Busting Brackets
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Bracketology: Updated Bubble Watch and the Mailbag

By Lukas Harkins

Feb 14, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Matt Galloway (33) and guard Ahmed Hill (13) celebrate while leaving the court after defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers 66-63 at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Matt Galloway (33) and guard Ahmed Hill (13) celebrate while leaving the court after defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers 66-63 at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2017; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma State guard Thomas Dziagwa (4) and the Cowboy bench rects against the Baylor Bears during the second half at Ferrell Center. Baylor won 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma State guard Thomas Dziagwa (4) and the Cowboy bench rects against the Baylor Bears during the second half at Ferrell Center. Baylor won 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

Big 12

Lead-Pipe Lock: Baylor, Kansas, West Virginia

Some Perspiration: Oklahoma State, Iowa State

Better Double-Up on the Deodorant: Kansas State, TCU, Texas Tech

Oklahoma State Cowboys, 16-9 (5-7): After losing by just three last Wednesday, the Cowboys quickly got back on track in their defeat of Texas at home. Oklahoma State is pretty comfortable in the tournament as a projected nine seed, which is in large part due to their quality wins and strength of schedule.

Quality wins: @ West Virginia, vs. TCU, vs. Arkansas, @ Wichita State, vs. Georgetown, @ Texas Tech

Bad losses: @ Texas

Missed opportunities: @ Baylor, vs. Baylor, @ Kansas, vs. North Carolina, @ Maryland, vs. West Virginia, vs. Kansas State, vs. Iowa State

Up next: @ TCU (2/15), vs. Oklahoma (2/18)

Iowa State Cyclones, 15-9 (7-5): Iowa State only played one game in the past week, in which they defeated Oklahoma. With this, they remained firmly in the projected bracket as a nine seed. Aside from battles with West Virginia and Baylor, the remaining schedule for the Cyclones is rather friendly, giving them a fairly high chance of being strongly in the tourney by the time conference tournaments start.

Quality wins: vs. Miami, @ Oklahoma State, vs. Kansas State, vs. Texas Tech, @ Kansas

Bad losses: @ Iowa, @ Vanderbilt, @ Texas

Missed opportunities: vs. Gonzaga, vs. Cincinnati, @ Baylor, vs. Kansas, @ TCU, vs. West Virginia

Up next: @ Kansas State (2/15), vs. TCU (2/18)

Kansas State Wildcats, 16-9 (5-7): Now losers in five of their last six games, Kansas State is tumbling, as they now find themselves as just a ten seed in the bracket and under .500 in conference. Luckily, or unluckily depending on the way you look at it, the Wildcats do not face any more ranked opponents in conference play, so they will have the ability to bolster their number in the win column. They do face off against four other bubble teams, though, so watch out.

Quality wins: vs. West Virginia, @ Oklahoma State, @ Baylor

Bad losses: None.

Missed opportunities: vs. Maryland, vs. Baylor, @ Kansas, @ Tennessee, @ Iowa State, @ Texas Tech, vs. TCU, vs. Kansas, @ West Virginia

Up next: vs. Iowa State (2/15), @ Texas (2/18)

TCU Horned Frogs, 17-8 (6-6): After winning three in a row, TCU was absolutely dismantled by Baylor on the road on Saturday. They sit as a ten seed in my projected bracket, but they are reaching an interesting part in their conference schedule. The Horned Frogs should be able to finish up conference play over .500, which would really help their tournament hopes, but they also get both Kansas and West Virginia in the closing stretch.

Quality wins: vs. Illinois State, @ Kansas State, vs. Iowa State, vs. Texas Tech

Bad losses: vs. Auburn

Missed opportunities: vs. Baylor, @ Baylor, vs. Kansas, @ SMU, @ Oklahoma State, @ West Virginia, @ Texas Tech

Up next: vs. Oklahoma State (2/15), @ Iowa State (2/18)

Texas Tech Red Raiders, 17-9 (5-8): Texas Tech played two games this week, and were very close to securing two outstanding wins. First, they took Kansas all the way down the buzzer at home before falling by one point and then knocked off Baylor. They finish up their ridiculous stretch of games with West Virginia on the road on Saturday as they search for another giant win.

Quality wins: vs. West Virginia, vs. Kansas State, vs. TCU, vs. Baylor

Bad losses: vs. Auburn, @ Oklahoma, @ Texas

Missed opportunities: @ Baylor, @ Kansas, vs. Oklahoma State, @ Iowa State, vs. Kansas, @ TCU

Up next: @ West Virginia (2/18), vs. Iowa State (2/20)

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