SEC Is Having Meltdown, Big 12 Basketball Still Elite, Even West Virginia Proved So, Arizona Too

The Locked On Big 12 podcast delivers a bonus episode analyzing the 2026 college basketball season, focusing on the Big 12's underwhelming performance in March Madness despite its reputation as the nation's top conference. While no Big 12 team reached the National Championship game—Arizona was crushed by Michigan, and Houston fell short in the semifinals—the hosts argue that the outcome reflects the inherent variance of tournament basketball rather than a true decline in conference strength. They praise Michigan and UConn for their dominance, with special emphasis on Dusty May’s tactical brilliance and Michigan’s unexpected rise. The discussion shifts to coaching dynamics, with optimism around Bill Self’s potential return to Kansas despite health concerns, and strong advocacy for Kelvin Sampson staying at Houston as his ultimate destination. The episode also covers strong performances in Big 12 baseball and softball, highlighting Kansas’s baseball surge, TCU’s comeback, and Baylor’s softball collapse against the league’s weakest team. Overall, the Big 12 remains elite in depth and potential, even if its postseason results were disappointing this year.