The finals, between Houston and Arizona, will take place March 15 at 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT. Notably, this is Arizona’s first year as a member of the Big 12 conference, following the numerous shakeups in the conferences. This will mark Houston’s return to the finals after falling to Iowa in 2024 in their first year in the Big 12.

Instead, the No. 6-seeded Jayhawks wilted in an 88-77 loss at T-Mobile Center. A prime example came when Kansas trailed by five with 4:06 left. Kansas turned the ball over on two straight possessions and eventually lost another winnable game.

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

The Auburn Tigers won the SEC regular-season championship but have been struggling as they march toward the NCAA Tournament, losing in the SEC Tournament semifinals to the Tennessee Volunteers and dropping three of their last four games.