The Big 12 Has a Big Announcement Coming. Here Are 10 Wild Ideas

I’ve known Ari Temkin, one of the hosts, for years. He’s not one for hyperbole. So if it’s big, it’s big. We’ll see on Tuesday. But, how big?

In our Heartland College Sports text chain, we had some fun on Saturday. What could [not] the announcement be? Here are 10 “ideas” on what could cement the Big 12 Tournament as a destination event.

Pre-Game Barbecue Eating Challenge

Kansas City is known for its barbecue. I’ve sampled most of the major joints and I’ve never walked away unhappy. Full but never unhappy. So, here’s the deal — before each game, the starting lineup for each team has a barbecue eating challenge. Eat as much barbecue as you can in five minutes. Then, 15 minutes later, tip-off. Let’s just say a team’s bench strength will be important.

Shaq Diesel, DJ Referee

Shaquille O’Neal’s alter ego, Shaq Diesel, has done DJ sets after the championship game in the Power and Light District for the past few years. Let’s take it one step further. Shaq officiates a game and does a DJ set at the same time. Can he multi-task? Can he restore the reputation of Big 12 referees? Can he run those turntables up and down the floor and still call that charge?

Elam Ending

Let’s forget about the highest-scoring team winning each game in 40 minutes. Let’s shoot for a final target score, or the Elam Ending. The game ends when the winning team reaches the target score. The NBA used it in an All-Star Game. The NBA G League uses it for its overtime format. Can’t wait for that Darryn Peterson walk-off field goal.

Jersey Switch

Before each game, the opposing teams switch jerseys — not so they can be encased in glass on a wall, but to wear. That’s right — you’re playing in the other team’s jerseys. Kansas wearing lavender and Kansas State wearing blue? Iowa State wearing maroon and Arizona State wearing those black jerseys with Cyclones on the front? Can you focus while you’re confused? That’s the trick.

Brett Yormark Ted Talk

Every wondered about the origins of “Doubling down for all the right reasons?” What it’s like to be a twin (he has a twin brother in case you didn’t know)? What Coach Prime is really like? The Big 12 commissioner reveals all during Ted Talks between playing sessions during first round, second round and quarterfinal sessions, complete with a Q&A. Bonus points if you can get through a session without asking him about Vegas.

The Big 12 Penthouse Suite

Tired of the walk from your downtown hotel to the T-Mobile Center? Well, welcome to the Big 12 Penthouse Suite, a freestanding 1,000-square foot suite suspended from the rafters of the arena, with your own personal chef, entertainment center and — wait for it — glass floor with a terrific view of every game. And, if you want to watch any game from the floor, a fireman’s pole gets you there in seconds. Still workshopping that last part.

Players Moms’ 5-on-5

You know what? Forget these young college kids playing for a shot at the NCAA Tournament. Let’s hand the championship game over to the moms. Yep, that’s right. The title game is decided by the basketball talents of the mothers of the players for each team. The kicker — the players are the coaches. Yep, coaches like Bill Self and Tommy Lloyd get to kick back, relax and laugh as their players try to coach their moms. Cinema.

Redshirt 1-on-1

Redshirt players have waited all year for their moment, and at the Big 12 Tournament they’re going to get it. In the final five minutes of the first half and the game, there will be no foul shots. Instead, a redshirt from each team will play each other one-on-one for one posession for the points. It’s time to finally get these guys in on the action — and give these tired foul shooters a break.

Conference Consolation Swap

The Big 12 has some great teams and in some other conferences, they might have a better shot at the NCAA Tournament. So, let’s have some fun. The four losers of the first-round games don’t go home. Instead, they head to a neutral location and take on the first-round losers from the SEC in a consolation battle royale. Same with the second round and the quarterfinals. The conference with the most wins in the 12 games gets an extra NCAA Tournament bid at the other conference’s expense.

Beat Writer Bonus

Yormark has gotten some flak for moving most of the media to the hockey media area at T-Mobile Center (beat writers for each team get to sit on the floor, by the way). But how about a chance for an upgrade? Each non-beat writer is assigned a player in the Big 12 Tournament and if he scores 20 or more points in a game then that writer gets upgraded to the floor for the rest of the tournament.

So, what IS the announcement going to be? I’m assuming it’s some combination of extra entertainment, extra amenities and extra fan opportunities. That’s my guess. We’ll find out on Tuesday.