The Big 12 Conference has received six men’s invitations to the NCAA Tournament in five of the past six years. Don’t look for the selection committee to be as generous this season.
“I don’t think we’ll get six (bids); I’m hoping it will be five, and it could be four,” Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton said this season. “If you look at the top of the conference, those teams don’t look as strong as they have been.”
Texas, with a No. 8 current RPI according to the NCAA, is challenging for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas (No. 52 RPI but surging) and Oklahoma (19 RPI) hope to finish strong to earn a No. 3 or No. 4 seed.
After that, it becomes murky.
Colorado (48 RPI) aims to finish its regular season with 20 victories and, more important, a 10-6 conference mark. That would require a home sweep over Oklahoma, Missouri and Iowa State and a road win against Kansas State or Nebraska, because the Buffaloes (16-4, 6-4 Big 12) can’t expect to win at Kansas.
CU’s Wednesday night home game against Oklahoma could become the Buffs’ most important of the season.
Colorado has yet to defeat a top-25 team and may need that credential to impress the selection committee, especially if the Buffs finish 9-7 in league play.
Iowa State must win five of its last six to get to 9-7 and improve on its No. 55 RPI. That probably would require defeating Baylor and Colorado on the road.
Nebraska (15-8, 5-5) probably needs to win five of its last six games and finish 10-6 in the league. Considering the Huskers’ unimpressive RPI (94), that may not be enough.
Kansas State (95 RPI) has its three remaining home games against Colorado, Texas and Kansas, all upper-tier teams.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
