Bill Self considers value of each game to different teams as Big 12 Tournament approaches

Even with the loss to the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks are a perpetual lock as a one-seed in the men’s NCAA tournament. So with their future and this year’s tournament secure, the Big 12 tournament does not play that big of a role to Bill Self and his Jayhawks. But it is still pretty significant to some of the other teams who are trying to punch their ticket to go dance. After the game against Texas, Self gave his thoughts on what other programs might be looking at heading into the Big 12 tournament.

“I don’t know that it’s all locked up. I mean, there’s still a couple of teams that may need to do something. I think West Virginia — a big win for Texas today — West Virginia had the biggest win in the league today,” said Self. “Texas Tech or Oklahoma State both have an opportunity to have a huge win later on. And, of course, that’ll translate into the Big 12 tournament where somebody can really help themselves or maybe hurt themselves. But my deal is I think that everybody that plays in anything, that you put emphasis on playing well, winning it. But I don’t think it carries the same significance in winning it as what it has, maybe in some other years.”

In the recent prediction from ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, West Virginia has landed in the field of 68. And Oklahoma State is currently on his “first four out” line. But as Self said, they could play themselves into or out of the tournament, depending on their performances. Fortunately for him and Kansas, that worry does not pertain to them in any way this season.

Self makes case for West Virginia to make NCAA Tournament

After Kansas‘s narrow 76-74 victory over West Virginia on Saturday, there were some questions on whether or not the Mountaineers were deserving of a spot in the NCAA Tournament. But if you ask Kansas head coach Bill Self, there’s no question at all: West Virginia is an NCAA Tournament team and deserves to go dancing in March.

“Well, you guys saw play today,” said Self. “Does that look like an NCAA tournament team to you? And the answer is an emphatic yes. I mean, they’re good, and the leagues just really hard, and they’re really good.

The Big 12 is brimming with talent, especially in their top-tier teams. Currently, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has the conference occupying four of the top eight seeds. Kansas is on the No. 1 line. While Texas, Baylor, and Kansas State are all projected as No. 2 seeds.