Tourneys to swap days Next year men will start on Wednesday while women will open Thursday Next year men will start on Wednesday while women will open Thursday
The Big 12 men's and women's basketball tournaments will return to Oklahoma City next season.
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Exactly where the games will be held is still up for discussion, however.
For the first time in league history, the men will start on Wednesday and play their championship game on Saturday.
Also for the first time, the women will start on Thursday and hold their championship contest on Sunday.
Unlike in the past, the women will not have an off day after the semifinal round.
All the men's games will be played in the Ford Center. The championship game will be held early in the evening and televised on ESPN.
The women, who will be televised on FSN, will play at least the first two rounds inside the Cox Convention Center, and possibly hold the semifinals and finals in the Ford Center.
It's also possible the entire women's tournament will be staged inside the Cox Convention Center.
Big 12 associate commissioner Dru Hancock said all these possibilities will be discussed in league meetings held during this week's tournaments in Kansas City, Mo., but a final decision will not be made.
This change in format has been discussed for several years.
Holding the men's championship game on Sunday has been taxing for participating teams because the NCAA Tournament begins Thursday.
Having the women's title game on Sunday is much more reasonable because their NCAA Tournament doesn't begin until the following Saturday.
Hancock said the biggest benefit to the Sunday finish for the women is they would get to start play on Thursday rather than Tuesday.
Tuesday's opening-round sessions inside Municipal Auditorium drew less than 1,500 fans inside the 10,700-seat arena.
A format change for this week's tournament could not be made because of the Big 12's existing television contract, which expires after this season.
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OKC was great last year! But the Weds-Sat is not good because of the kids missing an extra day of school. If we drive down again from S. Dakota it's a full 3 days of school my son will miss. It is a shame that the selection committee has punished the Big 12 for finishing on Sunday!
Leave the women in the Cox Convention Center the entire tourney to keep it consistent for the players, coaches, Big12 staff, FSN, etc.
Until the Cox Center gets sold out consistently, why bother shifting everything to the Ford Center?
Part of the advantage of OKC is that we have 2 arenas so close... If we then start shifting almost everything into a single arena then other cities that do not have 2 arenas so close together can bid more successfully for the Big12.
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The last time the Big 12 Tournament was in Oklahoma City, the University of Kansas celebrated with the championship trophy. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
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Until the Cox Center gets sold out consistently, why bother shifting everything to the Ford Center?
Part of the advantage of OKC is that we have 2 arenas so close... If we then start shifting almost everything into a single arena then other cities that do not have 2 arenas so close together can bid more successfully for the Big12.
KEEP THEM SEPARATED!