Joseph Duarte, University of Houston beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, joins The Matt Thomas Show to preview Cougars men's basketball taking on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Big 12 Championship Tournament. As the Cougars deal with injuries to the roster, Duarte says head coach Kelvin Sampson might begin to "manage minutes heading into the NCAA Tournament." "[Sampson] thought about giving [the starters] a break," Duarte said. The Cougars have already secured the Big 12 regular season title, but if they also win the Big 12 Championship Tournament, the Cougars "should be the No. 1 seed in the country." The 2024 March Madness NCAA Tournament starts on Thursday, March 21. The Cougars are expected to go far in the tournament, but Duarte says another Big 12 team might also be a contender. The Baylor Bears "present problems."