Big 12 Championship Game 2024: Iowa State vs. Houston Schedule, Preview | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
The Houston Cougars enforced their will on the Big 12 in their first season in the conference.
Kelvin Sampson's team needs a win over the Iowa State Cyclones in the Big 12 tournament final on Saturday to complete the championship double.
Houston and Iowa State rolled through their first two games in Kansas City. They had a combined margin of victory of 71 points.
Houston received most of the national attention out of the Big 12 this season, but Iowa State has been equally as good in league play and was one of the few teams to beat the Cougars since January.
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Big 12 Tournament Final Info
Date: Saturday, March 16
Start Time: 6 p.m. ET
Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app
Game Preview
Houston has only gotten better over the last two weeks, which is a scary sight for any of its future opponents.
The Cougars held their last four opponents under 60 points and annihilated the TCU Horned Frogs and Texas Tech Red Raiders in Kansas City.
The No. 1 seed has not lost since a February 3 road trip to Kansas and its last loss before that occurred during a two-game losing streak to TCU and Iowa State in early January.
Few teams have come close to competing with the Cougars for 40 minutes. They are one of the most complete teams in the country, led by veteran guard Jamal Shead.
The Cougars rank in the top 10 in almost every important defensive metric on KenPom and they give up the fewest points per game in Division I.
Iowa State suffered a few more losses in Big 12 play than Houston, but it has been equally as dominant as Houston in some of its recent wins.
The Cyclones blew past the Kansas State Wildcats and Baylor Bears in Kansas City and they held their last seven opponents to 65 points or fewer.
Houston was the last team to eclipse the 65-point mark against the Cyclones in a 73-65 victory on February 19.
Four of Iowa State's five Big 12 losses occurred when it conceded over 70 points, so the offensive goal seems simple for Houston.
However, with the way both programs played defense in Kansas City, it feels like Saturday's championship game will be a first-to-60 wins matchup.
