It's possible Big 12 will have six teams in NCAA

By John Rohde
The Oklahoman

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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It's possible Big 12 will have six teams in NCAA

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