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Oklahoma basketball: Sooners receive ‘Bracketology’ upgrade

By Chip Rouse

Mar 7, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard De'Vion Harmon (11) and forward Kur Kuath (52) react during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2020; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard De'Vion Harmon (11) and forward Kur Kuath (52) react during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s way too early to be thinking about NCAA Tournament seedings, or is it?

When you’re an Oklahoma basketball fan, sustained success on the hardwood isn’t as easy to come by as it seemingly is on the gridiron.

I’m not saying the Sooners haven’t had their time right up there with the big boys in the sport of basketball. But let’s face it, the calendar hasn’t changed over yet, and December is typically championship month — or, at least national championship contention month — for Sooner football.

When you’re in line for yet another conference championship in football, basketball will have to wait a while longer to step into the Sooner sports spotlight.

While we’re waiting, though, the 2-0 start of the OU men’s basketball team (an impressive 105-66 runaway from UT-San Antonio, followed by a second-half come-from-behind victory at TCU on Sunday in the Big 12 opener) has raised the eyebrows of some who might not have thought that highly of Lon Kruger’s bunch coming into the 2020-21 season.

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship may still be a good three months off, but for guys like ESPN’s king of Bracketology, Joe Lunardi, thinking ahead about the tournament and the projected seeding is a full-time. full-season endeavor.

On Nov. 25, which was the week the Sooners were originally scheduled to begin  the new season with a season opener against UTSA before a COVID problem within the Sooner program forced a temporary pause of basketball activity, Lunardi projected Oklahoma as a No. 11 seed, which is one of the last byes into the NCAA Championship.

This week, Lunardi has elevated Oklahoma tournament projection to a No. 8 seed, which means he currently sees the Sooners as one of the top 32 teams in the field.

This projection is likely to change as the season progresses and, of course, is not the final authority on where, and even if, Oklahoma will end up in the field for 2021 March Madness. That responsibility is entrusted with the NCAA Men’s Tournament selection committee.

Regardless, it is good news seeing Sooner men’s basketball getting some love and respect, even if it is still very early in the season.

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