K-State poised to earn postseason invite no matter what happens at Big 12 Tournament
The Kansas State men’s basketball team is on a mission to win the Big 12 Tournament this week at T-Mobile Center.
If it happens, the Wildcats will earn an automatic berth into March Madness.
If it doesn’t happen, they will return home and begin focusing on other things ... but their season may not end. Believe it or not, the Wildcats are well-positioned to reach the postseason no matter what happens in Kansas City.
That may come as a surprise to some, given that K-State (16-16, 9-11 Big 12 after Tuesday’s win over Arizona State) is wrapping up a mediocre season and is in danger of finishing with a losing record for the first time under Jerome Tang. But the Wildcats could still be postseason bound if they suffer an early loss in the Big 12 Tournament.
Here’s why: The NIT is no longer the biggest consolation tournament in March. It has a new competitor in the College Basketball Crown, a 16-team tournament that will begin on March 31 in Las Vegas.
The goal of the College Basketball Crown is to feature the best teams from power conferences that narrowly missed out on the NCAA Tournament. As such, it guarantees two automatic berths into the field for teams from the Big 12, Big East and Big Ten. The championship game will be broadcast nationally on FOX.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark confirmed Tuesday that the top two teams that miss out on the NCAA Tournament from the Big 12 will play in that event.
He didn’t specify how the conference will pick its top two remaining teams, but TCU and K-State would be in line to receive invitations based on the final Big 12 standings. They finished in a tie for ninth place, and the league’s top eight teams are projected to reach the NCAA Tournament.
“We’re excited to be part of the crown,” Yormark said. “We think it’s going to be a first-class opportunity for our student-athletes to showcase their talents. FOX is a wonderful partner of ours ... so we’re excited to be in the FOX family, and I think their tournament is going to be off the charts.”
Even if K-State misses out on an invitation to the new consolation tournament in Las Vegas, the NIT would likely have interest in the Wildcats as looks for teams to invite to its event.
K-State, or any other Big 12 team, could choose to decline invitations to those postseason tournaments.
Veteran players may not be interested in them and the transfer portal opens on March 24. Rosters will be in flux.
But Jerome Tang was eager to play in the NIT last season. And he wants to prioritize player retention this offseason. It’s possible he will also wants to play in the new Las Vegas tournament.
This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 12:02 PM.