Even the most faithful of Oklahoma fans were in disbelief last week when ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi listed the Sooners as an NCAA Tournament bubble team for the first time since January, but even Lunardi and other bracket experts are cutting OU short while favoring teams they shouldn't.
As of Monday morning with the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament just two days away to officially tip off March Madness, the two most notable NCAA Tournament projections from ESPN and CBS Sports both had OU on the bubble, with Lunardi including the Sooners in his "Next Four Out" while CBS Sports, which is using a computer system this year, listed OU as "First 4 Out."
Many scoff at the Sooners still being in any sort of consideration to make the NCAA Tournament with a 17-14 overall record and going 7-11 in SEC play, which included a nine-game losing streak. But in comparison to other bubble teams, the Sooners not only belong, but are even more deserving than some teams, especially fellow SEC member Auburn, which Lunardi has gotten criticism for leaving up there.
Sooners have better NCAA Tournament resume than Auburn and other bubble teams
The Tigers have the sole benefit of a solid NET ranking at No. 38, compared to OU at No. 54. Auburn is also getting a boost, at least from Lunardi, because of its reputation, but that respect should have quickly vanished when longtime head coach Bruce Pearl retired over the offseason and was replaced by his son, Steven Pearl. Daddy Pearl has been using his TV time to campaign for the Tigers, and guys like Lunardi are apparently listening to the biased argument.
Lunardi in his latest projection on Monday had Auburn not only on the bubble, but as his last team in the 68-team field. Meanwhile, OU was seven spots down despite having a better overall record than Auburn, the same SEC mark and throttling the Tigers 91-79 just a few weeks ago.
CBS Sports had Auburn as one of its first four teams out, just a slot above the Sooners, which is also seemed ludacris considering the recent head-to-head result.
Stanford and California out of the ACC are two other teams that continue to get listed ahead of the Sooners despite lower Net rankings and enduring weaker schedules with similar records. The likes of New Mexico, VCU and Santa Clara also have no business taking an at-large big from OU.
Even just one team, though, could be the difference in the Sooners dancing or staying home the rest of March.
Fortunately for the Sooners, Lunardi and CBS Sports' computer do not decide who gets into the NCAA Tournament. They provide only educated guesses. The Selection Committee has no need to stir up argument by adding a team like Auburn. A computer doesn't either, which is why CBS Sports has the Tigers so much lower.
These projections will start to change daily now, and with the Selection Committee watching, the Sooners likely need just a few more wins in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament to leave no doubt on Selection Sunday.