2020–21 Big 12 Conference men's basketball season
Sports season
The 2020–21 Big 12 men's basketball season began with practices in October 2020, followed by the start of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Regular season conference play began in December 2020 and concluded in March 2021. The Big 12 tournament was held from March 11–14, 2021 and was played at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri . Baylor won their first ever National Championship , becoming the first Big 12 team to win the National Championship since Kansas in 2008 .
Coaches
Coaching changes
There were no head coaching changes following the 2019–20 Big 12 Conference men's basketball season .
Head coaches
Note: Stats are through the beginning of the season. All stats and records are from time at current school only.
Preseason
Recruiting classes
Rankings
Team
ESPN[ 1]
Rivals[ 2]
Scout/247 Sports[ 3]
Signees
Baylor
No. 22
No. 42
No. 28
3
Iowa State
No. 18
No. 37
No. 29
4
Kansas
No. 25
No. 17
No. 22
4
Kansas State
-
No. 19
No. 35
7
Oklahoma
-
No. 86
No. 85
2
Oklahoma State
No.8
No. 4
No. 13
6
TCU
-
No. 66
No. 52
3
Texas
-
No. 57
No. 96
1
Texas Tech
No. 14
No. 10
No. 10
5
West Virginia
-
No. 61
No. 51
4
Preseason watchlists
Below is a table of notable preseason watch lists.
Wooden [ 4]
Naismith [ 5]
Cousy [ 6]
West [ 7]
Erving [ 8]
Malone [ 9]
Abdul-Jabbar [ 10]
Jared Butler , Baylor
Y
Y
Y
MaCio Teague , Baylor
Y
Y
Y
Marcus Garrett , Kansas
Y
Y
Y
Cade Cunningham , Oklahoma State
Y
Y
Y
Greg Brown , Texas
Y
Y
Y
Oscar Tshiebwe , West Virginia
Y
Y
Y
Matt Coleman III , Texas
Y
Ochai Agbaji , Kansas
Y
Terrence Shannon Jr. , Texas Tech
Y
Mark Vital , Baylor
Y
Brady Manek , Oklahoma
Y
Derek Culver , West Virginia
Y
Big 12 Preseason Poll
Big 12 Coaches
Points
1.
Baylor (7)
79
2.
Kansas (3)
73
3.
West Virginia
61
4.
Texas
58
5.
Texas Tech
53
6.
Oklahoma
39
7.
Oklahoma State
35
8.
Iowa State
19
9.
TCU
18
10.
Kansas State
15
Reference:[ 11] (#) first place votes
Pre-Season All-Big 12 Team
Player of the Year: Jared Butler, Baylor
Newcomer of the Year: Marcus Santos-Silva , Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year: Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
Preseason national polls
Rankings
Legend
Increase in ranking
Decrease in ranking
Not ranked previous week
Pre
Wk 2
Wk 3
Wk 4
Wk 5
Wk 6
Wk 7
Wk 8
Wk 9
Wk 10
Wk 11
Wk 12
Wk 13
Wk 14
Wk 15
Wk 16
Wk 17
Final
Baylor
AP
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
C
1
–
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
1
Iowa State
AP
C
–
Kansas
AP
6
7
5
5
3
3
6
6
9
15
23
RV
23
17
13
11
12
C
5
–
5
5
4
4
6
7
9
18
22
RV
24
19
14
12
11
16
Kansas State
AP
C
–
Oklahoma
AP
RV
RV
24
9
12
9
7
16
25
RV
C
–
RV
RV
RV
14
12
10
8
15
24
RV
RV
Oklahoma State
AP
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
23
RV
RV
17
12
11
C
RV
–
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
24
22
22
21
17
14
12
19
TCU
AP
RV
C
–
Texas
AP
19
18
14
11
10
8
4
4
5
5
6
13
12
14
15
13
9
C
22
–
12
11
10
9
4
4
5
5
6
13
13
16
16
16
9
21
Texas Tech
AP
14
17
17
14
15
13
18
15
12
10
13
7
15
18
18
20
21
C
13
–
17
14
16
14
19
15
13
10
11
8
11
16
18
22
21
22
West Virginia
AP
15
11
11
8
7
9
14
13
14
11
17
14
13
10
6
10
13
C
15
–
10
7
6
8
16
14
15
11
18
14
15
13
5
9
13
18
Regular season
Conference matrix
Baylor
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
TCU
Texas
Texas Tech
West Virginia
vs. Baylor
—
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–1
0–2
