Happy Selection Sunday! (UPDATE 5:14 pm)
Posted on: March 16, 2014
While Oklahoma is fortunate enough to not be on the bubble, they — like so many other schools — will be following along with the rest of America later this evening when the 2014 NCAA Tournament selections will be announced.
If you’re a believer in the “science” of bracketology, the Sooners are either a No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has OU as a No. 6 seed versus No. 11 Tennessee and playing in Orlando.
USA Today’s Shelby Mast also has OU as a No. 6 seed versus No. 11 Providence and playing in Buffalo.
From a destination standpoint, obviously Palm’s projection would be the most desirable for OU fans traveling south to Texas. From a match-up standpoint, I suppose simply from a seeding perspective Palm’s most also be the most attractive. Although, if OU is making their outside shots I’m not entirely sure who they’re playing matters much. Just like if those shots aren’t falling, they’re capable of losing to just about anyone.
To be perfectly honest, whatever number is next to their name and/or wherever they’re playing isn’t nearly as important as the team the tournament committee pairs them with.
We’ll find all that out later this evening, but in the meantime feel to talk amongst yourselves as to where the Sooners may wind up.
– UPDATE (5:14 pm):
OFFICIAL: @OU_MBBall are a No. 5 seed and will face North Dakota State` in Spokane for their NCAA Tourney opener. #Sooners
— Jordan Esco (@Jordan_Esco) March 16, 2014
Thursday 7:27 pm/ET on truTV: @OU_MBBall vs. @NDSUAthletics Announce team: @SperoDedes/@GottliebShow/@JaimeMaggio
— March Madness TV (@MarchMadnessTV) March 17, 2014
57 Comments
I think OU will be an 8 or 9 seed. Very little inside scoring. If OUs outside shooting is poor, they are looking at a 1st round loss. Next year will be OUs to shine. The guards will be a year older and OU has 3 bigs coming in.
8 or 9 to a team w/ only 9 losses and two wins over OSU, Baylor, Tex..? I think you’re putting too much stock into the Baylor game
don’t forget a W over Iowa State, conference champion.
….. considering RPI, SOS, amount of Ws, and Quality Ws vs Quality Ls, OU deserves a 5 or 6.
I think there’s a big difference from what “they deserve” and where they will be seeded. Just looking at the polls; being ranked ~32 equates to an 8 seed. This OU team will live and die with their outside shot, just like a team like Villanova. This OU team has VERY little front court depth. I hope I’m wrong, but would be shocked if OU gets into the round of 16.
polls are a small part of how seeding is done. Like I said, SOS, RPI, good Ws and bad Ws are taken into consideration by the panel (remember, it’s done by humans). Ranking by coaches/analysts is such a small part of the actual seeding. For example, Wichita State is ranked very high and is undefeated, yet many people are arguing that they deserve a 2 or so because they didn’t really play anybody in the season. Meaning, their RPI and SOS is weak.
Not disagreeing with you at all. Just think that the committee will see OU as being pretty 1-dimensional (no rebounding other than Spangler) and will seed them as such. ISU, Baylor, Texas, OSU aren’t Final 4 or 8 teams. They are good, not great, teams.
8 or 9 seed won’t happen. Not wit their RPI. Makes no difference how one dimensional they are. Committee doesn’t even consider what style of game u play. It’s about your body of work.
“no rebounding other then Spangler” Don’t say that to Cam who averaged 6 boards a game and Buddy who almost averaged 5 per game (4,7 ). Those guys busted their tails on the glass every night.
Very funny. Compare OUs top 3 rebounders to any of the top 15. Do some research, then come back. Hitting the “glass hard” doesn’t make for a superior rebounding team. OU lives and dies with their 3 point shooting. If OU shoots ’em well, then OU can compete with “most” teams. If OU shoots poorly from outside, they’ll lose in round 1.
Very funny. OU was the 4th highest / best rebounding team in the Big XII. at 38 per game. Only behing Texas, Kansas, and Baylor who average under one whole rebound per game higher then OU. You saying Spangler was the only rebounder that OU has is a slap in the face to Cam and Buddy and all the other players on their team who picked up the other 30 boards per game after Spangler.
OU is within one rebound per the Big XII leader. Kansas averages one whole rebound more then OU. You said “SPANGLER” is OU only rebounder. You said it not me. Spangler averages 9 boards a game. So who gets the rest of OU 29 boards per game after Spangler?
Connie do you consider Kansas a good rebounding team? Or Texas? Texas led the Big 12 in total boards.
Kansas a two seed, Sand Diego State a 4 seed! Blasphemy they average the same amount of rebounds per game then OU. I thought you said OU couldn’t rebound other then Spangler?
Louisville a 4 seed? and to think they only average 37 rebounds a game like OU? They must only have one player that can rebound like OU.
Official a 5 seed. So does that mean that if OU had rebounders other then Spangler and didn’t take so many threes they would have been a 3 or 4 seed?
I think #5 seed is about right, although in year’s past the #2 team in what is considered the top league would be a higher seed. In years past, if you were the #2 team in the Big East, ACC, or Big Ten, you were no lower than a 3 seed. With that being said, we are a very young team and as Connie says we go as far as our shooting percentage takes us. We are usually outscoring teams, not holding them down. My $0.02 worth.
