Oklahoma State men's basketball is on NCAA Tournament bubble. What is the Cowboys' résumé?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Oklahoma State’s campaign to make the NCAA Tournament began early this week.
And it continued Friday with a graphic featuring letters “To whom it may concern,” or the selection committee. Each letter featured quotes after Thursday’s Big 12 Tournament loss to Texas.
“We'll be ready for anything if we get the bid to go to March Madness,” Cowboys guard John-Michael Wright said Thursday, “and we'll try to make it as exciting as possible. As a team, I feel like we've done enough, and I hope the committee gives us grace.”
But the Cowboys entered Selection Sunday — the bracket will be announced at 5 p.m. (CBS) — firmly on the bubble.
Both ESPN and CBS project the Cowboys to be the first team out of the tournament. But ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi also said OSU is “too close to call” along with Pittsburgh and Arizona State.
One team to monitor is UAB, which played Florida Atlantic in the Conference USA title game later Saturday. If UAB wins, it steals a bid from the bubble.
So, let’s take a look at OSU’s résumé along with other teams on the bubble.
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Oklahoma State
Record: 18-15, 8-10 Big 12
NET Ranking: No. 43
About: The Cowboys are 6-12 in Quad 1 games, which looks problematic but it’s also an example of exactly how deep and talented the Big 12 is. The majority of the games were Quad 1. OSU’s five-game losing streak late in the season hurts but not as much as the Quad 3 loss to Southern Illinois in November.
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Arizona State
Record: 22-12, 11-9 Pac-12
NET Ranking: No. 66
About: The Sun Devils made a nice run in the Pac-12 Tournament this week and are projected as the last team in by ESPN. But they are also a combined 9-11 in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games. An early season overtime loss to Texas Southern is a bad Quad 4 loss that looms large.
More:Oklahoma State's lack of depth 'creates a lesser margin of error' at Big 12 Tournament
Clemson
Record: 23-10, 14-6 ACC
NET Ranking: No. 57
About: Clemson is looming behind the Cowboys in projections because of a combined 16-4 record in Quad 3 and Quad 4 games. But wins over Duke, Penn State and Pittsburgh certainly help the case.
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Mississippi State
Record: 21-12, 8-10 SEC
NET Ranking: No. 49
About: The Bulldogs are are projected as one of the last four teams in the field by both ESPN and CBS. They are 4-8 in Quad 1 games and 9-4 in Quad 2 and Quad 3 games. February wins over Arkansas and Texas A&M boosted the resume.
More:Three takeaways from Oklahoma State's loss to Texas in Big 12 Tournament semifinals
Nevada
Record: 21-10, 12-6 Mountain West
NET Ranking: No. 37
About: Nevada has been a bit inconsistent, leaving it projected as a team behind OSU by ESPN but a team ahead of OSU by CBS. Nevada is a combined 8-8 in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, but two losses in Quad 3 certainly hurt. Nevada was also a one-and-done team in the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
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Pittsburgh
Record: 22-11, 14-6 ACC
NET Ranking: No. 67
About: The Panthers are firmly in on CBS’ projections and just one of the first four teams in on ESPN. They have a combined 15-2 record in Quad 3 and Quad 4 games but are 7-9 in all other games, including 4-4 in Quad 1. The Panthers did exceed expectations and improved throughout the year but also dropped three of their final four games.
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Rutgers
Record: 19-14, 10-10 Big Ten
NET Ranking: No. 40
About: Rutgers was eliminated by Purdue in the Big Ten quarterfinals, but it also upset Purdue earlier in the season. Both ESPN and CBS have Rutgers in the tournament. With a 10-10 combined record in Quad 1 and Quad 2, there is a strong case. But the 2-4 record in Quad 3 is a big problem.
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Vanderbilt
Record: 20-14, 11-7 SEC
NET Ranking: No. 79
About: The Commodores entered Saturday’s SEC Tournament semifinal loss against Texas A&M on a five-game winning streak that included two wins over Kentucky while skyrocketing up projections. Still, ESPN and CBS both have Vanderbilt behind the Cowboys. A 5-10 Quad 1 record and a combined 10-3 Quad 3 and Quad 4 record hurt Vandy’s chances.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NCAA bubble watch: Can Oklahoma State Cowboys make March Madness?
