College Basketball March 10, 2026

This is what conference tournament basketball is all about. Two teams seeded near the bottom of the Big 12, fighting tooth and nail in Kansas City with their seasons hanging in the balance. Arizona State and Baylor are staring down the same reality: neither program is getting an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Big 12 Tournament is their only lifeline, and the loser goes home for good. That desperation makes these first-round games some of the most entertaining basketball you'll watch all year.

Arizona State as the No. 12 seed reflects a season that never quite found consistent footing in the loaded Big 12. The Sun Devils have the athleticism to compete with anybody in the conference on a given night, but putting together 40 minutes of complete basketball has been the challenge all year. Bobby Hurley's team plays an aggressive, uptempo style that can overwhelm opponents when it's clicking, but it can also lead to stretches of sloppy turnovers and defensive lapses that better teams exploit.

Baylor at the 13 seed has had its own share of struggles, but the Bears are a program with championship DNA and a coaching staff that knows how to prepare for March. Scott Drew has been to the mountaintop before, and his teams always seem to find an extra gear in the conference tournament. The neutral site in Kansas City should suit both teams fine, and whoever executes better in the halfcourt and takes care of the basketball will advance to face the No. 5 seed tomorrow.

Conference tournament openers between lower seeds are coin-flip games by nature, and the atmosphere at T-Mobile Center during the Big 12 Tournament is always electric regardless of who's playing. This one comes down to which team handles the pressure of a do-or-die game better, and in March, that's often the team with the more experienced backcourt and the cooler heads when the game gets tight in the final five minutes.

Cincinnati comes into the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 9 seed, which puts the Bearcats right on the fringe of the NCAA Tournament conversation. Wes Miller's squad has shown flashes of being a legitimate tournament team throughout the season, and a strong run in Kansas City could lock down an at-large bid or at least strengthen their case considerably. Cincinnati's Big 12 schedule has been brutal, and simply surviving in this conference week after week builds the kind of resume the selection committee respects.

Utah enters as the No. 16 seed, meaning this is a team that finished at or near the bottom of the Big 12 standings. For the Utes, this game represents one final chance to salvage something from a difficult season. Utah's transition to the Big 12 has been a humbling experience, and the talent gap between the Utes and the league's upper echelon has been obvious throughout conference play. But tournament basketball is a different animal, and Utah has nothing to lose, which makes them dangerous in a one-game scenario.

The seed differential here is significant. Cincinnati should be the more polished, more talented team, and the Bearcats have far more at stake in terms of NCAA Tournament positioning. Losing to the 16 seed in the first round would be devastating for Cincinnati's at-large hopes, and that urgency should translate into a focused, intense performance from the opening tip. The Bearcats' defensive identity and physicality should control the tempo and keep this game within their comfort zone.

For Utah, the strategy is simple: slow the game down, keep it ugly, and hope to be within striking distance in the final minutes. If the Utes can turn this into a grind-it-out, low-possession affair, they give themselves a puncher's chance. But if Cincinnati pushes the tempo and forces turnovers, the talent advantage should win out, and the Bearcats should advance to set up a second-round date with a top seed.

BYU at the No. 10 seed is another team sitting right on the NCAA Tournament bubble, and the Cougars desperately need a couple of wins in Kansas City to solidify their at-large candidacy. Kevin Young's team has been inconsistent throughout Big 12 play, capable of beating ranked opponents one week and dropping games to lower-tier teams the next. That inconsistency is exactly why the Cougars find themselves in a first-round conference tournament game rather than sitting comfortably with a bye into the second round.

Kansas State at the 15 seed has endured a rebuilding year, and the Wildcats come into the Big 12 Tournament looking to play spoiler. Jerome Tang's program is still searching for the formula that made them a Cinderella story a few years ago, and the roster turnover has made it difficult to find a consistent identity. Kansas State will approach this game with house-money energy, swinging freely because their season is essentially already over regardless of the result. That mentality can be liberating, and it's exactly the kind of attitude that produces first-round upsets in conference tournaments.

The nightcap at T-Mobile Center should have a fantastic atmosphere, as the Kansas City crowd always shows up strong for the Big 12 Tournament. BYU's size and shooting ability should give them an advantage in the halfcourt, but Kansas State's effort and defensive intensity could keep this competitive. The Cougars need to play with urgency from the jump and avoid the kind of slow start that lets an underdog hang around and build confidence.

For BYU, a loss here could effectively end their NCAA Tournament hopes, while a win sets up a much more favorable second-round matchup. The pressure falls squarely on the Cougars to perform like the more talented team, and the margin for error is razor-thin in a single-elimination format. This is where coaching, experience, and composure separate the contenders from the pretenders, and BYU needs to prove they belong in the tournament field.