Dallas Morning News has OU as a #5 in the South. Here’s their bracket:
1) Florida
16) Coastal Carolina/Cal Poly
8) UMass
9) Arizona State
5) Oklahoma
12) Providence
13) Western Michigan
4) San Diego State
If OU got through those teams (Florida…yikes) they’d probably face (2)Duke or (3)Creighton, who are in the bottom half
San Diego St. is no slouch either.
Not much of a BBall fan but I can really get into watching OU in the tournament. It completely changes the game for me.
Right with ya Pit, if it’s not OU It’s hard for me to watch.
Ugh, I hear ya. I am a Kentucky fan tho… Don’t like calipari, love the cats
Two things to be happy for today. 1. All three state schools will go dancing. 2. Lon Kruger’s & Danny Manning’s rebuilding progressions to now. What a great job they’ve done!
+1
Really glad to see Tulsa finally back in. Hope Kruger can get a win or two for the Sooners, should build confidence for next year.
Me too… It’s been pathetic watching Tulsa even from a distance the last 10 yrs
Tourney emphasizes coaching and guard play. I like the Sooners chances to sweet/elite.
And rebounding. OU is a very good rebounding team despite their lack of height.
Here we go
Can hardly wait. Going to fill out my bracket and collect a cool Billion dollars. Lol !
Best of luck. How about we split it?
I’m woman enough to admit when I’m wrong (I figured on OU being an 8 seed).
I actually like the match-ups, and it looks pretty good for my Sooner’s to get to the sweet 16.
Connie no problem with your points other then OU as a rebounding team. OU is a better rebounding team then Florida statistically. Lon even said this is one of his better rebounding teams EVER. OU is not only one of the best rebounding teams in the Big XII but in the tourney. Better then Florida, Kansas State, Cincinnati, OSU, Memphis, Colorado, UCLA, Villanova, Oregon, BYU and a host of other teams that made the Bracket. Laugh at my “hit the glass hard” all you want but that’s what they do. Buddy is one of the best rebounding guards in the NCAA game. And Cam’s 6 boards a game is huge. So your wrong, Spangler isn’t their only rebounder. They average approx. 38 boards a game Spangler 9. Obviously there are others on the team busting the tails Hitting the glass night in and night out.
Digger Phelps just called the North Dakota State upset over OU because of their inside size and physicality.
Baylor gave us fits inside (and we didn’t shoot well) last game. Lon always has a great game plan, so just hope we execute well unlike last game.
They start three guards and their two forwards are 6’8″ & 6’7″. If that’s “inside size and physicality”, I’ll take my chances.
Phelps is clown shoes, been sniffin’ that highlighter too much.
They’re also 279th in the country in rebounds per game. Inside size, pfffftttttt
Haha that’s an awesome stat. I have no idea why Digger would say that/why he’s on ESPN in the first place.
He said it because there’s a couple of 5/12 upsets almost every year and he’s hoping to be the person that calls one of them.
He’s just a hater
Spangler plays like he’s 7 foot…he just needs to stay out of early foul trouble
Clown shoes! Love it, and agree 100%.
OU’s path to the Sweet 16 is VERY manageable, IMO.
This
Anyone setting up a bracket? There’s an OU group over at yahoo sports btw
https://twitter.com/jamesfraschilla/status/445340878769360896
Wow, the dreaded 5 seed.
Sweet! Spokane. My backyard. I’ll gather the crew and represent Pacific Northwest style. More than a few of us. I have mad respect for Lon Kruger and what hes done, can’ wait to see his team live.
Spokane sucks. That’s all I got. I am a firm believer you shouldn’t go west. Ever.
Its pronounced Spokomton. And yes it does suck. but its close man…I can finally cheer for my Sooners! I’m an hour away, and I;d tell you how North Idaho is the most Beautiful place on the planet but I don’t want you to move here…no offense but tourists are turning this pace into freaking taho or aspen. Got all you need, giant lake, awesome scenery, mountains, forests, world class ski resort.
And you guys realize the last State to legalize weed will be Idaho. Fit right in with most of you old timers. That’s the southern part of the State….up north here were more…eh how you say…laid back and not afraid of everything.
Spokane is actually very beautiful. It however sucks as the place to send the Sooners. Let’s go basically as far away as possible & insure that there’s not a lot of fans for any particular need. Don’t worry, Idaho & Washington are not anywhere near the wish list of places I would like to move. And I am hardly an “old timer”. So happy to have to clarify for you. Yes, that’s a moderate amount of sarcasm for you “youngins”…
Have fun at the games. I think I have been to about 12 tourney games & 2 final fours. It’s a much better experience when there are fans there of those teams.
Who you kiddin old woman! 🙂
Younger than a good a bourbon…
It’s too early for me to be witty. And I am not real happy going into work :/
I was thinking of ditching the crutches & using a cane to save my poor arms, but I guess with all the old woman talk that won’t work
My bad. I’m used to…another board….where the average color is whiter than Mitt Romney in a snowstorm and the average age has to be over 70. Which there is nothing wrong with that, and,by themselves they are fine….but in large numbers….
Not trying to be confrontational or attacking, I really like what the TFB have done and are doing here….So I’ll leave it at that.
Peace.
No probs. I really was referring to Spokane sucking in terms of the “pod/sub regional/ whatever” not so much they actual locale.
Ugh, Gottlieb calling the OU game.
My disdain for Gottlieb is compounded by the fact that he’s not even 40 years old, meaning I’m going to be forced to put up with him for AT LEAST a couple of more decades, minimum.
Anyone have an extra or know of any tickets cheaper than $250 for the OU game in Spokane?