0–1
0–1
0–2
0–1
vs. Iowa State
2–0
–
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
vs. Kansas
1–1
0–2
—
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
vs. Kansas State
2–0
0–2
2–0
—
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
vs. Oklahoma
1–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
—
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
vs. Oklahoma State
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
–
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
vs. TCU
1–0
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
–
2–0
1–0
2–0
vs. Texas
1–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
—
2–0
1–1
vs. Texas Tech
2–0
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
0–1
0–2
—
2–0
vs. West Virginia
1–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
—
Total
13–1
0–18
12–6
4–14
9–8
11–7
5–11
11–6
9–8
11–6
Big 12/SEC Challenge
Date
Time
Big 12 team
SEC team
Location
TV
Attendance
Winner
Leader
Sat., Jan. 30
Noon
24 Oklahoma
9 Alabama
Lloyd Noble Center • Norman, OK
ESPN
2,680[ 22]
Oklahoma (66–61)[ 23]
Big 12 (1–0)
Kansas State
Texas A&M
Bramlage Coliseum • Manhattan, KS
ESPNU
942[ 24]
Texas A&M (68–61)[ 25]
Tied (1–1)
2:00 PM
11 West Virginia
Florida
WVU Coliseum • Morgantown, WV
ESPN
1,000[ 26]
Florida (85–80)[ 27]
SEC (2–1)
10 Texas Tech
LSU
Pete Maravich Assembly Center • Baton Rouge, LA
ESPN2
2,808[ 28]
Texas Tech (76–71)[ 29]
Tied (2–2)
TCU
12 Missouri
Mizzou Arena • Columbia, MO
ESPNU
3,063[ 30]
Missouri (102–98) (OT)[ 31]
SEC (3–2)
4:00 PM
2 Baylor
Auburn
Ferrell Center • Waco, Texas
ESPN
2,350[ 32]
Baylor (84–72)[ 33]
Tied (3–3)
Oklahoma State
Arkansas
Gallagher-Iba Arena • Stillwater, OK
ESPN2
3,350[ 34]
Oklahoma State (81–77)[ 35]
Big 12 (4–3)
6:00 PM
15 Kansas
18 Tennessee
Thompson–Boling Arena • Knoxville, TN
ESPN
4,191[ 36]
Tennessee (81–60)[ 37]
Tied (4–4)
Iowa State
Mississippi State
Humphrey Coliseum • Starkville, MS
ESPN2
1,000[ 38]
Mississippi State (95–56)[ 39]
SEC (5–4)
Georgia, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt will not participate for the SEC. The Texas-Kentucky game was canceled due to COVID-19. [ 40] All times Eastern
Postseason
Big 12 tournament
First round Wednesday, March 10
Quarterfinals Thursday, March 11
Semifinals Friday, March 12
Championship Saturday, March 13
1
Baylor
74
9
Kansas State
68
8
TCU
50
9
Kansas State
71
1
Baylor
74
5
Oklahoma State
83
4
West Virginia
69
5
Oklahoma State
72
5
Oklahoma State
86
3
Texas
91
2
Kansas
69
7
Oklahoma
62
7
Oklahoma
79
10
Iowa State
73
2
Kansas [ A]
3
Texas
3
Texas
67
6
Texas Tech
66
NCAA tournament
Seed
Region
School
First Round
Second Round
Sweet 16
Elite Eight
Final Four
Championship
1
South
Baylor
#16 Hartford W, 79–55
#9 Wisconsin W, 76–63
#5 Villanova W, 62–51
#3 Arkansas W, 81–72
#2 Houston W, 78–59
#1 Gonzaga W, 86–70
3
West
Kansas
#14 Eastern Washington W, 93–84
#6 USC L, 51–85
3
East
Texas
#14 Abilene Christian L, 52–53
3
Midwest
West Virginia
#14 Morehead State W, 84–67
#11 Syracuse L, 72–75
4
Midwest
Oklahoma State
#13 Liberty 'W, 69–60
#12 Oregon State L, 70–80
6
South
Texas Tech
#11 Utah State W, 65–53
#3 Arkansas L, 66–68
8
West
Oklahoma
#9 Missouri W, 72–68
#1 Gonzaga L, 71–87
7 Bids
W-L (%):
6–1 .857
1–5 .167
1–0 1.000
1–0 1.000
1–0 1.000
TOTAL: 11–6 .647
Honors and awards
All-Americans
To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the
Associated Press , the USBWA , Sporting News , and the National Association of Basketball Coaches .
