Column: Rough opening weekend leaves Big 12 with two unlikely contenders

Some would say the Big 12 was home to the best basketball conference this past season. It certainly was the most competitive.

Minus an 0-18 TCU Horned Frogs, arguably every team was capable of beating anyone in the league.

Mar 23, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard DeAndre Kane (50) shoots against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Marcus Paige (5) in the first half of a men

When Selection Sunday rolled around, the Kansas Jayhawks, Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Baylor Bears, Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas State Wildcats, and Oklahoma Sooners all received bids.

Seven teams got in to the field of 68, but following the opening weekend of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, only two remain.

Heading to the Sweet 16, representing one of the nation’s best basketball conferences, will be Iowa State and Baylor.

Yep, the Cyclones and Bears are still dancing while the other five were sent home in defeat.

Ten years ago, this would have implicated huge upsets and Cinderella story type teams. However, these two are just hot.

While other teams hit their stride in the regular season, Iowa State and Baylor found their rhythm just at the right time.

It’s a shame, too. Bad luck befell upon the rest of the conference.

In Oklahoma’s case, they got a bad draw. They received a five seed, a spot known for its upsets. And an upset they received.

North Dakota State, boasting the country’s best field goal percentage, stunned the Sooners in overtime handing Oklahoma a second consecutive loss to end a great season for a young team.

Kansas State and Texas did not get the best of draws either. Kansas State had to face Julius Randle and the Kentucky Wildcats, who just upset the then-undefeated Wichita State Shockers.

Texas was able to get past the Sun Devils on a last second Cameron Ridley shot, but a second round date with a two-seed Michigan Wolverines squad was enough to end Rick Barnes and Texas’ season.

Oklahoma State was a trendy upset pick by a lot of media pundits, however, they were tripped up by the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

One of the biggest shocks of the tournament, however, was Kansas. The KU Jayhawks nearly fell to Eastern Kentucky, a 15 seed.

Without Joel Embiid, Kansas struggled greatly and the Stanford Cardinal took advantage.

It was a wild weekend, and the Cyclones and Bears have the responsibility of carrying the conference flag.

Baylor blew by Doug McDermott and the Creighton Jays, as well as the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Their fast-paced, up-tempo offense has them on a hot streak, and they’ll create match-up problems for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Iowa State was able to slip by the North Carolina Tar Heels on a controversial last play, but they’ll face the Connecticut Huskies, who have to be feeling good after upsetting a two-seeded Villanova Wildcats in the Field of 32.

The tournament resumes Thursday. Baylor and Wisconsin will tip off at 6:47 pm CT on TBS. Iowa State and UConn will, also, play a primetime game Friday night with a 6:27 pm CT tip-off on TBS as well.