The basketball’s better (in the Big 12) than it was in the Pac-12, so as a true basketball fan, we’re happy to be here.”

Kansas as the No. 6 seed for a second straight year? Cincinnati playing on the opening day as the No. 13 seed? Nobody would have expected that at the start of the season.

Big 12 Tournament kicks off Tuesday, March 11, in Kansas City, and local businesses are gearing up for an influx of customers. The tournament means that thousands of basketball fans will be out and about and ready to shop.

The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team will play No. 3-seeded Arizona in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday. Kansas defeated UCF in an overtime thriller Wednesday. Meanwhile, Arizona had a bye through the early rounds of the tournament.

The Arizona Wildcats basketball program lost to the Houston Cougars in the 2025 Big 12 tournament championship.

Top seed Houston (28-4) faces No. 3 seed Arizona (22-11) in the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament championship game at T-Mobile Center. How to watch, listen When: 5 p.m. Saturday. TV/streaming: The game will be televised on ESPN with Jon Sciambi (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analyst) on the call.