick.
Kansas by 6.
Despite the fact that Texas beat Baylor twice during the regular season, I think Isaiah Austin will lead the Bears to another upset over the Longhorns. Oklahoma proved that it is hard to beat a team three times in one season by bowing out to the Bears earlier today 78-73. Add the fact that Baylor has all of the confidence and momentum going into this game after winning their last nine out of 10 and we have the perfect set up for a Kansas-Baylor Big 12 Championship game.
Baylor by 4.
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