snuffy
03-03-2009, 07:50 AM
NCAA invitations: Big 12 stock is suddenly rising
Conference could send seven teams to the Big Dance
By John Rohde
Published: March 3, 2009
http://www.newsok.com/ncaa-invitations-big-12-stock-is-suddenly-rising/article/3349933?custom_click=headlines_widget
Big 12 football stuck out its chest last season and at one time had four teams ranked in the top seven nationally and six in the top 17.
Big 12 basketball isn’t so barrel-chested.
In mid-January, Oklahoma and Texas were the only league teams ranked in the Associated Press weekly poll.
Kansas and Missouri have since joined the national rankings, and with the final week of the regular season upon us, the Big 12 might be represented in the NCAA Tournament far better than previously anticipated.
There is a chance — not a great chance, but a chance — the Big 12 could have seven teams in the NCAA Tournament, which is three more than what was projected just two weeks ago.
Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas have secured bids.
Here’s how three more wildcards could qualify:
→Kansas State: wins at Oklahoma State tonight and wins at home against Colorado on Saturday.
→Oklahoma State: wins at Oklahoma on Saturday.
→Texas A&M: wins at Colorado on Wednesday and wins at home against Missouri on Saturday.
Or, there’s also an automatic berth for winning next week’s Big 12 tournament at the Ford Center.
Amazingly, the weakest Big 12 season ever could result in the most NCAA bids in the history of the conference.
The Big 12’s tournament bubble teams have been able to stay afloat to this point.
Helping the Big 12’s cause is the decline of other notable bubble teams such as Arizona, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Maryland and Minnesota in recent weeks.
Conference could send seven teams to the Big Dance
By John Rohde
Published: March 3, 2009
http://www.newsok.com/ncaa-invitations-big-12-stock-is-suddenly-rising/article/3349933?custom_click=headlines_widget
Big 12 football stuck out its chest last season and at one time had four teams ranked in the top seven nationally and six in the top 17.
Big 12 basketball isn’t so barrel-chested.
In mid-January, Oklahoma and Texas were the only league teams ranked in the Associated Press weekly poll.
Kansas and Missouri have since joined the national rankings, and with the final week of the regular season upon us, the Big 12 might be represented in the NCAA Tournament far better than previously anticipated.
There is a chance — not a great chance, but a chance — the Big 12 could have seven teams in the NCAA Tournament, which is three more than what was projected just two weeks ago.
Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas have secured bids.
Here’s how three more wildcards could qualify:
→Kansas State: wins at Oklahoma State tonight and wins at home against Colorado on Saturday.
→Oklahoma State: wins at Oklahoma on Saturday.
→Texas A&M: wins at Colorado on Wednesday and wins at home against Missouri on Saturday.
Or, there’s also an automatic berth for winning next week’s Big 12 tournament at the Ford Center.
Amazingly, the weakest Big 12 season ever could result in the most NCAA bids in the history of the conference.
The Big 12’s tournament bubble teams have been able to stay afloat to this point.
Helping the Big 12’s cause is the decline of other notable bubble teams such as Arizona, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Maryland and Minnesota in recent weeks.