The final game of the night at T-Mobile Center pits Colorado against Oklahoma State in a matchup between two programs that desperately need a conference tournament run to salvage their seasons. The Buffaloes enter as the 11 seed with a 17-14 overall record and a 7-11 mark in Big 12 play, and Tad Boyle's team has seen their at-large NCAA Tournament hopes fade to essentially zero over the final weeks of the regular season. If Colorado wants to dance in March, the only path runs through Kansas City, and it starts tonight against the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State at the 14 seed is in year two under Steve Lutz, who has been tasked with rebuilding a program that underwent massive roster turnover. The Cowboys brought in a dozen new players this season, and while the growing pains have been evident throughout Big 12 play, the pieces are starting to come together. Players like Curry, who transferred in from UMass averaging 13.3 points per game last year, and Robert Jennings, a returning starter from the Texas Tech pipeline, give Oklahoma State enough talent to compete on any given night. The Cowboys are 17-12 overall, and the Big 12 Tournament represents a fresh start for a team still searching for its identity.

Colorado's strength lies in their defensive identity and the play of freshman phenom Isaiah Johnson, who became the most prolific freshman scorer in program history with a 28-point outburst against Arizona. Forward Bangot Dak has emerged as one of the conference's best shot-blockers and provides the kind of rim protection that can change games in a single-elimination tournament setting. Center Elijah Malone, the lone senior on the roster, adds veteran experience that the Buffs will lean on heavily in a win-or-go-home scenario.

The 2.5-point spread suggests this is a coin-flip game, and the 164.5 total points is the lowest on the Big 12 first-round board, projecting a grind-it-out defensive battle. That plays into Colorado's hands, as the Buffs are at their best when they can slow the game down and control the pace. Oklahoma State's roster is still learning to play together, and the pressure of a tournament environment could either galvanize or fracture that chemistry. Expect a physical, low-scoring affair that comes down to the final few minutes, with the team that makes plays down the stretch advancing to face a top-four seed tomorrow.

Stanford's first ACC Tournament is one of the more fascinating storylines in conference tournament week. The Cardinal made the cross-country move from the Pac-12 and have spent the season adjusting to a completely different conference landscape, different travel demands, and different opponents. Playing in Spectrum Center in Charlotte for a conference tournament is about as far from the Maples Pavilion vibe as you can get, and that adjustment factor is real for a program still finding its footing in its new league.

Pitt at the 15 seed has had a rough go of it in ACC play, and the Panthers arrive in Charlotte looking to salvage something from a disappointing season. Jeff Capel's program has struggled with consistency, and the bottom of the ACC has been unforgiving this year. Pitt's challenge is simple but difficult: find enough offense against a Stanford team that plays a methodical, half-court-oriented style, and avoid the kind of defensive breakdowns that plagued the Panthers throughout conference play.

The Stanford vs Pitt matchup is a study in contrasts: the Cardinal's West Coast basketball philosophy meeting the physical, grind-it-out style that defines ACC basketball. Stanford's emphasis on spacing, ball movement, and shot selection should give them an edge if they can impose their style on the game, but Pitt's physicality and desperation could disrupt that rhythm. Conference tournament games between lower seeds tend to be messy, low-scoring affairs, and the team that handles the pressure of elimination better will advance.

For both programs, this is about pride more than NCAA Tournament implications. Neither team is likely on the bubble, so the motivation here is ending the season on a positive note and building momentum for the offseason. That said, conference tournament wins matter for program trajectory, especially for Stanford as they establish themselves as a legitimate ACC member. Winning a game or two in Charlotte would go a long way toward building credibility in the new conference.

SMU enters their second ACC Tournament still working to establish themselves as a consistent force in the conference. The Mustangs made the move from the AAC, and the step up in competition has been evident throughout the season. Andy Enfield's team has the talent and the coaching to compete, but finishing in the 11 seed suggests they haven't quite found the consistency needed to separate themselves from the middle of the pack. The ACC Tournament is a chance to change the narrative in a hurry.

Syracuse at the 14 seed represents a program in transition. The Orange are navigating life in a new era, and the results in ACC play have reflected the growing pains. Syracuse's iconic 2-3 zone remains the backbone of the defense, but the zone is only as good as the length and effort of the players running it, and the Orange haven't always had both this season. When the zone locks in, Syracuse can frustrate anybody. When it doesn't, opponents find gaps and score in bunches.

The SMU-Syracuse matchup carries some intrigue because of the stylistic clash. Enfield's teams play an uptempo, spread-the-floor style that generates a lot of three-point attempts, and that approach can be either the perfect antidote or the worst possible matchup against Syracuse's zone. If SMU is hitting from deep, the zone will collapse and the Mustangs will cruise. If the shots aren't falling, Syracuse's length and rebounding advantage in the zone could keep this tight.

Charlotte is firmly ACC country, and the Spectrum Center crowd will likely have some Syracuse fans in the building given the Orange's passionate alumni base on the East Coast. That energy could give Syracuse a slight boost, but SMU's superior depth and offensive versatility should be the deciding factor. This is a game where tempo control matters enormously, and whichever team can dictate the pace will have a major advantage heading into the decisive final stretch.

The nightcap in Charlotte features two programs that have underperformed relative to preseason expectations, and the 12-13 matchup between Virginia Tech and Wake Forest feels like a fitting end to a long day of ACC Tournament first-round action. Both teams come into this game with nothing to lose in terms of NCAA Tournament implications, but everything to play for in terms of program pride and conference tournament survival. Lose and your season is over. Win and you get to play one of the ACC's elite teams tomorrow. That's the beauty of March.

