4. Big 12
After the shenanigans that took place after Kansas State upset Kansas earlier this year, is there a rematch in college basketball that has more build up attached to it? Probably not.
The Big 12 tournament always is a host to a plethora of intense college basketball games.
In 2007, a Kevin Durant led Texas team attempted to dethrone the previous year’s winner, Kansas. In a game that could not be decided by regulation alone, Kansas erased a 22 point lead to win 88-84 in overtime. Durant actually had a chance to win the game in the second half, but he missed a lay up as time expired forcing the overtime. Kansas would then pull away and win by four.
While Kansas is favored to come out of the Big 12 this year they have been absolutely abysmal in conference play. Five of their seven losses have come from teams in the Big 12 this year. To put that in perspective, if Kansas had not struggled so hard in their conference they would be up there in the rankings with #2 Virginia and #1 Kentucky.
But that is the nature of the Big 12 every year. Teams are so close together in talent that they consistently beat each other up in a way that other conferences do not. Even though the tournament will be hosted at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. This will mean that K-State fans will have no problem making the drive to cheer on their Wildcats. And if they end up upsetting Kansas again, it will most likely end in more court storming.
Hopefully this time it doesn’t get as violent. But none of this subtracts from the excitement the tournament will bring college basketball fans. It anything, it probably adds to it.
Next: 3. PAC 12