A quick look at the Big 12 basketball standings shows that Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa State, and West Virginia are all separated by just a single game. That means that the likely possibilities for the Sooners are to finish anywhere from first through sixth in the final conference standings. What this means for OU in the post season is that they could be anywhere from a #2 to a #8 in the NCAA Tournament.
Big 12 Standings
TEAM | CONF | OVERALL |
Kansas | 11-4 | 22-6 |
West Virginia | 10-5 | 22-6 |
Iowa State | 10-5 | 20-7 |
Oklahoma | 10-5 | 19-8 |
Baylor | 9-6 | 21-7 |
Oklahoma St | 7-8 | 17-10 |
Kansas St | 7-9 | 14-15 |
Texas | 6-9 | 17-11 |
TCU | 4-11 | 17-11 |
Texas Tech | 2-14 | 12-17 |
Obviously a #8 seed would mean that Oklahoma dropped their final three regular season games (TCU, at Iowa State, Kansas) and went one-and-done in the conference tournament. The good news is, while possible, that's the least likely scenario for the Sooners which just goes to show how far Lon Kruger has brought this program in just a few years.
The formula is simple for OU if they win out. Go 3-0 over the final stretch of conference play and the Sooners will travel to Kansas City with at least a share of the conference crown. Lose a game or two, or three, and the formula gets a whole lot more Einstein crazy like.
ESPN's Bracketology currently has Oklahoma as a #3 seed in the West and taking on Louisiana Tech in Louisville. SB Nation also has the Sooners as a #3 seed in the west but playing Georgia State in Columbus.
Here's how the two entities have have the rest of the conference projected.
School | ESPN | SB Nation |
Baylor | #4 East | #4 South |
Iowa St | #3 Midwest | #3 East |
Kansas | #2 South | #2 Midwest |
Oklahoma | #3 West | #3 West |
Texas | #12 Midwest | #8 South |
West Virginia | #5 South | #5 Midwest |
Personally I think it's still a bit of a long shot that the Big 12 gets seven teams in. Baylor did themselves a solid by beating Iowa State on the road Wednesday night but just about anyone would be extremely reluctant to place a wager on Texas and Oklahoma State making it. Both of those schools would need to both finish strong and then make a deep run in Kansas City.
As for the Sooners and everyone else? They're pretty much locks and just playing for seeding.