Is the ISU game a must win?

[AdaSooner]

I think it could be for the following reasons. The latest bracketoloy has OU and ISU as #11 seeds. The winner of tomorrow's game is likely in the driver's seat for a fifth place finish in the NCAA tourney. The loser may not be out of the dance, but a move down in the seeding could put that team dangerously close to the bubble.

I believe an OU loss may force us to win the last two games of the regular season and at least one game in the conference tournament. Win tomorrow, and then close out our season with wins over WVU at home and TCU in Fort Worth, and I think we'll be in no matter what we do in the Big 12 tourney.

Agree or disagree?

 

[campbest]

Lose tomorrow and OU has to win the last two in order to be comfortably in.

 

[scrybe]

I believe your math is correct, Ada.

On the other hand, this team is actually capable of winning the Big XII Tournament and getting the automatic bid to the dance…Just sayin'.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't think we have to win tomorrow to make the Dance.

That said, we are flirting with danger is we lose tomorrow. The two most important games are against WVU and TCU. Those are MUST wins. Win those two, and even if we lose to ISU twice, I think we probably sneak in. Beat WVU and TCU, and win one games against ISU (either tomorrow or in KC), and I think we're in pretty comfortably.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

OU has come too far this season to finish weakly and drop down to the bubble. The Sooners need to win Saturday.

 

[AdaSooner]

Lose tomorrow and OU has to win the last two in order to be comfortably in.

I think it's possible OU has to win the last two, even if we beat ISU. We can't afford another bad loss to a team like WVU or TCU. Our margin for error got a lot smaller after the loss to UT.

 

[Big Old Booger]

It appears regardless of what happens tomorrow we will play ISU in KC. So, the question is, which of the 2 games is more important for our NCAA chances/seeding?

I could see a scenario of us winning tomorrow but losing to them in KC and possibly not making the field. It's a slight chance, but our RPI is going to take a hit for the 2 games sandwiched between the ISU games.

 

[Escape Goat]

Yes.

 

[bocabull]

12-6 was pretty much always the number.

 

[WaymanFan]

I think it could be for the following reasons. The latest bracketoloy has OU and ISU as #11 seeds. The winner of tomorrow's game is likely in the driver's seat for a fifth place finish in the NCAA tourney. The loser may not be out of the dance, but a move down in the seeding could put that team dangerously close to the bubble.

I believe an OU loss may force us to win the last two games of the regular season and at least one game in the conference tournament. Win tomorrow, and then close out our season with wins over WVU at home and TCU in Fort Worth, and I think we'll be in no matter what we do in the Big 12 tourney.

Agree or disagree?

Agree. I've said for a month that we need 21 wins to be "comfortably" in. I think 21 wins gets us an 8/9 seed. 20 wins means we'll be sweating it out on Selection Sunday much like 1996-1999 (though I felt pretty confident about Dancing in 1998).

 

[DenverSooner]

Has a Big 8 or Big XII team that won 66.66% of its games ever not made the tournament? What about a team just 1 game above .500?

Historically this conference has gotten 50% of its teams in the NCAA Trounament with a couple of years sending more than 50% and a couple sending less. It was common for the Big 8 to send 5 teams in the mid to late 80s. In 88, KSU, OU, Missouri, KU and ISU all went. I think one year six teams went.

I think OU is in unless they screw up and fall behind Baylor. With that said, I think this is a must win simply because OU needs to continue to play good basketball so they go into the post season with confidence and have something to build on for next season.

 

[D Rock]

Not a "must win" to get into the tourney, but it is a must win to bounce back from the game in Austin and gain some confidence back.

 

[pnkranger]

It's not a must-win, but it's about as close as you get.

 

[WTSooner]

It's not a must-win, but it's about as close as you get.

That is probably the best way to put it. Sure would make things a little more comfortable.

 

[D Rock]

Today will say so much about OU's team.

 

[slappy in OP]

I am not sure it is a must game, but it (combined with the Texas meltdown) would go a long way to making things scary for a NCAA bid.

 

[opsooner]

I think we must win out to be safe. I don't know if that makes it a must-win but I don't want to lose and find out later.

I hate this match-up and hope we are defending better than we did in Ames and hitting our shots.

 

[Keller Sooner]

Being a home game makes it very important. In conference, you certainly want to avoid losing on your home floor. The Tournament Committee takes a long look at your conference record at home and away. But, away losses doesn't hurt you nearly as badly as home losses. We need to win today!