Preview: Kansas State Wildcats vs. BYU Cougars in Big 12 Championship KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — The BYU Cougars, riding a late-season surge, are set to face the Kansas State Wildcats in a first-round matchup of the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at T-Mobile Center. BYU (20-10) enters the postseason as the hotter team, having won three of its last four games, including an 82-76 victory over Texas Tech in its regular-season finale. The Cougars are powered by guard Robert Wright, who dropped 27 points in that win and has been a consistent scoring threat. Wright averaged 24.4 points over his final five regular-season games, including a 39-point outburst in an overtime win against Colorado on Feb. 14. Conversely, Kansas State (12-19) limps into Kansas City having lost 10 of its last 13 games. The Wildcats are coming off a 104-85 road loss to rival Kansas, where their defense allowed triple digits for the fourth time this season. Their season has been defined by offensive inconsistency and defensive struggles, particularly on the road where they went 2-10. The lone regular-season meeting between these teams offers a blueprint. On Jan. 3 in Manhattan, BYU secured an 83-73 victory over Kansas State. The Cougars’ offensive balance and perimeter shooting proved too much for the Wildcats to overcome. For Kansas State to engineer an upset, it will need a monumental performance from guard Nate Johnson. The Wildcats’ primary offensive engine, Johnson is coming off a 21-point effort at Kansas and has shown a high ceiling, evidenced by a 33-point, 9-assist game in a win over Baylor on Feb. 17. However, his supporting cast must provide more consistent help. BYU will look to control the tempo with its efficient offense, which ranks among the nation’s best in 3-point attempts and makes. Kansas State’s path to an upset hinges on slowing Wright, generating turnovers and finding secondary scoring behind Johnson. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT. The winner will advance to face a higher-seeded opponent in the second round of the conference tournament on Wednesday.