The Big 12's Redemption Tour: Why NCAA Tournament Wins Are So Important This Year

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The Big 12 Conference is in desperate need of redemption after last year’s embarrassing NCAA tournament performance in which none of the eight teams made it past the Sweet 16.

A disappointing performance wiped away years of dominance, leaving the conference fighting to restore its reputation. Now, with the pressure mounting and the SEC and Big Ten conferences dominating the conversation, it's time for the Big 12 to prove it's still the king of college hoops.

The expectations were raised even higher this year with the addition of Arizona, one of college basketballs powerhouses. However, after the Big 12 struggled in non-conference play, including a 2-14 record against the SEC, the Big 12 has fallen from its perch as the nation’s best basketball conference.

With the SEC and Big Ten dominating the tournament field, combined with everything else they are doing — bullying other conferences — a deep run from the Big 12 is crucial to silence the critics and reclaim its spot atop the college basketball hierarchy.

Read the full story on why I believe this year’s tournament could make or break the Big 12’s legacy in college basketball! A successful showing could erase the sting of last year’s early exits, combined with the dismal non-conference performance by the league.

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