Kansas vs. Texas score: Longhorns throttle Jayhawks for second Big 12 Tournament title in three seasons

Texas made history on Saturday by defeating Kansas by a margin of at least 15 points for the second time this season

By Kyle Boone

Mar 12, 2023 • 1 min read

No. 7 Texas took home the Big 12 Tournament championship on Saturday with a convincing 76-56 beatdown of No. 3 Kansas inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The Longhorns led for more than 31 minutes of game action after wresting control of the game late in the first half and building their lead to as many as the final margin -- 20 points -- down the stretch. Texas, with the emphatic win, becomes the first team since Oklahoma State in 1999-2000 to beat Kansas twice in a season by a margin of at least 15 points.

Texas had not won a Big 12 Tournament title prior to 2021 but has now won twice in three seasons after knocking off Oklahoma State in the championship two years ago. It had previously gone 0-for-6 in its six Big 12 title game appearances.

Both Texas and Kansas have been forced to overcome adversity at its coaching positions this season in winning championships -- Kansas in the Big 12 regular season and Texas in the Big 12 postseason. KU coach Bill Self began the season suspended four games for his role in the FBI scandal, and he was absent this week after being hospitalized just before the tournament. Texas fired its coach, Chris Beard, after he was accused of strangulation of a family member early in the season, prompting the program to promote Rodney Terry to interim coach mid-season.

Bracketology implications

Despite Texas' win over Kansas on Saturday in the Big 12 Tournament championship game, the Jayhawks will not only stay on the No. 1 seed line but will also retain its spot as the No. 1 overall seed in the bracket, according to CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm.

"They've still had the best season of anyone," Palm said.

Texas achieved 14 Quad 1 wins this season — second-most in the country behind Kansas — to make its case as a possible No. 1 seed as well. Alabama, Kansas and Purdue appear on pace to be No. 1 seeds, while Houston, Texas and UCLA are left vying for the final No. 1 seed spot, adding some drama on the top line heading into Selection Sunday.

2023 Big 12 Tournament scores

First round -- Wednesday, March 8
Game 1: No. 8 West Virginia 78, No. 9 Texas Tech 62 | Recap
Game 2: No. 7 Oklahoma State 57, No. 10 Oklahoma 49 | Recap

Quarterfinals -- Thursday, March 9
Game 3: No. 5 Iowa State 78, No. 4 Baylor 72 | Recap
Game 4: No. 1 Kansas 78, No. 8 West Virginia 61 | Recap
Game 5: No. 2 Texas 60, Oklahoma State 47 | Recap
Game 6: No. 6 TCU 80, No. 3 Kansas State 67 | Recap

Semifinals -- Friday, March 10
Game 7: No. 1 Kansas 71, No. 5 Iowa State 58 | Recap
Game 8: No. 2 Texas 66, No. 6 TCU 60 | Recap

Big 12 Tournament Championship Game -- Saturday, March 11
Game 9: No. 2 Texas 76, No. 1 Kansas 56 | Recap

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Semifinals: Texas 66, TCU 60

No. 2 seed Texas advanced into the Big 12 Tournament title game with a 66-60 win on Friday over No. 6 seed TCU in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals. The Longhorns locked in their spot in convincing fashion, sending home a red-hot TCU team that smoked K-State on Thursday in a wire-to-wire victory.

Texas, as it has done all season, advanced with a balanced diet with three different players scoring in double figures and another -- Tyrese Hunter -- adding nine points while serving as the point of attack for UT's stingy defense. Hunter served as primary defender on Mike Miles Jr. who was held to just 15 points after scoring 22 a day earlier.

Texas will face off against No. 1 seed Kansas on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.

Semifinals: Kansas 71, Iowa State 58

No. 1 seed Kansas has punched its ticket to the Big 12 Tournament championship game on Saturday night with a 71-58 victory over No. 5 seed Iowa State on Friday. Jalen Wilson starred once again in the win for the Jayhawks, recording a double-double by dropping in 25 points and adding in 10 rebounds. Gradey Dick added in 15 points and five rebounds for Kansas.

