The Kansas Jayhawks, the Big 12 regular‑season champions, open the conference tournament on Thursday against the eighth‑seeded Baylor Bears in Surprise, Arizona. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Central Time and will be televised on ESPNU, with a simultaneous stream on ESPN+.
A Surprise Showdown
Coach Dan Fitzgerald, who earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors this season, will guide the Jayhawks as they look to translate their regular‑season dominance into tournament success. Fitzgerald’s squad has won two of its last three meetings with BYU, while Baylor enters the matchup on a three‑game winning streak that includes victories over Utah and BYU.
The broadcast partnership with ESPNU and ESPN+ underscores the growing visibility of college baseball, offering fans both a traditional cable outlet and a digital platform to follow the action. The tournament format pits the top seed against the eighth seed in a single‑elimination contest that can set the tone for the remainder of the championship week.
With a berth in the championship game at stake, both teams bring distinct strengths to the mound. Kansas relies on a deep pitching rotation that has limited opponents to low run totals, while Baylor’s offense has been prolific, averaging double‑digit runs over its recent stretch. The outcome will hinge on which side can execute its game plan under the bright lights of Surprise.