Baylor Faces Steep Climb to NCAA Tournament Bid

Bears need strong Big 12 Tournament run to earn at-large bid

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Baylor's men's basketball team faces an uphill battle to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after a disappointing regular season. The Bears need to make a deep run in the Big 12 Tournament, including wins over ranked opponents like Iowa State and Texas Tech, to boost their resume and potentially sneak into the field of 68.

Why it matters

Baylor has been a consistent NCAA Tournament team in recent years, making the field in all but one season since 2014. Missing the Big Dance would be a rare setback for the program under head coach Scott Drew, who has built Baylor into a perennial contender.

The details

Baylor currently sits at #49 in the NET rankings with a 3-12 record against Quadrant 1 opponents and a 5-3 mark against Quadrant 2 foes. To earn an at-large bid, the Bears likely need to win their opening-round Big 12 Tournament game against Arizona State, then upset #8 NET-ranked Iowa State in the quarterfinals. An additional win over #15 Texas Tech in the semifinals would significantly boost Baylor's resume and put them firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble.

  • Baylor opens the Big 12 Tournament on March 10th against Arizona State.
  • A potential quarterfinal matchup with Iowa State would take place on March 11th.
  • The Big 12 Tournament semifinals, where Baylor could face Texas Tech, are scheduled for March 12th.

The players

Scott Drew

Baylor's head coach, who has led the program to consistent NCAA Tournament appearances in recent years.

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What’s next

If Baylor can win its opening-round Big 12 Tournament game against Arizona State, it will face a critical matchup with Iowa State in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal showdown with Texas Tech looming.

The takeaway

Baylor faces a steep climb to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, but the Bears' history of success under Scott Drew suggests they have a chance to pull off a late-season surge and keep their tournament streak alive.