Afterthoughts: OSU-Colorado

By John Helsley

jhelsley@opubco.com

Good win for Oklahoma State Wednesday night.

Of course, they’re all good in the Big 12.

Mostly, it was a necessary win over Colorado, with the Cowboys involved in a crowded Big 12 scramble for NCAA Tournament berths. The league, which will prove to be the nation’s best according to RPI, figures to put at least six teams in The Dance, maybe seven.

While so many nods would confirm due respect for the league, the problem within the conference is that the depth of quality runs at least that deep. For now, three teams look like NCAA locks: Texas, Kansas and Kansas State.

Beyond that top 10 trio, five teams find themselves in the mix for the remaining three or four slots. Count the Cowboys among them, along with Baylor, Missouri, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

So beating Colorado, which is improved, yet still carries the Big 12′s worst winning percentage, was necessary. A must.

And done.

Not necessarily a thing of beauty, yet added to the win column, which is the most important thing.