Kansas basketball: Three keys to winning the Big 12 Tournament

Kansas needs to beat teams early

The Jayhawks’ last three games have all be relatively close. A four-point win over Texas Tech, a nine-point win over TCU that was closer than that, and a four-point win over Kansas State. If the Jayhawks can get an “easy” game or two in the Big 12 Tournament, that would be huge.

First, it’d make Self’s goal of resting players extremely easy if the Jayhawks can coast to a victory. In that case, even the walk-ons could get maybe five or six minutes at the end of the game. The problem is that the farther Kansas goes in the tournament, the less likely it becomes that the game is a blowout.

In the Jayhawks’ first game, everyone will expect a blowout. They’ll be playing either Oklahoma State or Iowa State, who were both swept handily by Kansas this season. In the second game, Kansas will take on either Texas Tech or Texas.

Both Texas schools are essentially playing a “playoff” game to try and make the NCAA Tournament, so expect the winner to be a solid opponent despite Kansas sweeping both teams in the regular season.

Kansas basketball’s first game of the Big 12 Tournament will be broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN 2, Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Look for an increase in bench minutes and a “kill them quickly” mentality from the Jayhawks.