How many Big 12 teams will get into this year's NCAA Tournament?
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How many teams actually deserve to go?
The answer to both questions probably is two, but it will likely end up being six.
Entering Monday's games, the Big 12 had six teams in the top 50 of the latest CollegeRPI.com rankings — No. 5 Texas; No. 9 Kansas; No. 28 Oklahoma; No. 33 Baylor; No. 42 Kansas State; No. 46 Texas A&M and No. 49 Texas Tech.
A Top-50 ranking doesn't guarantee an at-large berth, but it might be pretty darn close this season, a year many consider one of the most mediocre since 1985 when the tournament expanded and eliminated first-round byes.
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi said Monday he can't recall a worse collection of bubble teams.
The more things remain status quo, the more profitable it is for the Big 12.
If conference tournaments are won by regular-season champions, the at-large pool will become even deeper with mediocrity.
Blame it on the following conferences:
•Conference USA, which lost some primo programs to the expanded Big East three years ago, has only one worthy candidate in Memphis.
•The Atlantic 10, which has offered as many as four entrants, might have only one this season in Xavier.
•The Missouri Valley, which two years ago had six worthy candidates, might have only one this year in Drake.
•The WAC and Mountain West might combine for three.
•The Big Ten, usually with a half-dozen participants, doesn't figure to get more than four.
•The Pacific 10 has four locks and three maybes.
•The SEC has four locks and two maybes.
If this were 1996-97, for example, the Big 12 would be destined for only two entrants.
That's the season Texas Tech was No. 29 in the final RPI and failed to receive a bid.
(Missouri State was No. 21 two years ago and got snubbed.)
OU was No. 33 in 1993-94 and got shut out.
This year, however, cartel conferences will reap the rewards of weak mid-major performances. Which is good news for the Big 12.
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Guys, stop bellyaching about the DOK being an OU propaganda sheet. It's a time-honored tradition in Oklahoma, been going on since at least WWII. Isn't going to change unless OSU starts beating OU with some regularity. Since that probably won't happen, just live with it. Stop whining. (I'm an OSU fan, alum, and grew up in Stillwater, so don't start with your rants.)
How many ou homer tools work for the DOK? How many sports journalists should be fired from the DOK? The answer to both questions probably is 3 (Jenni, Rhode, and Tramel), but the whole sports department will likely keep their jobs since it is an ou propaganda paper.
Based on your 3rd paragraph ("answer to both questions is two"), you apparently think the Big 12 will only get 2 teams into the tournament. Your first question was "How many Big 12 teams will get into this year's NCAA tournament?"
If you really think the Big 12 will only send 2, then you are a shambled sports writer. However, I will assume based upon the rest of the article that there is simply a typo. May want to get ahold of your editorial staff.
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Oklahoma State could benefit from from a relative weak mid-major pool when the NCAA Tournament pool is selected. by MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
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Based on your 3rd paragraph ("answer to both questions is two"), you apparently think the Big 12 will only get 2 teams into the tournament. Your first question was "How many Big 12 teams will get into this year's NCAA tournament?"
If you really think the Big 12 will only send 2, then you are a shambled sports writer. However, I will assume based upon the rest of the article that there is simply a typo. May want to get ahold of your editorial staff.