Cowboys streaking into contention

About two weeks ago, someone asked me OSU’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament. I said 10 percent. They countered with 20 percent, but no big difference, really. All uphill.

Today, those Cowboy chances have risen to about 40 percent, and they will nearly double if OSU can beat Texas in Stillwater on Saturday. OSU beat Colorado 76-55 Wednesday night in Boulder to raise its Big 12 record to 7-6.

The common theory was that if the Cowboys can get to 9-7, they would make the NCAAs. It’s still a solid theory, though other factors are in play, notably the Big 12′s overall strength. Will the Big 12 get five teams in the 65-team tournament?

Texas also has risen — notably its victory over Oklahoma — and the Longhorns are in the top 25 and are 8-5, with some marquee victories (UCLA, OU, Villanova, Wisconsin). UT goes to OSU and Kansas, with a home game against Baylor in between. Beat the slumping Bears, and Texas should be in either way.