JimBob
03-05-2008, 08:12 AM
High-stakes Bedlam
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist
3/5/2008
OU, OSU fever must continue to rise
AFTER OKLAHOMA'S 64-37 demolition of Texas A&M last Saturday, coach Jeff Capel repeatedly used one word to describe the Sooners' next opponent.
"We're playing Wednesday against arguably the hottest team in the league," Capel said. "They're as hot as anyone right now."
But how hot is hot? Or, more specifically, how hot does Oklahoma State have to get to realistically put itself in the conversation for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid?
That question could make tonight's latest edition of the always-heated Bedlam Series reach the boiling point when OSU hosts OU at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Both teams still have NCAA at-large bid aspirations. But OU (19-10, 7-7) apparently has a bit more Big Dance wiggle room than OSU (16-12, 7-7).
Less than a month ago, it was ludicrous to include OSU and the NCAA Tournament in the same sentence. But then the Cowboys proceeded to win five straight and six of their last seven to up the stakes in the Bedlam rematch.
"Oklahoma State had to get hot to the point where being hot mattered," said Jerry Palm of collegerpi.com.
There's that word again. But has OSU's scorching late-season run really mattered? Will it force the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee to take a serious look at a team with a No. 73 RPI in Palm's latest rankings?
"They (Pokes) can get themselves into the discussion," said Palm, one of most respected bracketologists in the March Madness business. "But they've got an uphill climb.
"I really think the Oklahoma game is the key, because it's at home. They can't afford to lose to anybody at home."
OU, of course, isn't just anybody. The Sooners, who won the first Bedlam meeting 64-61 in Norman on Jan. 28, have a No. 28 RPI, according to Palm's calculations.
Palm doesn't think the Sooners' postseason dreams will be doomed if they lose to the Pokes. OU could still finish at .500 (8-8) in the Big 12 if it wins its regular-season finale at home Saturday against Missouri (15-14, 5-9).
But Palm figures the Sooners, who apparently will be forced to play both games without standout power forward Blake Griffin (knee injury), need to win at least one of the two.
"A split this week doesn't really hurt Oklahoma that much," Palm said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "I think they will be OK.
"But I'm assuming Blake Griffin will be back for the conference tournament."
That's a big assumption. And one of many intriguing factors that could affect several Big 12 teams fighting to be included in the group that receives the 34 at-large bids.
If Griffin doesn't return for next week's Big 12 Tournament and the Sooners falter, OSU could be the benefactor. But with a huge challenge Sunday at No. 5 Texas, the Cowboys need to win tonight to assure themselves of finishing 8-8 in the conference.
"They've got a lot of things to make up for," said Palm, referring to OSU's 1-6 start in the Big 12. "They've done some of that.
"Maybe they could lose a close one at Texas and still do some damage in the conference tournament and squeeze into the bottom of the (NCAA) bracket."
The Cowboys also need Texas A&M (21-9, 7-7) to continue a late-season slide. The Aggies have lost four of their last five.
OU, OSU and A&M are tied for fifth heading into the last week of the Big 12 race. With the Big 12's RPI No. 2 among the conferences, most of the so-called experts believe the league has a solid shot at getting six teams picked on Se lection Sunday.
"They certainly could get six," Palm said. "But I don't think it's a slam dunk for them at this point. There are varying stages of disrepair."
Kansas and Texas are tournament locks, with Baylor and Kansas State closing in on at-large bids.
That means OSU could be in serious NCAA bubble trouble if the Cowboys, Sooners and Aggies all finish with 8-8 records. OU and A&M have better overall resumes, which might require OSU to advance to the Big 12 championship game to get the selection committee's attention.
Another factor working in OSU's favor, according to Palm, is that the field of teams on the NCAA bubble is one of the weakest in the 14 years he's been putting together his 65-team bracket.
"The vast majority of teams are trying to play their way out of the tournament, which is why teams like Oklahoma State can even get in the discussion," Palm said. "So it's refreshing to see someone like Oklahoma State trying to play their way in.
"But they can't say, 'Well, we've done enough,' and lose the next couple games. They are one mediocre to bad loss away from the NIT."
