Daily Bullets (March 6)

Bedlam for Big Dance?

Some think the Pokes are in regardless of Kansas City results (Jenni Carlson’s thoughts are noteworthy) but some would argue a successful bid isn’t complete just yet.

“I think nine teams from this league can get in,” Mike Boynton said Saturday after his Oklahoma State Cowboys finished their season sweep of Kansas.

Sorry, Coach. I applaud you for standing up for your league. I understand it. But there’s no way. The conference has never sent eight, let alone nine.

So let’s crunch selection committee formula, the numbers, down to something we all see plainly: Oklahoma State is the No. 8 seed at the Big 12 Tournament. Oklahoma is No. 9. The Cowboys and Sooners play at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.

Winner take all? Winner to the NCAA, loser to the NIT? [TulsaWorld]

It’s hard for any of us to stave off biases about the Pokes but with a valiant showing in Kansas City it’d be hard to convince someone the Pokes aren’t playing their best ball at the right time of year.

The Big 12 odds are here for you. #10bidBig12 pic.twitter.com/SosWRmNzBP

— Ken Pomeroy (@kenpomeroy) March 4, 2018

Hard(ly) At It?

Hated reading these thoughts but HCS’ Pete Mundo had some thoughts on OSU’s big win on Saturday.

No doubt Saturday was a great win for the Cowboys, but when you dig deep into the game, Kansas had already locked up an outright Big 12 title. The Jayhawks were clearly not overly motivated to play this game.

It’s not meant to be an excuse for KU, but I would ask every Oklahoma State fan to honestly answer this question: had this game been played last Saturday, do you think the Pokes win by 18 points? [Heartland College Sports]

Yes and no. I’ve got a red-faced Bill Self with a toupee flying at half mast that says he cared. You can find a napping Devonte’ Graham somewhere in a multi-million dollar dorm that says he didn’t take the day off. But unavoidably – a title wasn’t on the line.

KU played not too dissimilar to the Cowboy Football team in November against K-State when TCU clinched their title game spot earlier in the day. Did OSU get an Alamo Bowl spot because the loss didn’t really matter? Nope. It’s a little bit of both but (I assume) it’s not going to a point of discussion when the committee meets next weekend.

OSU and NCAA Notes

NCAA modernizing the way it picks teams….Mark Cooper gives a solid blind resume test based on the committee’s quadrants for the Big Dance….NBA readying to step in on the one-and-done rule….Rational idea for letting college players be paid – first through endorsements….Pre-conference tourney bracketology has the Pokes out….Single Session tickets up for sale for men’s tourney in KC

Milwaukee’s best.

Congratulations to Desmond Mason (@dmasonart) on being voted to the @Bucks All 50th Team by the fans!!#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/CCjId1YPJS

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 5, 2018

OU Football = Jayhawk Basketball = Cowboy Wrestling

Your #OKState Cowboys are conference champs for the 52nd time and for the sixth consecutive season!!! #Big12WR pic.twitter.com/mRq30un4n5

— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) March 5, 2018

March is here.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH pic.twitter.com/vTK5revNUd

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) March 4, 2018

Tech locked up their man.

Texas Tech announces Chris Beard has signed a new six-year contract worth $19,050,000 & it keeps him locked up as head coach of the Red Raiders through the 2023-24. season.

— That David Collier (@CollieronTV) March 5, 2018

Gotta be the only Big 12 coach playing right?

At #OKState’s final practice before the team departs for KC. Mike Boynton revealed he’s been invited to play in a celebrity tournament at the Final Four. He said Shaq and Magic Johnson are the coaches.

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) March 5, 2018

What You Missed on PFB

• Stud four-star receiver named OSU in his top-eight schools
• Breaking down OSU’s running back rotation
• Looking at how OSU lines up against bubble teams with blind resumes
• Breaking down Cowboy Baseball’s series loss to Arizona State
• What exactly is the NCAA tournament committee looking for?

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• As someone who grew up around the trades, this on the helpfulness of apprenticeships resonated
• This on former Thunder/current Warrior coach Ron Adams was great
• Cal Newport digs in a bit on the “tyranny of convenience”