Big 12 Tournament Bracket Set – Does Texas Actually Have A Chance?

The Big 12 Men’s Basketball field is set for next week’s tournament.

The Texas Longhorns basketball team has one guaranteed game left this year in the Big 12 tournament.

And, if Texas wants to continue playing basketball this season, they will have to win four games in four days.

The miracle run starts Wednesday night against Texas Tech. The #10 seed Longhorns will face the #7 Red Raiders in the second game Wednesday.

Texas and Tech are on the bottom half of the bracket, which means not having to face Kansas unless they make the finals.

The Longhorns vs. Red Raiders will be the second game on Wednesday after #8 TCU vs. #9 Oklahoma in the top half of the bracket. [ Full Bracket ]

Texas Basketball Has Easier Path in Bottom Half

If there was ever a reason to secretly hope Texas finished last in the Big 12, it was this year. You just do not want to be in the top half of the bracket where Kansas is hanging out.

Texas would have ended up in the top half if they finished ninth ahead of Oklahoma. But, OU surpassed the Longhorns during the regular season, sending Texas to the bottom half.

Texas’ path starts with Texas Tech, who they beat in Austin during the regular season. The two teams just met in Lubbock on Wednesday, which will make for an interesting dynamic playing the same team twice in one week.

If the Longhorns beat Tech, they face #2 West Virginia on Thursday. Texas nearly beat WVU in Austin, then struggled on the road in Morgantown. The only redeeming quality of that game was Jarrett Allen’s Dunk of the Year candidate that blew up social media.

Texas Basketball – Can They Make Days 3 and 4?

If Texas somehow gets past Tech and West Virginia, they would face the winner of #3 Baylor vs. #6 Kansas State.

Texas lost four times against the Bears and Wildcats. Texas was unable to match Baylor’s physicality in Waco and Austin, losing by double digits in both contests.

Meanwhile, Texas lost by three points to K-State in their Big 12 in early January, then lost again by three points in Austin when K-State converted a late tip-in.

Texas just doesn’t have the interior or exterior firepower to hang with Baylor, but they came very close to beating Kansas State in both contests.

The thing is K-State needs to beat Baylor. ESPN has Kansas State as one of the Last Four out of the NCAA Tournament, giving them extra incentive to beat a Top 12 team to play their way into the Big Dance.

If Kansas State beats Baylor, they would presumably be very worn out because of how physical Baylor plays. That would give Texas an opening against the Wildcats if they survive WVU and have anything left in the tank for their third game in three nights.

If somehow Texas makes it to Game 4 of the Big 12 tournament, the Horns would likely face Kansas. But, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, TCU, and Oklahoma are also lurking in the top-half.

Texas lost twice to Kansas, twice to TCU, and split their games against the Cyclones and Cowboys.

To get this far, Texas will have to put together the most amazing run of college basketball in Texas Longhorns history. And, to this point in the season, there have been no signs of Texas being able to pull it off.

So, does Shaka Smart have some magic to pull out in Kansas City? Maybe something to bewilder unsuspecting Big 12 opponents who have seen the Horns struggle throughout the season, including losing seven straight games to close the regular season?

Next: Why UT Basketball Will Be National Title Contender In Two Years

If Texas even makes it to Game 4 on Saturday, it will be a miracle. They have to start Wednesday night against Texas Tech if they want this season to continue.