Now, the Jayhawks await their opponent, which will be determined in the other semifinal matchup on Friday between No. 2 seed Texas and No. 6 seed TCU.

Quarterfinals: TCU 80, Kansas State 67

Almost a month to the day after TCU suffered its most lopsided loss of league play -- by 21 points to Kansas State -- the Horned Frogs on Thursday returned the favor by blasting the Wildcats in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals 80-67. TCU started slow but came on strong down the stretch after Mike Miles Jr. and Chuck O'Bannon came alive to team up for 44 combined points. Even without starting center Eddie Lampkin, TCU scored 24 points in the paint and got a balanced outside effort, too, with 11 made 3s in the win.

Quarterfinals: Texas 60, Oklahoma State 47

No. 2 seed Texas held Oklahoma State to just 26.9% shooting and had five players in double figures while opening up an 18-point lead in the second half. It was a dominant showing from Texas, which advances to play either Kansas State or TCU in the semifinals.

Rough outing for the Cowboys, however, who entered the game as one of the "First Four Out" in Jerry Palm's Bracketology. Oklahoma State's offense has simply been rough for much of this season, and the absence of Avery Anderson did not help in a game like this. The Cowboys will have to cross their fingers and hope for a favorable outcome on Selection Sunday.

Quarterfinals: Kansas 78, West Virginia 61

Without the services of Hall of Fame coach Bill Self, who was sidelined Thursday due to an illness, No. 1 seed Kansas had no troubles at all dispatching West Virginia in the Big 12 quarterfinals. KU led for all but three minutes of game action in an impressive showing led by Jalen Wilson's 22 points and Gradey Dick's 18 points. The small-ball Jayhawks crushed West Virginia inside, outscoring the Mountaineers 52-36 in the paint as well to advance to the semis. They will face No. 5 seed Iowa State on Friday.

Quarterfinals: Iowa State 78, Baylor 72

The No. 5 seed Cyclones knock off No. 4 seed Baylor for their second straight victory against the Bears after also closing the regular season with an impressive win in Waco. Gabe Kalscheur filled it up with 24 points, counter 28 from Jalen Bridges for Baylor. The Bears will go limping into the NCAA Tournament at just 2-4 over their last six, while Iowa State has rallied a bit after losing four straight to close February.

First round: Oklahoma State 57, Oklahoma 49

No. 7 seed Oklahoma State completed a 3-0 season sweep of No. 10 seed Oklahoma with a 57-49 win the Cowboys desperately needed for their NCAA Tournament hopes. Oklahoma State entered the day as one of the "First Four Out" of Jerry Palm's projected NCAA Tournament field and used ferocious defense to advance to play No. 2 seed Texas in Thursday's quarterfinals.

Oklahoma shot just 25% from the floor against the Cowboys, who were led by 15 points from Caleb Asberry. Oklahoma State shot just 35% itself but led by as much as 15 in the final minutes as the Sooners struggled to score.

First round: West Virginia 78, Texas Tech 62

West Virginia handled business in workmanlike fashion during the opening game of the Big 12 Tournament by beating Texas Tech 78-62 and advancing to play No. 1 seed Kansas in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Kedrian Johnson led the Mountaineers with 20 points, while Tre Mitchell added 17 points and nine rebounds. WVU held Texas Tech to just 36.4% shooting and dominated the game after the Red Raiders jumped out to an early 9-2 lead.

The loss likely ends TTU's season in unceremonious fashion just days after head coach Mark Adams was suspended for making racially insensitive remarks; Pop Isaacs led the Red Raiders with 15 points as the team played under interim coach Corey Adams. West Virginia entered the game as a projected No. 11 seed for the NCAA Tournament but still considered a bubble team in Jerry Palm's Bracketology. The win should give the Mountaineers some cushion heading into Selection Sunday, however.

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