Big 12 Tournament 2013: Quarterfinal Predictions
By Brian Spaen
Mar 13, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; A member of the Texas Longhorns cheerleaders performs against the Texas Christian Horned Frogs during the first round of the Big 12 tournament at the Sprint Center. Texas defeated Texas Christian 70-57. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The Big 12 Tournament continues all day long on Thursday with four quarterfinal games. All of them will be held at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Central times listed. Numbers represent seedings in tournament.
(5)Iowa State vs (4)Oklahoma – 11:30 AM, ESPN2/ESPN3
Preview/prediction coming later today.
(9)Texas Tech vs (1)Kansas – 2:00 PM, ESPN2/ESPN3
Give credit to Texas Tech for a great showing in the tournament’s opening game against a bigger West Virginia squad. But as long as Kansas isn’t mailing it in for the conference tournament, this should be a walkover. There is no answer to Ben McLemore’s perimeter shooting nor Jeff Withey inside. Jaye Crockett will have to be dominant on the boards for TTU to have a chance. It won’t be enough.
Jayhawks 92, Red Raiders 69
(7)Texas vs (2)Kansas State – 6:00 PM, Big 12 Network/ESPN3
Texas hasn’t been competitive in either matchup against Kansas State in the regular season. Myck Kabongo will have to play like he did when he last played against the Wildcats, and they can’t afford any cheap fouls or turnovers. KSU needs to come in with the mindset that even though they handled them twice, this Texas squad is playing better. They’ll finally break UT’s 14-year streak of making the dance.
Wildcats 72, Longhorns 69
(6)Baylor vs (3)Oklahoma State – 8:30 PM, Big 12 Network/ESPN3
It’s not necessarily win the tournament or bust for Baylor, but they have to bring the same intensity they brought against Kansas last Saturday. Pierre Jackson and Cory Jefferson will not hit 22-26 combined from the field again, but if they can generate close to the same efficiency and ball movement it had, they will give OSU a hard time all night. This could be when we see the tournament’s first big upset.
Bears 86, Cowboys 83 (in overtime)
Follow the 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament all week long on Clones Confidential.