So when you're hot, you better stay hot.
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist
3/5/2008
OU, OSU fever must continue to rise
AFTER OKLAHOMA'S 64-37 demolition of Texas A&M last Saturday, coach Jeff Capel repeatedly used one word to describe the Sooners' next opponent.
"We're playing Wednesday against arguably the hottest team in the league," Capel said. "They're as hot as anyone right now."
But how hot is hot? Or, more specifically, how hot does Oklahoma State have to get to realistically put itself in the conversation for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid?
That question could make tonight's latest edition of the always-heated Bedlam Series reach the boiling point when OSU hosts OU at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Both teams still have NCAA at-large bid aspirations. But OU (19-10, 7-7) apparently has a bit more Big Dance wiggle room than OSU (16-12, 7-7).
Less than a month ago, it was ludicrous to include OSU and the NCAA Tournament in the same sentence. But then the Cowboys proceeded to win five straight and six of their last seven to up the stakes in the Bedlam rematch.
"Oklahoma State had to get hot to the point where being hot mattered," said Jerry Palm of collegerpi.com.
There's that word again. But has OSU's scorching late-season run really mattered? Will it force the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee to take a serious look at a team with a No. 73 RPI in Palm's latest rankings?
"They (Pokes) can get themselves into the discussion," said Palm, one of most respected bracketologists in the March Madness business. "But they've got an uphill climb.
"I really think the Oklahoma game is the key, because it's at home. They can't afford to lose to anybody at home."
OU, of course, isn't just anybody. The Sooners, who won the first Bedlam meeting 64-61 in Norman on Jan. 28, have a No. 28 RPI, according to Palm's calculations.
Palm doesn't think the Sooners' postseason dreams will be doomed if they lose to the Pokes. OU could still finish at .500 (8-8) in the Big 12 if it wins its regular-season finale at home Saturday against Missouri (15-14, 5-9).
But Palm figures the Sooners, who apparently will be forced to play both games without standout power forward Blake Griffin (knee injury), need to win at least one of the two.
"A split this week doesn't really hurt Oklahoma that much," Palm said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "I think they will be OK.
"But I'm assuming Blake Griffin will be back for the conference tournament."
That's a big assumption. And one of many intriguing factors that could affect several Big 12 teams fighting to be included in the group that receives the 34 at-large bids.
If Griffin doesn't return for next week's Big 12 Tournament and the Sooners falter, OSU could be the benefactor. But with a huge challenge Sunday at No. 5 Texas, the Cowboys need to win tonight to assure themselves of finishing 8-8 in the conference.
"They've got a lot of things to make up for," said Palm, referring to OSU's 1-6 start in the Big 12. "They've done some of that.
"Maybe they could lose a close one at Texas and still do some damage in the conference tournament and squeeze into the bottom of the (NCAA) bracket."
The Cowboys also need Texas A&M (21-9, 7-7) to continue a late-season slide. The Aggies have lost four of their last five.
OU, OSU and A&M are tied for fifth heading into the last week of the Big 12 race. With the Big 12's RPI No. 2 among the conferences, most of the so-called experts believe the league has a solid shot at getting six teams picked on Se lection Sunday.
"They certainly could get six," Palm said. "But I don't think it's a slam dunk for them at this point. There are varying stages of disrepair."
Kansas and Texas are tournament locks, with Baylor and Kansas State closing in on at-large bids.
That means OSU could be in serious NCAA bubble trouble if the Cowboys, Sooners and Aggies all finish with 8-8 records. OU and A&M have better overall resumes, which might require OSU to advance to the Big 12 championship game to get the selection committee's attention.
Another factor working in OSU's favor, according to Palm, is that the field of teams on the NCAA bubble is one of the weakest in the 14 years he's been putting together his 65-team bracket.
"The vast majority of teams are trying to play their way out of the tournament, which is why teams like Oklahoma State can even get in the discussion," Palm said. "So it's refreshing to see someone like Oklahoma State trying to play their way in.
"But they can't say, 'Well, we've done enough,' and lose the next couple games. They are one mediocre to bad loss away from the NIT."
So when you're hot, you better stay hot.