I haven’t watched any of the bracketology shows just yet. Plus, I haven’t dissected each region and weighed the possible matchups as the tournament unfolds.
I do know OU was named as an 8th seed which is bullshit…and that Oklahoma State is an even bigger dose of bullshit being named as a 4th seed.
I had OU as my 25th ranked team primarily because they beat West Virginia twice, beat Kansas, beat Texas, and beat SEC champion Alabama in the Big 12-SEC Challenge. OU was my first seed amongst the four No. 5 seeds in the bracket.
To me…of all the teams in this tournament…Oklahoma State with Cade Cunningham got the worst treatment of any team in the field by being named a No. 4 seed as opposed to a three or two seed. The committee ranked West Virginia and Arkansas both ahead of O State which is preposterous given the fact O State was a collective 3-1 against these two teams during the season — and of course have Cade Cunningham.
So what I do on Sunday night before I fill out my bracket is simply rank my Top 16 teams in America and then sleep on it before I tackle the glorius mecca of hoops nirvana…the NCAA Tournament bracket sheet. I might even watch the Anthony Bourdain Waffle House episode multiple times as just to heighten the sensation for me.
This is my Top 16 teams after the completion of Sunday’s games:
1 Gonzaga
2 Illinois
3 Michigan
4 Iowa
5 Baylor
6 Texas
7 Oklahoma State
8 Alabama
9 Houston
10 The Ohio State Buckeyes
11 Kansas (They won’t be much since this is being played in Indiana instead of in or near Lawrence. No sixth man in the last four minutes. No Ed Hightower. Not that I’ve dwelt on this for thirty-three years.)
12 Purdue
13 Florida State
14 Colorado (maybe my dark horse after I see their draw)
15 Texas Tech ( another dark horse I like)
16 Arkansas
Good luck with your brackets and may the Madness begin after a two year wait to play One Shining Moment.
1988 Kemper Arena… The scene of the crime. I’ve never been the same.