Bracketology 2023: Duke, Auburn, Texas, UCLA among biggest winners

Bracketology 2023: Duke, Auburn, Texas and UCLA among biggest winners

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 04: Kyle Filipowski #30 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean E. Smith Center on March 04, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Duke won 62-57. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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Oklahoma State’s Kalib Boone (22) and Tyreek Smith Osu Wv Mbb /

Oklahoma State Cowboys

After a 5-game win streak at the beginning of February that included wins over TCU and Iowa State, Oklahoma State was over. 500 in Big 12 play and safely in the NCAA Tournament field. The problem for them is that they stopped winning, having lost five straight games to slowly drift back onto the bubble.

The last two were at home against Kansas State and Baylor, both understandable losses overall. But with a conference record of 7-10 and 14 total losses, the Cowboys needed to win the final game of the regular season to avoid heading into Selection Sunday with 16 defeats, which is usually the magic number of losses that goes against at-large teams.

The good news is that Oklahoma State not only avoided a loss but got another massive Quad 1 victory against Texas Tech, 71-68. Caleb Asberry had 24 points, with 21 coming from three-point range in the win.

That victory now puts the Cowboys at 6-11 against Quad 1 opponents and while that isn’t the greatest record on the bubble, the quality of victories, along with other metrics, now have them on the right side of the bubble. As long as they don’t lose in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament against Oklahoma, OK State will be just fine.

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