Big 12: 11 potential (and probable) tournament teams

It took a truly unprecedented season from the SEC to dethrone the Big 12 as the top conference in college basketball in 2024-25. The SEC remains fabulous, but no longer historic, and now the Big 12 has a realistic shot to regain its crown in 2025-26.

It doesn't hurt that two of the four projected No. 1 seeds as the calendar flips to a new year, Arizona and Iowa State, have raced to their lofty perch with a combined 26-0 record. That's after being picked fourth and fifth in the Big 12 preseason poll, respectively. BYU and star freshman AJ Dybantsa are predictably dangerous, leaving preseason No. 1 Houston as an under the radar national title contender.

And we have yet to mention Kansas and injured freshman Darryn Peterson, or Texas Tech and AP preseason All-America selection JT Toppin. If either or both can come close to the conference's top four, the Big 12 could set a new bar.

The Big 12 begins conference play on Jan. 2.

Arizona Wildcats
Iowa State Cyclones
BYU Cougars
Houston Cougars

Arizona, along with Michigan, has been on another level all season. But any of these four could not only reach the Final Four, but win it all. Houston is especially itchy to avenge its loss to Florida in last season's national championship game.

Kansas Jayhawks
Texas Tech Red Raiders

Picked third and sixth, respectively, in the Big 12 preseason poll, neither Texas Tech nor Kansas quite lived up to expectations during nonconference play. Still, it wouldn't be surprising if either reaches the Sweet 16.

Baylor Bears
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Arizona State Sun Devils
TCU Horned Frogs
Kansas State Wildcats

Baylor is the most likely of this bunch, but the conference's coattails could be long enough to propel one or two more into the bracket.

UCF Knights

Johnny Dawkins has quietly led UCF to an 11-1 record heading into its conference opener, with its only loss coming vs. an unbeaten Vanderbilt team. It can make an enormous statement when Kansas comes to Orlando on Saturday.

Colorado Buffaloes
West Virginia Mountaineers
Cincinnati Bearcats

Colorado's loss to Northern Colorado and Cincinnati's defeat to Eastern Michigan stand out for the wrong reasons. West Virginia, meanwhile, lacks a signature win.

Utah Utes

Utah hasn't been close to the tournament since 2020 or actually made the field in a decade. First-year coach Alex Jensen is going to need some time.