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Oklahoma State Basketball: Cowboys need at least a seven seed in NCAA Tournament

By Andrew Miller

Feb 28, 2017; Ames, IA, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Leyton Hammonds (23) grabs a rebound against the Iowa State Cyclones at James H. Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones beat the Cowboys 86 to 83. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Ames, IA, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Leyton Hammonds (23) grabs a rebound against the Iowa State Cyclones at James H. Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones beat the Cowboys 86 to 83. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /
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How far could the Oklahoma State basketball team actually make it in the NCAA Tournament if they land an eight seed in the bracket?

The Oklahoma State basketball team saw their hot streak of winning five straight games in the Big 12 come to a screeching halt yesterday in their 86-83 loss to the no. 24 ranked Iowa State Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. OK State is well on track to get a bid on Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament.

However, the certain seed they get placed in makes a big difference for their March Madness fortunes. Since the Cowboys only have a few more chances to effect their seeding, it’s now crunch time in Stillwater.

The Cowboys face the no. 1 Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday, March 4, at Gallagher-Iba Arena for the regular season finale. Knocking off the Jayhawks would all but guarantee at least a seven seed in the NCAA Tournament. Yet, if the Cowboys come up short against KU and whoever they face in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament, they could be looking at an eight or possibly a nine seed.

OK State will either face the Baylor Bears or West Virginia Mountaineers, both top 15 teams in college basketball, in their first Big 12 Tournament game, so any wins from here on out are quality wins.

Looking at the scenario of the Cowboys winning against KU and winning a first round game in the Big 12 Tournament likely lands them as a five or six seed in the NCAA Tournament. The same is true most likely if they defeat KU and lose a close game to WVU or BU.

If they lose both games then the Pokes would have a winnable game in the first round of the Tournament but then would face a top seeded team. Facing a team like the North Carolina Tar Heels, Villanova Wildcats, or UCLA Bruins, is not promising for the Cowboys. They already lost to UNC in the Maui Invitational, at the beginning of the regular season, by more than 30 points.

Landing at least a seven seed in the Tournament would give the Cowboys a much easier road to having a successful run in the Big Dance. Head coach Brad Underwood has proved he can pull off big upsets in the Tournament when he was at Stephen F. Austin, defeating the likes of WVU.

It’s hard to project a team like OK State right now because so much can change so quickly within the next week or so. Selection Sunday is just one day after the Big 12 Championship Game on March 11.

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The Cowboys are projected anywhere from a six seed on ESPN to an eight seed on Bleacher Report. Saturday’s key matchup with KU in the regular season finale would be by far the biggest win of the season for the Pokes if they pull of the upset.

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