The Big 12 tournament is here, the bracket is finalized, and we're officially entering the wide double-doors of March Madness. Champ Week is upon us, and the ruthless gods of college basketball demand a sacrifice.
We may as well have some fun along the way, right?
BYU basketball has landed as the four-seed in the conference thanks to a strong finish in conference play (the only team in the league to finish their last eight games without a loss, save for Houston). That's better than last season's five spot, and delivers a double-bye for Kevin Young to prepare his team for anyone who may come through that field.
Let's be honest with ourselves, it's almost certainly going to be Iowa State.
Take a look at the conference tournament bracket, as released by the league upon the regular season's close.
The official @Big12Conference tournament bracket! What matchups stand out? pic.twitter.com/FmxTwEP8xL
— Lawless Republic (@LawlessRepublic) March 10, 2025
You can find a printable version of the bracket here.
The Cougars are a NCAA Tournament lock this season in Coach Young's first taste of college hoops, and this team looks primed to pounce on the competition and compete for a conference championship. Here's the trouble: say the Cougars steal another win over the revenge-minded Cyclones (who were last season's champions), awaiting BYU in the semifinals and championship would be the likes of Houston, Arizona, and Texas Tech by all odds and measures.
That's not a favorable draw, but it's the reality when you're playing with the big boys (queue Playing With the Big Boys from The Prince of Egypt) of the Big 12.
So, can BYU basketball capture more glory in the final moments of the college basketball season, or are they doomed to a swift and painful exit?
Sure the court may be hideous, but a hungry and talented BYU basketball side is ready to make some chaos in the most chaotic season of the year.
Welcome to March Madness, and welcome to the most mind-blowing time of the year.