The 2015–16 Big 12 men's basketball season was the 20th season of basketball for the Big 12 Conference. Team practices began in October 2015, followed by the start of the regular season on November 13. Conference play began on January 2, 2016, and concluded on March 5. Kansas won their 12th straight Big 12 regular season championship by finishing 33–5 overall and 15–3 in conference play, two games ahead of second-place West Virginia. The 2016 Big 12 men's basketball tournament took place from March 9–12, 2016 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. Kansas won the tournament for the 10th time in school history.
Buddy Hield of Oklahoma was named Big 12 Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, and became just the third player in conference history to be named the National college player of the year.
Seven schools were awarded a berth to the NCAA tournament. Kansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa State each reached the Sweet 16, with Oklahoma advancing all the way to the Final four before losing to the eventual champions Villanova.
Preseason
Big 12 CoachesPoints 1. Kansas (9)81 2. Oklahoma70 3. Iowa State (1)68 4. Texas51 5. Baylor49 6. West Virginia47 7. Oklahoma State33 8. Kansas State18 TCU 10. Texas Tech15 (#) first place votes
Pre-Season All-Big 12 Team Big 12 CoachesIsaiah Taylor, G TexasBuddy Hield, G OklahomaPerry Ellis, F KansasGeorges Niang, F Iowa StateRico Gathers, F Baylor Player of the Year: Buddy Hield, Oklahoma Newcomer of the Year: Deonte Burton, Iowa State Freshman of the Year: Cheick Diallo, Kansas
Rankings
+ Legend Increase in ranking Decrease in ranking Not ranked previous week
Pre Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 Wk16 Wk17 Wk18 Wk19 FinalBaylor AP 22 20 RV 25 16 16 23 23 RV 22 13 17 15 21 25 19 19 22 21C 21 21 25 23 15 14 22 21 25 22 15 18 13 19 22 16 17 20 18 24Iowa State AP 7 7 4 5 4 5 11 11 13 17 19 14 13 14 13 17 21 21 22C 7 7 5 4 2 2 9 9 14 18 21 16 14 15 15 17 20 19 19 15Kansas AP 4 4 5 4 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 4 7 6 2 2 1 1 1C 5 5 7 6 7 5 3 3 2 1 3 3 6 6 2 2 1 1 1 3Kansas State AP C RV Oklahoma AP 8 8 7 6 7 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 3 3 3 6 6 7C 8 8 6 8 8 3 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 3 3 4 6 6 7 4Oklahoma State AP RV RV C TCU AP C Texas AP RV RV RV RV RV RV 24 24 25 23 23 RVC RV RV RV RV RV RV 25 25 25 22 22 22 RVTexas Tech AP RV RV RV RV RV RV C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV West Virginia AP RV RV RV 20 14 20 19 19 17 11 6 9 14 10 10 14 10 9 8C 23 22 22 15 14 16 18 17 15 10 7 9 12 10 11 12 9 8 8 14
Regular season
Conference matrix BaylorIowa StateKansasKansas StateOklahomaOklahoma StateTCUTexasTexas TechWest Virginiavs. Baylor — 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 vs. Iowa State2–0 — 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 vs. Kansas0–2 1–1 — 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1vs. Kansas State2–0 2–0 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 vs. Oklahoma0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 — 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 vs. Oklahoma State2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 — 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 vs. TCU2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 2–0 2–0 vs. Texas1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 vs. Texas Tech1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 — 2–0vs. West Virginia0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 — Total 10–8 10–8 15–3 5–13 12–6 3–15 2–16 11–7 9–9 13–5
Points scored
TeamForAgainstDifferenceBaylor14241323101Iowa State1448139256Kansas14011194207Kansas State12511293 -42Oklahoma1393130786Oklahoma State11231248 -125TCU11291370 -241Texas1238122711Texas Tech12751314 -39West Virginia13651242123
Baylor Baylor Bears Schedule Big 12 regular season Big 12 tournament
Iowa State Iowa State Cyclones Schedule Big 12 Regular Season Big 12 tournament
Kansas Kansas Jayhawks Schedule Big 12 regular season Big 12 tournament
Kansas State Kansas State Wildcats Schedule Big 12 regular season Big 12 tournament
Oklahoma Oklahoma Sooners Schedule Big 12 regular season Big 12 tournament
Oklahoma State Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule Big 12 regular season Big 12 tournament
TCU TCU Horned Frogs Schedule Big 12 regular season Big 12 tournament
Texas Texas Longhorns Schedule Big 12 regular season Big 12 tournament
Texas Tech Texas Tech Red Raiders Schedule Big 12 regular season Big 12 tournament
