Big 12 Tournament capsules

When: 6 p.m. Wednesday

TV: ESPNU

TCU (17-14)

Coach: Trent Johnson

Big Eight/12 Tournament titles: None

RPI: 129

Players to watch: G Kyan Anderson may be the league’s best player on a team not in the NCAA Tournament mix. F Amric Fields has played well against K-State in the past. F Chris Washburn had 17 points in a win over K-State in Fort Worth.

Can TCU get to the final: Unlikely, though it could do some damage along the way. TCU played every team in the conference tough this season, springing a handful of upsets.

KANSAS STATE (15-16)

Coach: Bruce Weber

Tournament titles: 1977, 1980

RPI: 84

Players to watch: F Nino Williams has played his best basketball as a senior, and he doesn’t want his college career to end at the Big 12 Tournament. F Thomas Gipson has been steady this season and is coming off a game in which he scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against Texas. G Marcus Foster remains the team’s leading scorer, despite an ongoing slump.

Can Kansas State get to the final: Yes. The Wildcats have wild card potential in Kansas City. Their potential road to the final includes teams they have already defeated -- TCU, Kansas and Baylor. Of course, the Wildcats beat all three of those teams at home and lost to them by double digits on the road. So they will have to play better than they have all season away from home to find success in Kansas City.

When: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday

TV: ESPNU

TEXAS TECH (19-11)

Coach: Tubby Smith

Tournament titles: None

RPI: 172

Players to watch: G Devaugntah Williams is the Red Raiders’ leading scorer, averaging more than 11 points. G Robert Turner has led Texas Tech to some big home victories by scoring in bunches. F Justin Gray is underrated inside.

Can Texas Tech get to the final: It will be considered a surprise if the Red Raiders win a single game.

TEXAS (19-12)

Coach: Rick Barnes

Tournament titles: None

RPI: 113

Players to watch: C Myles Turner was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year, despite playing sparingly at times under Barnes. F Jonathan Holmes finished the year on a hot-shooting streak. F Connor Lammert is the rare big that you can’t leave open on the perimeter.

Can Texas get to the final: If the Longhorns can get past Iowa State in the quarterfinals, they may be favored to reach the final. Texas was ranked in the top 10 before conference play started. A hot streak could result in a tournament championship. The odds are against it.

When: 11:30 a.m. Thursday

TV: ESPN2

WEST VIRGINIA (23-8)

Coach: Bob Huggins

Tournament titles: None

RPI: 20

Players to watch: G Juwan Staten. His injury status is in doubt, but he is the team’s best player and an all-conference first-team selection. F Devin Williams nearly averages a double-double. G Jevon Carter is a productive scorer and passer.

Can West Virginia get to the final: The Mountaineers are good enough to win the entire tournament. But are they good enough to win their first game? Baylor manhandled West Virginia in both regular-season meetings.

BAYLOR (22-8)

Coach: Scott Drew

Tournament titles: None

RPI: 10

Players to watch: F Rico Gathers was the conference’s leading rebounder by a country mile. He is a double-double machine. F Taureen Prince might be the conference’s top bench player. G Kenny Chery is the point guard that makes Baylor go.

Can Baylor get to the final: Yes. Few teams ended the regular season playing as well as the Bears.

When: 2 p.m. Thursday

TV: ESPN2

KANSAS (24-7)

Coach: Bill Self

Tournament titles: 1981, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013

RPI: 2

Players to watch: F Perry Ellis was a candidate for Big 12 Player of the Year as the Jayhawks’ leading scorer, but is nursing a sprained knee. G Frank Mason was one of the most improved players in the league this season, warranting a spot second-team all-conference honors. G Wayne Selden is a threat passing and shooting.

Can Kansas get to the final: If the Jayhawks are at all full strength, they are the unquestioned favorites with Iowa State and Oklahoma on the other side of the bracket. But they could also have trouble in earlier rounds if Ellis is out.

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

TV: ESPNU

IOWA STATE (22-8)

Coach: Fred Hoiberg

Tournament titles: 1996, 2000, 2014

RPI: 11

Players to watch: F Georges Niang is one of the most gifted forwards in the nation, able to shoot from the outside and post up on defenders in the paint. G Monte Morris was one of the league’s top point guards during the regular season. F Jamel McKay won the league’s defensive player of the year award.

Can Iowa State get to the final: The Cyclones won the tournament last season and get tremendous fan support in Kansas City. They could repeat.

When: 8:30 p.m. Thursday

TV: ESPNU

OKLAHOMA STATE (17-12)

Coach: Travis Ford

Tournament Titles: 1983, 1995, 2004, 2005

RPI: 45

Players to watch: G Phil Forte averaged more than 16 points a game during the regular season, and is the league’s best scoring point guard. F Le’Bryan Nash was not pleased when he made the second-team all-conference team. Perhaps he plays with a chip on his shoulder in Kansas City.

Can Oklahoma State get to the final: Anything is possible, but the Cowboys got swept by Oklahoma and Iowa State this season. They will have to beat both to play on Saturday.

OKLAHOMA (21-9)

Coach: Lon Kruger

Tournament titles: 1979, 1985, 1988, 1990, 2001, 2002, 2003

RPI: 13

Players to watch: G Buddy Hield was the conference’s leading scorer and the league’s Player of the Year. F Ryan Spangler regressed a tad this season, but he is still one of the league’s best inside players. F TaShawn Thomas was the Big 12’s newcomer of the year.

Can Oklahoma get to the final: Neutral fans hope the Sooners get a shot to make the final against Iowa State on Friday. The offensive powers played two of the most entertaining games of the regular season.

Kellis Robinett

This story was originally published March 10, 2015 at 10:46 AM with the headline "Big 12 Tournament capsules."