Big 12 Basketball: Each Squad's Chances at Making the Big Dance

The Big 12 has never been the nation's top basketball conference, but this middle-America down-home group of universities always makes a showing in the NCAA Tournament. Between all of them, the Big 12 has over 200 tourney appearances, 33 Final Fours and five National Championships.

Those eastern "fancy" universities with their high-class lifestyle and perfect facilities barely know the meaning of football, as it is just entertainment to pass the time until their basketball seasons.

Here in the Big 12, however, football may be a way of life, but basketball is a nice getaway from the reality that the preceding violent, hard-hitting sport creates for the rest of the country to perceive.

In basketball season, Kansas is not only good, but they are in fact the best. Texas and Oklahoma play only a small part. Baylor and Iowa State have a shot at having the spotlight on them every once in awhile. Things are seemingly in reverse.

In all this backwardness, there is always the Big Dance to look forward to. Who will make it and who won't? Last year, the Big 12 had five representatives, but this season is still more than up for grabs.

We take a look at each squad's outlook for the end of the season and where they will be heading when March Madness rolls around.    

Texas Tech

Chances of Big Dance: Minuscule 

The Red Raiders have never been and probably never will be on top of the Big 12. On the year so far, Tech is 3-3, losing to DePaul, Indiana State and Wake Forest. 

Their three wins aren't too impressive either, only beating North Texas, Troy and Stephen F. Austin. New coach Billy Gillispie takes over after Pat Knight was fired last season, but even the former Kentucky Wildcats and Texas A&M Aggies head coach can't turn around this team so fast.

Texas Tech will perform this season, but won't make much of a winning impact on the conference. Over the next couple years, expect the Red Raiders to become more powerful, but for now they will stick at the bottom of the conference.  

Oklahoma State

Chances of Big Dance: Highly Unlikely 

The Cowboys hold a storied basketball tradition up in Stillwater. They have two of the five National Titles won by the conference, going as repeat winners back in the late 1940's. As of late, their only success has been a Final Four in the 2003-2004 season.

Oklahoma State acquired a new coach in Travis Ford back in 2008 after the season had ended, hoping he could return OSU to its former glory. So far, he has guided them to two NCAA tourney appearances and the NIT last season.

After a disappointing season last year, don't expect much from Stillwater. They may have some upset potential, but even the occasional topple of a top ranked team won't push this squad into the Big Dance.

Iowa State

Chances of Big Dance: Very Low 

Iowa State is that basketball team that always seems to pull off the big win sometime during the year. Every season, the Cyclones record a significant win over someone that gives their squad a boost in this tough conference.

They have started off the season well enough, going 5-2 and crushing some easy cupcake teams. The two losses to Northern Iowa and Drake help show the true colors of this squad though. They have begun so well but will soon disappoint once again, losing big in conference play.    

Oklahoma

Chances of Big Dance: Unlikely

The Sooners, like many others in their conference, have a new coach. After an extremely disappointing season last year, OU fired Jeff Capel and hired Lon Kruger. 

The season has begun well enough, winning four of their first five. Their singular loss, however, is worrisome. A 20 point fall to Saint Louis University is no way to prove worth in such a tough conference.

The Sooners have a chance to play it big in the Big 12 if their stars like Pledger and Osby perform, but for now losses to SLU are unacceptable. If they do make it to the dance, it'll likely be through winning the conference tourney.

Approximate Seed: 12-14 

Texas

Chances of Big Dance: Fringe

I wrote an article earlier this week about Texas and how it can win the Big 12. Take it from me, they have a shot. Their team is loaded with young talent and Rick Barnes knows how to win. 

Barnes has escorted his teams to the last 12 NCAA tournaments, all of those squads picking up 20 wins or more. J'Covan Brown and Alexis Wangmene will be tough to stop and their three freshmen starters will be more than dangerous once they evolve in conference play. 

This Longhorn team is a bubble squad, though, if they continue to play as they have so far this season. Already holding two losses to Oregon State and North Carolina State, this young team has all the potential but none of the structure yet, to get into the Big Dance.

