Seven Big 12 Teams Make 2023 NCAA Tournament
The Selection Committee has spoken and seven Big 12 men’s basketball teams are heading to the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
The announcements came down on CBS on Sunday, and Kansas, Texas, Baylor, Kansas State, Iowa State, TCU, and West Virginia all heard their names called, while Oklahoma State, as expected, was one of the First Four teams to miss March Madness.
The Big 12 trailed only the Big Ten and SEC, who each had eight teams in the NCAA Tournament, however the Big 12 had a nation-high 70% of the league make the NCAA Tournament, which ties the number they reached 2021.
The Kansas Jayhawks are the No. 1 seed in the West Regional, and will now get set to defend their National Championship this week against No. 16 seed Howard. Kansas ended up losing the Big 12 Tournament Championship Game to Texas, who landed a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Regional. Texas gets set to play Colgate this week in the first round. As for three seeds, there are two from the Big 12. Baylor will take on No. 14 seed UC Santa Barbara on Friday in Denver, Colorado. The winner will take on No. 3 seed Creighton or No. 11 seed NC State. Kansas State will take on Montana State in Greensboro, North Carolina on Friday. The winner will play either No. 6 seed Kentucky or No. 11 seed Providence.
Down the seed lines, Iowa State is back in the Big Dance following a Big 12 Tournament semifinals run, as a No. 6 seed in the Midwest Regional. Iowa State will take on either Mississippi State or Pittsburgh (play-in game) on Friday in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Horned Frogs are also a No. 6 seed. TCU will take on either No. 11 seed Arizona or Nevada, as they play as part of a play-in game, on Friday in Denver, Colorado.
Last, but not least, West Virginia lands the No. 9 seed in the South Regional. West Virginia will take on No. 8 Seed Maryland on Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama. The winner will likely take on the No. 1 seed Alabama.
Last season, the Big 12 had six teams make the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Tournament begins on Tuesday with play-in games as No. 16 seeds Southeast Missouri St and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi meet, followed by No. 11 seeds Pittsburgh and Mississippi State.
