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Oklahoma State Basketball: Bleacher Report ranks Cowboys 20th

By Andrew Miller

Jan 7, 2017; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) claps as he prepares to play defense during a game against the Baylor Bears at Ferrell Center. Baylor won 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) claps as he prepares to play defense during a game against the Baylor Bears at Ferrell Center. Baylor won 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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With five straight victories, Bleacher Report ranked the Oklahoma State basketball team 20th in their edition of the top 25 rankings this week.

According to Bleacher Report, the Oklahoma State basketball team ranks 20th in the country this week. Once again, they are tied with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in BR’s college basketball rankings. Last week, the Cowboys were tied with ND at no. 22 in BR’s top 25.

Last week’s undefeated week for the Cowboys kept them among the hottest teams in college basketball. OK State won five in a row and 10 of their last 11 games. They have a key matchup with the Iowa State Cyclones, ranked no. 19 in BR’s top 25, at Hilton Coliseum tomorrow that could jump them even higher in the rankings.

With both ISU and OK State ranked, there’s five total teams ranked inside BR’s top 25. The other teams include the no. 13 Baylor Bears, no. 12 West Virginia Mountaineers, and no. 1 Kansas Jayhawks.

Double digit victories against the Kansas State Wildcats and the Texas Tech Red Raiders last week not only helped build the Cowboys’ standing for top 25 rankings, it helped build their resume for the NCAA Tournament.

According to ESPN’s Bracketology by Joe Lunardi, OK State projects as a six seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, the latest edition of Bracketology was released a few days before OK State’s victory over TTU. Yet, that projection has them facing either Marquette or Seton Hall.

This is the highest ranking for the Pokes in BR’s top 25 since the 2013-14 college basketball season. The accolades for first-year head coach Brad Underwood seem to just keep pouring in each week. If he keeps the Cowboys as hot as they’re right now through the Big 12 Tournament, then the results will be seen in the AP Poll as well.

The Cowboys are outside the top 25 yet again in the AP Poll but they rang in at no. 27, less than 15 votes behind the Minnesota Golden Gophers at no. 26. OK State is sure to crack the top 25 if they can defeat the Jayhawks on Saturday.

Next: Cowboys take series against Texas State

They might even be able to crack the AP Top 25 if they defeat the Clones this week but lose a close contest with the Jayhawks since they are ranked no. 1.

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