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Big 12 Championship | Preview and Gameday Thread

The Big 12 men’s basketball tournament championship is tonight with Iowa State against Baylor. Expect some fireworks!

Jamie Squire

The Big 12 tournament in Kansas City continues. Consider this post an open thread to comment away about the game.

For First Round previews and recaps click here -> Day 1 – First Round Updated

For Quarterfinals previews and recaps click here -> Day 2 – Quarterfinals Updated

For Semifinals previews click here -> Day 3 – Semifinals

Official SiteBRACKET


Championship Game

#4 Iowa State (25-7) VS #7 Baylor (24-10)

Game Time - 8:00 PM

Previous Meetings – ISU won 87-72 January 7th in Ames; Baylor won 74-61 January 29th in Waco.

Preview – Iowa State is such a complete team that complements one another. Their roster is full of team players that work well together and can beat any opponent they face. If Melvin Ejim is slowed down then DeAndre Kane steps up, if DeAndre Kane is slowed down then Georges Niang steps up… and on and on. All their starters can ball. Last night against Kansas all the starters scored in double figures led by the 25 points of Niang. They play such a smooth and crisp game on the court that is really fun to witness. ISU is tough to stop on offense and that is what will get them far in the NCAA tournament. Also, they can beat others from the outside-in. Last night they went 11-19 from downtown. I expect them to shoot a lot of shots beyond the arc again tonight.

The thing about Baylor is that they have a squad of extremely talented players. They are a powerhouse that cannot seem to be stopped. Once they turn on their jets they are off to the races and nobody is getting in their way. Baylor is a true tournament team, and by that I mean that they play a more rugged brand of basketball effectively. Isaiah Austin can do it all, but Cory Jefferson is the real post player that causes ruckus in the paint. Brady Heslip can light it up from anywhere on the court. These guys love to pound teams away with their offense. I think Baylor is going to make a big statement when they go to the Big Dance. Watch out.

The game tonight should be all fireworks with three point bombs and rim shaking dunks. It will be an offensive onslaught with plenty of highlights. The team that has the hotter hand will win the match. I think Iowa State is the more complete team, but Baylor is more electrifying. Don’t miss it!