Media members all across the college hoops landscape love to make outlandish statements to steal the attention of helpless observers. I don't believe that being controversial is enough to make a person interesting, so I don't like to rely on such statements to convey strong feelings I have for my team's potential success. I prefer to hide behind the wall of "it could happen" so when my hot takes don't pan out, I'll have the impenetrable hypothetical barrier to protect myself from when my words blow up in my face.
With that disclaimer out of the way... the Big 12 is the best conference in college basketball, and I really don't think that's controversial. After an excellent season from nearly all of the conference's members, several bracketology projections suggest that the Big 12 will have the most representation in the Big Dance this March. So how many teams will be in?
Before we begin, I'd like to organize the conference into several tiers, based on bracketology and my observations, so we can know which teams are actual title contenders, which teams are tournament locks, and which teams we might not end up seeing at all.
Championship Contenders
Frisbee prodigy Louis Sebastian once described his athletic prowess by reciting an old adage from his home nation, where the best cheese always rises to the top. Of the Big 12's March Madness representatives, these teams are that cheese; these teams have the best chance to be that cheese and rise to the top of college basketball.
Tournament Locks
You probably shouldn't jot down any of these teams' names as you fill out your national champion this year (sorry, that includes BYU), but no one can stop you. These teams are the locks to play in March Madness. They are closer to the middle of the pack, but after braving the difficult Big 12 schedule and coming out alive, don't be surprised to learn some of these teams may have been under-seeded; the loss column doesn't tell the whole story.
Bubble Watch
Though only one, this team could be in danger if they finish their season poorly. Despite not meeting their preseason expectations, this team will be fighting like crazy to have a chance at the NCAA Tournament, and won't be satisfied with an NIT appearance.
Tallying up the tournament-projected teams sets the Big 12's tally at 9 teams, which is the highest of any conference in hoops. Plenty can still happen between now and the end of the conference tournament--a team like Kansas State or UCF could break off for a shockingly great conference tournament run, and find a way to sneak into the March Madness bracket with an automatic qualification--but make sure to keep an eye on these teams in the final weeks of the season to give yourself a leg up on your March Madness pool this year.
And as always, I may be crazy enough to pick the Cougars this year. Who knows?