Nebraska
The Big 12 conference has at least four teams likely to make it to the Big Dance. Obviously, OU, Missouri, Kansas and most likely Texas will be in; however, the Cornhuskers of Nebraska are making a strong case for themselves as a bubble team.
The Cornhuskers have never been heralded for their skills on the hardwood. They have always been a football school, similar to OU.
There are not high expectations for the basketball program in Lincoln, so when the men from the Cornhusker State started upsetting teams throughout the Big 12, heads began to turn.
Anybody can coast through a season by beating an exhibition team like Chadron State, but what matters come tournament time is big conference wins.
Nebraska (16-8) has its share of losses, but they have three important wins that, depending on how well they finish the season, could propel the team into March Madness.
First, Nebraska hosted Missouri and surprised the now No. 10 Tigers by taking away a 58-51 win.
Nebraska came out with a strong offensive surge and was able to hold off a late run by Mizzou. The Cornhuskers proved they could hang in there with a top-25 team if they bring their A-game.
Big 12 teams picking up only one big win throughout the conference season will not see the likes of late March because it could simply be a fluke. But Nebraska has not only two, but three of those big wins.
The Cornhuskers fit the big game profile by socking it to Kansas State and leaving them in the dust with a 73-51 win. This game was not even close due to Nebraska’s defense and clutch mentality.
Kansas State has made its own case to make it into the NCAA tournament, but
Nebraska’s argument takes precedence with the huge win over the Wildcats. Lastly, Nebraska took on then No. 16 Texas and took home the 58-55 victory. The game came down to the wire, but Nebraska got the better of Texas making key shots when the game was on the line.
In the long run, the Cornhuskers will benefit from these clutch games and a balanced offense.
Nebraska is not a high-profile name in the basketball world, but due to some upsets and solid defense, they should turn a few heads during tournament time.
- Annelise Russell is a political science and journalism junior.
Kansas State
As the temperature outside begins to heat up so does the discussion for which Big 12 bubble teams will make the NCAA Tournament.
There are three legit teams in the Big 12 who have a position locked up in the tournament: No. 2 OU, No. 11 Missouri and No. 15 Kansas.
You could probably include Texas in those teams as well; they started the year off highly-ranked and will probably receive votes based on hype alone.
The other Big 12 team that should be in the NCAA Tournament is Kansas State.
Currently K-State is in fourth place in the Big 12 and only three games back of No. 11 Missouri, who they play next week on Feb. 25.
K-State has big wins this season helping their cause; they beat Missouri the first time they played each other and beat Texas in Austin last month. Not to mention that four of the Wildcats' eight losses have been decided by 8 points or less, showing they could be better than their record currently shows.
K-State has big time players in junior Denis Clemente and sophomore Jacob Pullen. Clemente has really shined this year averaging 14.8 points and 3.4 assists per game and could be a dangerous player if they make the tournament.
Other teams such as Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M can make cases to why they should be deserving of a tournament bid, however their cases are not as strong as K-State's.
Texas A&M has the same overall record as K-State, however in Big 12 play the Aggies have struggled. Seven of the Aggies eight losses have come in conference play, and it doesn’t really make sense to put them in when clearly there are better teams in their own conference.
OSU’s problem has been inconsistency throughout the season. In the new year the Cowboys longest winning streak is three games. They have some good wins but even worse losses.
Finally Nebraska has also beaten Missouri and Texas like K-State, however, the Cornhuskers strength of schedule is absolutely ridiculous. Arkansas Pine-Bluff? Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne? They must have really had to play well to beat these powerhouses.
To make matters worse they actually lost to the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Have you ever heard of UMBC? Neither have I.
Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily think the Wildcats could be a Cinderella team in the tournament, but do they deserve to be part of the 64 teams?
Absolutely, I do not think there is any question about that. The NCAA Tournament's opening tip is less than a month away and I would be shocked not to see Kansas State in the field of 64.
I would be even more surprised if another Big 12 bubble team found themselves dancing.
-James Roth is a senior journalism major
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jimbob_texas 3 years, 3 months ago
UMBC - Retriever Fever!
Yeah, I've actually been on the campus. Looks more like a junior college.