Five Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s 4 Seed in the NCAA Tournament

Oklahoma State is officially in the NCAA Tournament bracket.

The Cowboys have an exciting path ahead of them through March Madness, and the bracket is officially set. Here are five thoughts on the Cowboys’ appointment and opponent.

1. A 4 Seed Would Have Looked Great in February

We all got our hopes up following OSU’s upset win over No. 2 Baylor on Friday when Joe Lunardi, and the rest of college basketball’s talking heads, tabbed the Cowboys as a 2 seed in the Tournament.

That fun night — and the hot streak the Cowboys have blazed over the past four weeks — made it easy for us to forget that they weren’t even picked to be in the field a month ago by most prognosticators. And that OSU might not get the benefit of the doubt despite being on one of the hottest streaks in college hoops.

But, the committee.

OSU is 20-8 overall and 11-7 in the Big 12. West Virginia is 18-9 overall and 11-6 in the Big 12. (Let’s not make this complicated.)

OSU went 2-1 against WVU, including two wins in the last eight days (Slam dunk, y’all). OSU is a 4 seed. WVU is a 3 seed. In the same region. This reminds me of the CFP committee.

Regardless of your bias or gripe, this is a good seeding, and it sets up a promising (and intriguing) path for the Cowboys.

Here’s what the highest-seeded run through the Midwest Region looks like for OSU: 15 Liberty, 5 Tennessee, 1 Illinois (?), 2 Houston.

It may not be a cake walk but it’s not impassible, and it’s how the Cowboys return to the Final Four.

OK, just so I mention it. OSU has never faced Liberty.

2. So, a Sweet 16 Matchup with Brad Underwood?

You should never look past the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

But … we’re gonna look past the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

I joked earlier this week that if OSU matched up with Illinois, Marshall would have to purchase a backup generator for the website. I just FedExed him the Lowes gift card that’s been in my wallet the last two Christmases.

3. The Big 12 is the Best League

I’m not looking at total number of appointments because the Big 12 had seven to the Big Ten’s nine.

But here’s the deal. One league has to play every team at least twice and another doesn’t, and one conference got in 70 percent of its schools and the other got 64 percent.

By the way, OSU played nine (!) teams in the field this season and went 12-6. I have no clue where that ranks among the rest of the bracket, but I bet it’s pretty high.

4. COVID’s Effect on the Big Dance

Instead of the “first four out” there are now “teams on standby” list. It’s the world we live in.

Louisville, Colorado State, (Travis Ford’s) Saint Louis and Ole Miss are on standby to replace any team from a multi-bid conference that is forced to withdraw.

No replacement teams will be added after Tuesday and any withdrawals after then will be ruled a no contest. If the champion from a one-bid team withdraws it would be replaced by a team from the same league.

This Tournament might be weird, but at least we have a Tournament.

5. Whatever, It’s March

We’ve been waiting for so long to have something to care about by St. Patrick’s Day, and here we are. The Cowboys are a high seed in the Big Dance, have the field’s best player and are led by one of the hottest head coaches in the sport.

This might not yet be the new glory days for OSU fans, but you just might be glaring out over the precipice. Try to enjoy it.