Approximate Seed: 9-12 

Texas A&M

Chances of Big Dance: Likely 

The Aggies are loaded down with experienced talent. Coach Mark Turgeon left last season to head up Maryland, leaving Aggieland again with a sour taste in its mouth considering that's basically what Gillispie did a few years earlier. 

New head coach Billy Kennedy is looking good so far despite his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. The Aggies hold a 5-1 record, only losing to a powerful Mississippi State team in the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament. After beating St. Johns in the third place game, A&M proves that it is more than strong enough to compete for the Big 12 Title.

With both Turners, Harris, Roberson and a soon-to-return Middleton, the Aggies have a ton of experience combined with a load of potential. A&M could turn out to be the conference's surprise squad once Big 12 play begins.

Approximate Seed: 5-9 

Kansas State

Chances of Big Dance: Very High  

There is one big reason the Wildcats win nowadays. To put it simply, they win so that their insane looking coach Frank Martin doesn't kill them with his death stare. It's a very strong motivation to win, that I can agree. 

K-State has resurged lately in the Big 12 since hiring on Martin back in 2007. The Wildcats have been led by national icons such as Jacob Pullen with his Lincoln beard and Michael Beasley. Now, though, their focus of talent is much more spread out. McGruder, Spradling and Henriquez lead the purple and silver in the 2011 season.

Only having played three easy games so far, K-State is a simple 3-0 on the year. They do own the potential to upset their in-state rivals Kansas just as they did last season on Valentine's Day and watch out for this team to go far in the Big Dance. Hey, anything to keep the coach happy.

Approximate Seed: 3-7 

Missouri

Chances of Big Dance: Extremely Likely 

Missouri is another school that is officially under new management. Fred Haith takes over for Mike Anderson this season determined to bring a Mizzou team that has underperformed in accordance with its talent. 

Missouri has probably one of the most stacked squads in the conference. Denmon, English, Ratliffe and Pressey all have the potential to go on to bigger and better things and this season, they all get to lead a Tiger team that is primed to win the conference.

Already 6-0 and holding an early tournament trophy, Mizzou has solid wins over Notre Dame and Cal, defeating both together by a total of 68 points. These Tigers will be a presence in the Big Dance this season, hopefully going far under their first year coach.   

Approximate Seed: 2-6

Kansas

Chances of Big Dance: Come on, it's Kansas

Kansas is basketball. The state may have literally nothing else going for except for the Wizard of Oz, but at least they'll always have Kansas basketball. 

Kansas is one of the premier programs in the nation, seeding nothing lower than eighth since before I was born. It's the western-most basketball power, taking on the east coast schools for decades and most of the time winning. 

This season, the Jayhawks already own two losses, but both of those are to top ranked squads Duke and Kentucky. Kansas will once again run the Big 12 the way it has since the beginning of the conference.

Bill Self heads up one of the best programs ever, recruiting in the best talent in the nation. This year's squad is no different and will once again provide headaches for every other team

Approximate Seed: 1-5 

Baylor

Chances of Big Dance: Astronomically High

In 2003, Baylor had probably one of the worst scandals ever in college basketball. A player was murdered by a former teammate, making Waco the center of the nation's attention for almost the entire season.

Additionally, head coach Dave Bliss attempted to cover up recruiting infractions by trying to prove the victim was a drug dealer. He soon resigned from the university and was the instigator for most of the punishment Baylor received from the NCAA.  

The Bears' program went under. The university placed itself under probation and cut scholarships. The NCAA further extended recruiting barriers when it took away more. Over the last few seasons, however, Baylor has morphed itself into the comeback story of college basketball.

Less than a decade later, the Bears are ranked in the Top Ten and have a 6-0 record. Scott Drew has led this defeated program out from under the shadows to become one of the most dominant in the Big 12. This season might be the year Baylor makes a national name for its university as the talent and potential it possesses are enough to face down any top squad in the country.

Approximate Seed: 1-3