All-Big 12 awards and teams
2021 Big 12 Men's Basketball Individual Awards
Award
Recipient(s)
Player of the Year
Cade Cunningham , G, Oklahoma State
Coach of the Year
Scott Drew , Baylor
Defensive Player of the Year
Davion Mitchell , G, Baylor
Sixth Man Award
Kai Jones , C, Texas
Newcomer of the Year
Mac McClung †, G, Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year
Cade Cunningham †, G, Oklahoma State
Reference:[ 42]
2021 Big 12 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams
First Team
Second Team
Third Team
Defensive Team
Newcomer Team
Freshman Team
Jared Butler †, G, Baylor Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor Austin Reaves , G, Oklahoma Cade Cunningham†, G, Oklahoma St. Derek Culver , F, West Virginia
Marcus Garrett , G, Kansas David McCormack , F, Kansas Andrew Jones , G, Texas Mac McClung, G, Texas Tech Miles McBride , G, West Virginia
MaCio Teague , G, Baylor Rasir Bolton, G, Iowa State RJ Nembhard, G, TCU Matt Coleman III , G, Texas Courtney Ramey , G, Texas Terrence Shannon Jr. , G, Texas
Jared Butler, G, Baylor Davion Mitchell†, G, Baylor Mark Vital †, F, Baylor Marcus Garrett†, G, Kansas Gabe Osabuohien, F, West Virginia
Jonathan Tchatchoua , F, Baylor Jalen Wilson , F, Kansas Greg Brown , F, Texas Cade Cunningham†, G, Oklahoma St. Mac McClung†, G, Texas Tech
Jalen Wilson†, F, Kansas Cade Cunningham†, G, Oklahoma St. Mike Miles, G, TCU Greg Brown†, F, Texas Jalen Bridges, F, West Virginia
† - denotes unanimous selection
Notes
^ Kansas withdrew from the Big 12 tournament after a player tested positive for COVID-19, which led to the game being cancelled, and Texas advancing in the tournament.[ 41]
References
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^ "New Rivals 2020 basketball team rankings released" . Rivals.com . Retrieved November 12, 2020 .
^ "2020 Basketball Team Rankings" . Retrieved November 12, 2020 .
^ "Six on Wooden Award Watch List" . big12sports.com .
^ "Naismith Trophy Watch List Headlined by Big 12 Players" . big12sports.com .
^ "Point Guards on Bob Cousy Award Preseason List" . big12sports.com .
^ "Teague, Agbaji Named Candidates for Jerry West Shooting Guard Award" . big12sports.com .
^ "TTU's Shannon Named to Julius Erving Award Watch List" . big12sports.com .
^ "Four Selected to Karl Malone Preseason List" . big12sports.com .
^ "Culver on Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List" . big12sports.com .
^ "Baylor Picked as Big 12 Preseason Favorite for First Time" . big12sports.com . Big 12 Conference. October 29, 2020.
^ "Big 12 Reveals 2020-21 Men's Basketball Preseason Awards" . big12sports.com . Big 12 Conference. October 28, 2020.
^ "AP Top 25 Poll" . collegebasketball.ap.org . Retrieved November 12, 2020 .
^ "Athlon Sports' College Basketball Top 25 for 2020-21" . Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020 .
^ Dortch, Chris. "Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Preseason Top 25 for 2020-21" . blueribbon.substack.com . Retrieved November 12, 2020 .
^ "College basketball 1-357 rankings: Here are the projected best 68 teams for the 2020-21 season" . CBSSports.com . Retrieved November 10, 2020 .
^ "Men's Basketball Coaches Poll" . USA Today Sports . Retrieved November 12, 2020 .
^ "Kentucky climbs to No. 5, Baylor still No. 1 in Way-Too-Early Top 25 update for 2020-21" . ESPN.com . October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020 .
^ Pomeroy, Ken. "2021 Pomeroy College Basketball Rankings" . Retrieved November 12, 2020 .
^ "Gonzaga leads the way in preseason AP poll for 2020-2021 season" . SBNation . Vox Media. November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020 .
^ "SI's Men's College Basketball Preseason Top 25 for 2020–21" . SI . Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 27, 2021 .
^ "Alabama vs. Oklahoma - Team Statistics - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ Final (January 30, 2021). "Alabama vs. Oklahoma - Box Score - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "Texas A&M vs. Kansas State - Team Statistics - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ Final (January 30, 2021). "Texas A&M vs. Kansas State - Box Score - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "Florida vs. West Virginia - Team Statistics - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ Final (January 30, 2021). "Florida vs. West Virginia - Box Score - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "Texas Tech vs. LSU - Team Statistics - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ Final (January 30, 2021). "Texas Tech vs. LSU - Box Score - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "TCU vs. Missouri - Team Statistics - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ Final (January 30, 2021). "TCU vs. Missouri - Box Score - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "Auburn vs. Baylor - Team Statistics - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ Final (January 30, 2021). "Auburn vs. Baylor - Box Score - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State - Team Statistics - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ Final (January 30, 2021). "Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State - Box Score - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "Kansas vs. Tennessee - Team Statistics - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ Final (January 30, 2021). "Kansas vs. Tennessee - Box Score - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "Iowa State vs. Mississippi State - Team Statistics - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . January 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ Final (January 30, 2021). "Iowa State vs. Mississippi State - Box Score - January 30, 2021 - ESPN" . espn.com . Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "Texas-Kentucky game canceled due to virus" . espn.com . January 29, 2021. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021 .
^ "Kansas vs. Texas Big 12 Championship Semifinal Game Has Been Canceled" . big12sports.com . Retrieved March 12, 2021 .
^ "Men's Basketball All-Big 12 Awards Announced" (Press release). Big 12 Conference. March 8, 2021.
Current teams Championships & awards Conference challenges Seasons
Information related to 2020–21 Big 12 Conference men's basketball season