KANSAS CITY, Mo. >> By his own admission, it hasn’t been the year Trevor Baskin envisioned for his only season at the Division I level.

But that’s not stopping Baskin from making an impact when it matters most.

The former Division II standout enjoyed a second consecutive superb all-around game against TCU, helping the Buffaloes to keep their season alive with a 69-67 victory against TCU on Tuesday in the opening round of the Big 12 Conference tournament.

“I think it’s always trying to stay even-keeled,” Baskin said. “There’s always going to be ups and downs in every part of every season. I’ve been in college for a while so I’ve always really tried to take the veteran approach of just putting in the work and your time will come. It’s happening now. I’ve played well the past two games in terms of defensive and having an impact.

“I wish I was finishing a little better the last two games, but that’s besides the point. I’m really just trying to make the most of the minutes I’m in. And I’ve done a better job recently of having an impact outside of just scoring the ball.”

Baskin went 1-for-5 and scored only six points Tuesday. For much of the season the former Pomona High star has struggled to make an impact when he’s not scoring well. But that wasn’t the case Tuesday, or during CU’s win against TCU four days earlier in the regular season finale.

Baskin finished with seven rebounds Tuesday after grabbing a career-high 16 against the Horned Frogs on Saturday. Baskin also recorded four blocked shots, giving him eight blocks in the past three games after recording just 17 through the first 29 games.

Baskin received his second consecutive starting assignment as head coach Tad Boyle opted to use the same opening group that paved the way for Saturday’s win against TCU. “There was no way I wasn’t going to start Trevor. He had 16 rebounds,” Boyle said. “I’ve told Trevor a few times — and he’s not the only one — if you want to play more, play better. Guess what? He’s playing better, he’s playing more. Pretty simple deal.”

The commish speaks

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark met the media Tuesday ahead of the tournament opener. In addition to announcing the league will likely revert back to an 18-game conference schedule next year, the other highlights of his media session included:

• On possible further Big 12 expansion: “I love 16. I love where we are. It’s taken a toll on the staff to integrate everyone, even though I think it’s gone really, really well. Expansion isn’t something that’s on my radar right now. But this is an evolving landscape, college athletics, and we always have to be ready. So I can’t sit here and say we’ll be 16 for the next 10 years. It will all depend on the nuances in and around the Big 12. But I love 16 and I love our geographic composition.”

• On possible expansion of the NCAA Tournament: “I’m in favor of expansion to 76. I think that’s the right number. I think there’ll be some decisions over the next 90 days, 60 days. I think the economics, candidly, have to work. I think CBS and TNT have a marquee asset with the tournament. I know they know that. But in order of us to expand, they have to come to the table and provide the right economics.”

Notable

With three assists, CU point guard Julian Hammond III moved into a tie for 19th in program history with 243 (tied with Reggie Morton). Hammond’s two steals moved him into a tie for 29th all-time with 94. … Buffs forward Bangot Dak recorded a pair of blocked shots, giving him 44 on the season. That ties Tyler Bey’s 2018-19 total for the 16th-best season mark in program history. … Former CU wing Nique Clifford on Tuesday was named to the All-Mountain West first team and also earned a spot on the league’s all-defensive team.