There’s been plenty of conversation this week in Kansas City as to whether or not the Big 12 Conference should consider moving the league’s basketball tournament out of KC when the contract is up in 2031. I asked Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd about that this week, and he said, “I mean, listen, you guys are asking a lot of questions here. I want to talk about the ballgame. 100 percent. Would I want this in Vegas? Yeah. 100 percent I will. But you know what? I didn’t ask to be in the Big 12. We got put in the Big 12. I didn’t have any input on it, but I love being in the Big 12. So if they tell me we’re going to play in Kansas City, we’re loading up the plane and going to Kansas City. We’re not going to sit there and overthink it. You guys can do all that stuff or have another coach give you opinions on what he would want. I just want to get on the floor and try to kick ass and play 40 minutes. That’s it.”
But after Houston beat Kansas in the Big 12 semifinals on Friday night, Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson was asked the same question. His response was quite different. Sampson said, “I hope they never move it. They should always keep it here. Sometimes its bigger than the school. Kansas City owns this tournament. And I’ve talked to commissioner Yormark about it. Would I like it in Houston? Yeah. But it should stay in Kansas City. I hope it does.”
Kansas City Big 12 Drama
This topic has come up mostly since the four western schools entered the league prior to the 2024-25 athletic year. Understandably, some fan bases want a closer and easier trip to watch their team in the conference tournament. Las Vegas has come up as a popular choice amongst Arizona and Utah fans, in particular.
And in recent days, we’ve seen a column in the Arizona Daily Star receive plenty of attention for advocating for moving the conference tournament. Also this week, Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas made the case in The Kansas City Star as to why his city is the best location for the tournament.
I do not blame any coach for lobbying for their fans, however, when a veteran like Kelvin Sampson steps up and lobbies for Kansas City, even though it would not be the best location for his fans, that says something. Sampson understands that Kansas City is able to own and embrace this tournament in a way that Dallas, Vegas, Houston or Phoenix simply won’t, and in some ways can’t, because there’s more going on.
Kansas City finds that perfect sweet spot, and geographically speaking, is the fairest location for all, despite the fact that it admittedly does favor Kansas and Iowa State. However, if those teams gained great advantage by having the tournament in KC, it’s not proving out that way in the court. Of the 12 teams to play in the last six Big 12 Championship games, only three of those 12 teams have been either Kansas or Iowa State.
On Saturday night, Houston plays Arizona for a second-straight season for the Big 12 Tournament Title, with tip off at 5:00 CT.
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