MusaSooners’ Slim Hope: What Needs to Happen for Oklahoma to Sneak Into March Madness.
With Selection Sunday fast approaching, Oklahoma finds itself on the outside looking in when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. While the Sooners’ tournament chances are slim, they’re not entirely dead. If the right pieces fall into place, they could still punch their ticket to the Big Dance. But what exactly needs to happen for Oklahoma to make an improbable March Madness appearance?1. Win Out in the Regular SeasonOklahoma’s inconsistent play has left it teetering on the bubble’s wrong side, meaning every remaining game is now a must-win. The Sooners need to close the regular season with a strong run, ideally knocking off ranked opponents along the way. Every victory strengthens their résumé, while a single loss could all but eliminate them from contention.2. Make Noise in the Big 12 TournamentThe Big 12 is one of the toughest conferences in the country, and that works both for and against Oklahoma. The good news? The conference tournament offers a golden opportunity to secure quality wins against highly ranked teams. The bad news? The competition will be fierce. A deep run—possibly to the semifinals or even the championship game—would go a long way in swaying the Selection Committee.3. Key Bubble Teams Must FalterOklahoma isn’t the only team fighting for one of the final spots in the NCAA Tournament. Several other bubble teams across the country are vying for those same precious bids. The Sooners need schools like Texas A&M, Seton Hall, and Providence (among others) to stumble down the stretch, opening up space in the field of 68.4. Strength of Schedule Must Work in Their FavorOne thing Oklahoma does have going for them is their strength of schedule. The Big 12 provides plenty of opportunities for high-quality wins, and the committee often rewards teams that have faced tough competition. If the Sooners can point to victories over ranked opponents and a strong overall SOS (Strength of Schedule) ranking, their case for a tournament bid becomes stronger.5. Avoid Bad Losses at All CostsPerhaps the biggest danger to Oklahoma’s hopes isn’t just missing out on big wins—it’s suffering an untimely bad loss. A defeat at the hands of a lower-tier conference opponent would be devastating. The Sooners must handle business against weaker teams and make sure they don’t add a resume-killing loss to their record.The Bottom LineOklahoma’s path to the NCAA Tournament is far from guaranteed, but it isn’t impossible. Winning out, making a deep Big 12 Tournament run, and hoping for some help from bubble teams all factor into their chances. If everything falls into place, the Sooners could hear their name called on Selection Sunday. If not, they’ll be left wondering what could have been.Search
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