We’re officially less than three weeks away from Selection Sunday, and the outlook for the teams with tournament potential in men’s college basketball is becoming clearer by the day.
With Texas producing some of the premium programs in the sport, I wanted to take some time to spotlight some teams across the state that have real chances to represent the Lone Star State in the most chaotic tournament in sports.
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From bonafide title contenders like Houston, to scrappy bracket busters like TCU and North Texas, there is a lot to be excited about across the state as we look forward to a hectic March.
LATEST RANKINGS: Auburn atop AP Top 25 for 7th straight week; preseason No. 1 KU out, ending ranked run at 80 weeks
Here’s where the teams stack up with 20 days left:
Shoo-ins
Houston Cougars
AP ranking (as of Feb. 24): No. 4
Current record: 23-4 (15-1, 1st in Big 12)
Likely tournament seed: 1-seed or 2-seed
Big wins: No. 8 Iowa State (68-59), No. 12 Kansas (92-86 OT), No. 13 Arizona (62-58)
Tough losses: No. 22 Texas Tech (82-81 OT)
Upcoming game to watch: @ No. 10 Texas Tech (Monday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m. on ESPN)
Texas Tech Red Raiders
AP ranking (as of Feb. 24): No. 10
Current record: 21-6 (12-4, 2nd in Big 12)
Likely tournament seed: Between 2-seed and 4-seed
Big wins: No. 6 Houston (82-81 OT), Arizona (70-54), BYU (72-67)
Tough losses: Saint Joseph’s (78-77), TCU (69-66), UCF (87-83)
Upcoming game to watch: No. 4 Houston (Monday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m. on ESPN)
Texas A&M Aggies
AP ranking (as of Feb. 24): No. 11
Current record: 20-7 (9-5, 4th in SEC)
Likely tournament seed: Between 3-seed and 5-seed
Big wins: No. 11 Purdue (70-66), No. 15 Missouri (67-64), No. 21 Creighton (77-73)
Tough losses: No. 21 Mississippi State (70-54), Texas (70-69), UCF (64-61)
Upcoming game to watch: vs. No. 1 Auburn (Tuesday, March 4, 8 p.m. on ESPN)
On the bubble
Texas Longhorns
AP ranking (as of Feb. 24): Unranked
Current record: 16-11 (5-9, 11th in SEC)
Likely tournament seed: Between 9-seed and 11-seed
Big wins: No. 13 Texas A&M (70-69), No. 15 Kentucky (82-78), No. 22 Missouri (61-53)
Tough losses: South Carolina (84-69), Arkansas (78-70), Ohio State (80-72)
Upcoming game to watch: @ No. 24 Mississippi State (Tuesday, March 4, 7 p.m. on SEC Newtork)
SMU Mustangs
AP ranking (as of Feb. 24): Unranked
Current record: 20-7 (11-5, 4th in ACC)
Likely tournament seed: Between 10-seed and 11-seed
Big wins: Pittsburgh (83-63), Stanford (85-61)
Tough losses: North Carolina (82-67), Wake Forest (77-66), Butler (81-70)
Upcoming game to watch: @ Stanford (Saturday, March 1, 4 p.m. on ACC Network)
TCU Horned Frogs
AP ranking (as of Feb. 24): Unranked
Current record: 15-12 (8-8, 7th in Big 12)
Likely tournament seed: 10-seed or 11-seed
Big wins: No. 9 Texas Tech (69-66), No. 25 Baylor (74-71) West Virginia (65-60)
Tough losses: Santa Clara (69-52), Cincinnati (75-63), UCF (85-58)
Upcoming game to watch: vs. Baylor (Tuesday, March 4, 7 p.m. on ESPN+)
Baylor Bears
AP ranking (as of Feb. 24): Unranked
Current record: 16-11 (8-8, 7th in Big 12)
Likely tournament seed: 10-seed or 11-seed
Big wins: No. 11 Kansas (81-70), No. 16 Arkansas (72-67), No. 22 St. John’s (99-98 2OT)
Tough losses: No. 6 Gonzaga (101-63), TCU (74-71), Colorado (76-74)
Upcoming game to watch: vs. No. 4 Houston (Saturday, March 8, 9 p.m. on ESPN)
North Texas Mean Green
AP ranking (as of Feb. 24): Unranked
Current record: 20-6 (11-3, 2nd in American)
Likely tournament seed: 10-seed or 11-seed
Big wins: Tulane (76-66), Florida Atlantic (77-64)
Tough losses: UTSA (54-50), High Point (76-71), McNeese (68-61)
Upcoming game to watch: @ Florida Atlantic (Thursday, Feb. 27, 6 p.m. on ESPN 2)
