Oklahoma and Oklahoma State won't play again until Saturday, at the earliest. Yet they're both in play tonight, hoping for the same coveted prize:
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A bracket location that leads to Oklahoma City.
It's Selection Monday for the women, with the NCAA Tournament bracket due to be revealed at 6 tonight live on ESPN.
For the Cowgirls and Sooners, the selection process isn't about getting in, but going where, both initially and beyond. Both crave a spot in the Oklahoma City Regional, which would offer a chance – with first- and second-round wins – to reach the Sweet 16 at the Ford Center.
The thought is so appealing to OSU coach Kurt Budke, he'd gladly take a lower seed just for the opportunity.
"I'd rather be a 6 and have a chance to come to Oklahoma City,” said the Cowgirls coach.
One of the teams is all but assured of a spot in the Oklahoma City Regional. The NCAA is intent on increasing attendance in the women's tournament and geographical placement will be an emphasis.
There's also the possibility that both are placed on a path to the Ford Center, although each team's seed must allow it. The No. 4 and 5 teams in a region, most commonly projected for OSU and OU, would be on track to collide in the third round, which is one round sooner than NCAA rules allows for same-conference squads.
But there are other factors involved as well, most notably the integrity of the bracket.
Teams are ranked through every seed, with the lowest No. 2 paired with the highest No. 1, and so on.
So rigging the bracket to feature both state schools in the Oklahoma City Regional is out of the question. Still, differences in teams are often small. Geography could be a tiebreaker.
"We're still going to do the best we can to try to get everybody as close to their campus as possible,” committee chair Judy Southard said during a teleconference last week.
"And a lot of it depends on the makeup of the bracket and how many teams from each geographical location are landing along each seed line.”
Remember, too, that Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M, among others, also fit the geographical description this year.
"There will definitely be two Big 12 teams in the Oklahoma City Region,” said ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme, "but it won't just be blindly the two Oklahoma schools. One of them probably will be there though.”
So if it is just one, which one might the NCAA favor to boost attendance downtown?
There are arguments for each.
The Sooners have the better history of fan support, ranking third nationally in attendance with an average of 10,000-plus a game. OU fans flooded the Cox Center for the Big 12 Tournament last year, helping set a tournament attendance record.
One rival Big 12 coach also provided this reminder: "Don't forget who's the president of the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association).”
That would be Sherri Coale.
The Sooners, however, are slumping. They've lost three in a row, including a first-round stunner to last-place Missouri in Kansas City. Speculation has OU, 21-8, receiving a No. 5 or 6 seed.
Righting her squad, rather than worrying about seeds or regions, is currently Coale's primary focus.
"I quit trying to figure out how this thing was going to go,” Coale said. "If you're going to play your way into the Final Four, no matter where you go, you better be pretty dang good.”
The 25-7 Cowgirls, who made a run to a runner-up finish at the Big 12 Tournament, are the hotter team. And they may carry the more realistic chance of actually advancing to Oklahoma City to deliver an attendance boost.
"I still would love to see us and OU in Oklahoma City,” Budke said. "I think we've earned it.
"If we somehow, some way win, you'd see more orange shirts in that Ford Center than you've ever seen.”
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Bo Overton is about as well known as the osu girls history in basketball, one good season out of lets just say 90 and the booger pickens people come out of the wood work
itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore - Mar 17, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Mike-I don't know if any official reason was given for his resignation there with the WNBA team, but I believe the DOK reported last week that there may have been allegation or rumor regarding sexual harassment. If that is the case, no way OU can hire him back.
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What to watch
NCAA Women's BasketballSelection Special
•6 tonight, ESPN (Cox 29)
Danielle Green and the Cowgirls await word on where and who they will play in the NCAA Women's Tournament. Selections are to be announced today BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
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Two for The Pit? 03/17/2008 ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme's updated 64-team field included both the Sooners and Cowgirls at the same locale. Not within the Oklahoma City Region, but...
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