Texas Tech could give Big 12 seven NCAA Tournament teams

(AP) — The Big 12 has bragged the past few years that it's the toughest conference in college basketball, and its brutal double-round robin format has consistently produced strong RPI ratings.

No. 3 seeds Baylor and Iowa State were upset by 14-seeds in their openers, and second-seeded Kansas was bumped the opening weekend by Wichita State.

Might that dubious track record come into play Selection Sunday?

With conference tournaments beginning in just a couple of weeks, the Big 12 has more than half of its schools in the Top 25, led by second-ranked Kansas and No. 3 Oklahoma.

The Red Raiders knocked off the Sooners on Wednesday night to improve to 16-9 overall, and they still have winnable games remaining against TCU and Kansas State, and opportunities in Kansas and West Virginia to make another strong statement to the selection committee.

[...] the Red Raiders (6-7 Big 12) haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2007 and may be hurt by the perception that the Big 12 is overrated when it comes to March Madness.

[...] after a rough, injury filled start to the season, the Shockers (20-7, 13-2) have made a compelling at-large case with 15 wins in 17 games.

The Seminoles (16-10, 6-8 ACC) are led by a brilliant bunch of youngsters, but consecutive losses to Syracuse, Miami and Georgia Tech have hurt their NCAA Tournament hopes.