The Big 12 & the Big Dance
The following is a look at the seasons in which a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball team has reached the Final Four and how the last weekend of those seasons played out.
Although the conference has been around since the 1996-97 season, it has yet to see a basketball school crowned as champion.
Kansas, making its 13th Final Four appearance of all-time and third in the Big 12 era, has a shot to be the first this weekend in San Antonio, Texas.
2002
Big 12 Participants: Kansas and Oklahoma
Others: Indiana and Maryland
Outcome: Maryland defeats KU, 97-88; Indiana defeats OU, 73-64; Maryland defeats Indiana, 64-52, for title.
Most Outstanding Player: Juan Dixon, Maryland
2003
Big 12 Participants: Kansas and Texas
Others: Syracuse and Marquette
Outcome: KU defeats Marquette, 94-61; Syracuse defeats UT, 95-84; Syracuse defeats KU, 81-78, for title.
Most Outstanding Player: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
2004
Big 12 Participant: Oklahoma State
Others: Georgia Tech, UConn and Duke
Outcome: G-Tech defeats OSU, 67-65; UConn defeats Duke, 79-78; UConn defeats G-Tech, 82-73, for title.
Most Outstanding Player: Emeka Okafor, UConn
2008
Big 12 Participant: Kansas
Others: North Carolina, Memphis and UCLA.
Outcome: ????
The Jayhawks and the Final Four
- A dream come true (04-02-08)
- Keegan: Jayhawks relish role of ‘dogs (04-02-08)
- Other schools adopt KU mascot (04-02-08)
- Game to be shown at Allen Fieldhouse (04-02-08)
- Tar Heels fast, but KU in ’90 more ‘efficient’ (04-02-08)
- Self dismisses interest in OSU (04-02-08)
- Self ‘not a candidate’ for OSU job (04-02-08)