West Virginia West Virginia Mountaineers Schedule Big 12 Regular Season Big 12 tournament
Honors and awards
All-Big 12 awards and teams 2016 Big 12 Men's Basketball Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Player of the YearBuddy Hield, G, OklahomaCoach of the YearTubby Smith, Texas TechDefensive Player of the YearPrince Ibeh, C, TexasSixth Man AwardJaysean Paige†, G, West VirginiaNewcomer of the YearDeonte Burton†, G, Iowa StateFreshman of the YearJawun Evans, G, Oklahoma State
2016 Big 12 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams First Team Second Team Third Team Defensive TeamIsaiah Taylor, Jr., G, TexasBuddy Hield†, Sr., G, OklahomaGeorges Niang†, Sr., F, Iowa StateTaurean Prince, Sr., F, BaylorPerry Ellis†, Sr., F, KansasJaysean Paige, Sr., G, West VirginiaMonte Morris, Jr., G, Iowa StateFrank Mason III, Jr., G, KansasWayne Selden, Jr., Jr., G, KansasDevin Williams, Jr., F, West VirginiaIsaiah Cousins, Sr., G, OklahomaWesley Iwundu, Jr., F, Kansas StateRico Gathers, Sr., F, BaylorJohnathan Motley, So., F, BaylorRyan Spangler, Sr., F, OklahomaDevonte' Graham, So., G, KansasFrank Mason III, Jr., G, KansasJevon Carter, So., G, West VirginiaWesley Iwundu, Jr., F, Kansas StateKhadeem Lattin, So., F, OklahomaPrince Ibeh†, Sr., C, Texas † - denotes unanimous selection
Phillips 66 Player of the Week WeekPlayer of the WeekSchoolNewcomer of the WeekSchoolRef. Nov. 9–15Rico GathersBaylorVladimir BrodzianskyTCUWesley IwunduKansas StateNov. 16–22Buddy HieldOklahomaChris OlivierOklahoma State Nov. 23–29Monte MorrisIowa StateEric Davis Jr.TexasWayne Selden Jr.KansasNov. 30 – Dec.6Taurean PrinceBaylorDean WadeKansas StateDec. 7–13Jameel McKayIowa StateEric Davis Jr. (2)TexasJavan FelixTexasDec. 14–20Cameron RidleyTexasJawun EvansOklahoma StateDec. 21–27Buddy Hield (2)OklahomaDeonte BurtonIowa StateDec. 28 – Jan. 3Jaysean PaigeWest VirginiaDeonte Burton (2)Iowa StateJan. 4–10Buddy Hield (3)OklahomaBarry BrownKansas StateJan. 11–17Isaiah TaylorTexasJawun Evans (2)Oklahoma StateJan. 18–24Monte Morris (2)Iowa StateJawun Evans (3)Oklahoma StateJan. 25–31Buddy Hield (4)OklahomaKerwin Roach Jr.TexasFeb. 1–7Jaysean Paige (2)West VirginiaDean Wade (2)Kansas StateFeb. 8–14Devonte' GrahamKansasDeonte Burton (3)Iowa StateFeb. 15–21Johnathan MotleyBaylorDeonte Burton (4)Iowa StateFeb. 22–28Jaysean Paige (3)West VirginiaMalique TrentTCUFeb. 29 – Mar. 6Perry EllisKansasKerwin Roach Jr. (2)Texas
Postseason
Big 12 tournament
March 9–12, 2016–Big 12 Conference Basketball Tournament, Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO.
2016 Big 12 men's basketball tournament seeds and results Seed School Conf. Over. Tiebreaker First RoundMarch 9 QuarterfinalsMarch 10 SemifinalsMarch 11 ChampionshipMarch 121. ‡† Kansas 15–3 30–4 Bye #8 Kansas State #5 Baylor #2 West Virginia2. † West Virginia 13–5 26–8 Bye #10 TCU #3 Oklahoma #1 Kansas3. † Oklahoma 12–6 25–7 Bye #6 Iowa State #2 West Virginia 4. † Texas 11–7 20–12 Bye #5 Baylor 5. † Baylor 10–8 22–11 2–0 vs ISU Bye #4 Texas #1 Kansas 6. † Iowa State 10–8 21–11 0–2 vs BU Bye #3 Oklahoma 7. Texas Tech 9–9 19–12 #10 TCU 8. Kansas State 5–13 17–16 #9 Oklahoma State #1 Kansas 9. Oklahoma State 3–15 12–20 #8 Kansas State 10. TCU 2–16 12–21 #7 Texas Tech #2 West Virginia ‡ – Big 12 regular season champions, and tournament No. 1 seed.† – Received a single-bye in the conference tournament.Overall records include all games played in the Big 12 tournament.
Bracket
NCAA tournament
Seed Region School First Round Second Round Sweet 16 Elite Eight Final Four 1 South Kansas #16 Austin Peay - March 17, Des Moines - W, 105–79 #9 Connecticut - March 19, Des Moines - W, 73–61 #5 Maryland - March 24, Louisville - W, 79–63 #2 Villanova - March 26, Louisville - L, 59–64 2 West Oklahoma #15 Cal State Bakersfield - March 18, Oklahoma City - W, 82–68 #10 VCU - March 20, Oklahoma City - W, 85–81 #3 Texas A&M - March 24, Anaheim - W, 77–63 #1 Oregon - March 26, Anaheim - W, 80–68 #2 Villanova - April 2, Houston - L, 51–95 3 East West Virginia #14 Stephen F. Austin - March 18, Brooklyn - L, 56–70 4 Midwest Iowa State #13 Iona - March 17, Denver - W, 94–81 #12 Little Rock - March 19, Denver - W, 78–61 #1 Virginia - March 25, Chicago - L, 71–84 5 West Baylor #12 Yale - March 17, Providence - L, 75–79 6 West Texas #11 Northern Iowa - March 18, Oklahoma City - L, 72–75 8 Midwest Texas Tech #9 Butler - March 17, Raleigh - L, 61–71 7 BidsW-L (%):3–4 3–0 2–1 1–1 TOTAL: 9–7
See also 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season Big 12 Conference Big 12/SEC Challenge
References