Virginia Tech under Mike Young has built a reputation as a competitive, well-coached program that can give anybody fits on a given night, even when the overall record doesn't reflect a top-tier team. The Hokies' defensive identity and physicality are hallmarks of Young's coaching philosophy, and those traits tend to shine brightest in tournament settings where effort and execution matter more than raw talent. Virginia Tech's ability to control tempo, limit turnovers, and get stops in crucial moments could be the difference in a tight game.

Wake Forest has gone through a rough stretch in ACC play, and the 13 seed reflects a season that hasn't lived up to the program's aspirations. The Demon Deacons have the kind of roster that should be more competitive in the ACC, but putting it all together consistently has been the challenge. Steve Forbes' team will look at this as a fresh start, a chance to string together some wins and inject some positive energy heading into the offseason. Conference tournaments are where young teams grow up fast, and Wake Forest has the kind of talent that could catch fire in a single-elimination setting.

The atmosphere in Charlotte should be excellent for this one, as both Virginia Tech and Wake Forest have passionate fan bases in the Carolinas and surrounding regions. This is a true coin-flip game on paper, and it'll come down to which team makes plays in the clutch. Free throw shooting, rebounding in the final five minutes, and avoiding costly turnovers will decide who plays tomorrow and who heads home. The margin between winning and losing in these conference tournament openers is paper-thin, and that's what makes them so compelling to watch.

The Big Ten Tournament opens at the United Center in Chicago with a matchup between two of the conference's lowest seeds, and Oregon vs Maryland is a game neither program wanted to be playing on a Tuesday afternoon. The 16-17 seed pairing means these are the two worst-performing teams in the regular season Big Ten standings, and both programs are playing to avoid ending the year on the worst possible note. There's a certain raw energy to these early conference tournament games because the desperation level is at 100 from the opening tip.

Oregon in the Big Ten is still a work in progress. The Ducks made the conference move from the Pac-12 and have experienced the full weight of what it means to compete in an 18-team super conference night after night. The travel demands alone have been an adjustment, with cross-country trips to play in hostile environments like Mackey Arena, Crisler Center, and Assembly Hall becoming the new normal. Dana Altman is one of the best coaches in the country, and his ability to keep his team competitive despite the roster and logistical challenges speaks to his coaching acumen.

Maryland under Buzz Williams has been going through a full rebuild, and the Terrapins' 17 seed confirms what the regular season record already told us: this is a team that's at least a year away from being competitive in the Big Ten. Williams is building this program from the ground up, emphasizing defense, toughness, and the kind of blue-collar identity he instilled at Texas A&M. The results haven't come yet, but the foundation is being laid. For now, Maryland will look to use the Big Ten Tournament as a chance to show some fight and give the fan base something to believe in heading into the offseason.

The United Center in Chicago is a phenomenal venue for the Big Ten Tournament, but the early-round games between lower seeds don't always fill the building. That actually works to both teams' advantage, as the more intimate atmosphere can favor the underdog and reduce the crowd's impact on momentum swings. This is a game that comes down to effort, execution, and which team simply wants it more. Neither team has anything to lose, and that freedom can produce some entertaining basketball.

Northwestern has a unique advantage in this game that shouldn't be overlooked: the United Center in Chicago is essentially a home game for the Wildcats. Northwestern's campus in Evanston is just a short ride from downtown Chicago, and the Wildcats' fan base should turn out in force for a conference tournament game in their backyard. That home-court energy in a theoretically neutral setting can be a real difference-maker in a close game between two evenly matched lower seeds. Chris Collins' team will feed off the crowd, and that matters in March.

Penn State at the 18 seed sits at the very bottom of the Big Ten standings, and the Nittany Lions arrive in Chicago knowing that this could be their final game of the season regardless of the result. Mike Rhoades inherited a program that needed significant roster overhaul, and the rebuilding process in an 18-team Big Ten has been as brutal as expected. Penn State's struggles in conference play have been well-documented, and the Nittany Lions simply don't have the depth or the offensive firepower to compete consistently against top-tier competition. But again, conference tournament basketball is a one-game format, and anything can happen.

The nightcap in Chicago should have a fun atmosphere with Northwestern fans creating a quasi-home environment. The Wildcats' advantage extends beyond just the crowd, as they've had the benefit of playing in big venues all season and the United Center won't feel foreign to them at all. Northwestern's defensive toughness and tactical discipline under Collins should provide a structural edge, and the Wildcats typically play their best basketball when the stakes are at their highest.

Penn State will need a heroic individual performance from someone in their backcourt to pull off the upset, because the Nittany Lions don't have the depth to match Northwestern for 40 minutes of high-intensity tournament basketball. The key for Rhoades' team is taking care of the basketball and giving themselves as many offensive possessions as possible. In a game where both teams are going to struggle to score at times, every turnover is magnified. The team that makes fewer mistakes and hits their free throws down the stretch will survive to play another day.