Now that the University of Houston has clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 tournament, the wait begins to learn its opponent.
Houston and Emanuel Sharp could face West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament on Thursday if the No. 7 seed Mountaineers advance.
Here is what you need to know:
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When is the Big 12 tournament?
The 16-team tournament will be held Tuesday through Saturday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
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When does UH play?
As a top-four finisher in the regular season, UH received a double-bye and won’t play until 6 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals. Television details have not been announced but it will be on the ESPN networks.
Who will the Cougars play?
The winner of 10-seed BYU and 15-seed Kansas State on Tuesday advances to play 7-seed West Virginia on Wednesday. The winner of that game will face the Cougars.
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UH went 3-0 against those teams this season, beating West Virginia (77-48), BYU (77-66) and Kansas State (78-64).
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A win would likely set up a semifinal showdown with 3-seed Kansas and Darryn Peterson, among the candidates for the No. 1 pick in this summer’s NBA Draft. In the only meeting between the two teams, Kansas beat UH 69-56 on Feb. 23 at Allen Fieldhouse.
Who are the top seeds?
The top four seeds are Arizona, the regular-season champion, Houston, Kansas and Texas Tech.
How has UH fared in the past?
As the regular-season champ, UH was the No. 1 seed the previous two years at the Big 12 tournament. The Cougars advanced to the championship game both times, losing to Iowa State in 2024 and beating Arizona in 2025.
What’s at stake?
The tournament champion receives the Big 12's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. UH is already a lock as an at-large for an eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars are currently projected as a 2-seed, although they are still in the discussion — along with Florida and UConn — for a No. 1 regional seed. A strong showing (along with some missteps by those two schools) could strengthen UH’s case. Most importantly, UH is seeking to be placed in the South Region, which will host the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight at Toyota Center.
Tuesday's games
Arizona St. vs. Baylor, 11:30 a.m., ESPN+
Cincinnati vs. Utah, 2 p.m., ESPN+
BYU vs. Kansas St., 6 p.m., ESPN+
Colorado vs. Oklahoma St., 8:30 p.m., ESPN+
