We’re officially less than two weeks away from Selection Sunday, and the nation’s top teams are doing whatever it takes to bolster their rankings and find their way into the field of 68.
There are colleges in Texas at just about every tier of expectation heading into the last leg of the regular season. Houston has just clinched the Big 12 regular season title outright, and they’re focused on finishing their campaign on a strong note to increase their odds of clinching a coveted top seed. Texas Tech and Texas A&M likely feel confident about being in the field, but they’re trying to close out their brutal conference slates. After that, there are a lot of teams just hoping to hear their name called to the Big Dance.
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Here’s where the teams stack up in the final stretch of the regular season:
Shoo-ins
Houston Cougars
AP ranking (as of March 3): No. 3
Current record: 26-4 (18-1, Clinched Big 12 regular season title)
Likely tournament seed: 1-seed or 2-seed
Latest performances: Kansas (W, 65-59), Cincinnati (W, 73-64), No. 10 Texas Tech (W, 69-61)
Remaining regular season games: @ Baylor (Saturday, March 8, 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Texas Tech Red Raiders
AP ranking (as of March 3): No. 9
Current record: 22-7 (13-5, 2nd in Big 12)
Likely tournament seed: Between 2-seed and 4-seed
Latest performances: Kansas (W, 78-73), No. 4 Houston (L, 69-61), West Virginia (W, 73-51)
Remaining regular season games: vs. Colorado (Wednesday, March 5, 7 p.m. on ESPN+), @ Arizona State (Saturday, March 8, 7 p.m. on ESPNU)
Texas A&M Aggies
AP ranking (as of March 3): No. 22
Current record: 20-9 (9-7, 6th in SEC)
Likely tournament seed: Between 4-seed and 6-seed
Latest performances: No. 3 Florida (L, 89-70), Vanderbilt (L, 86-84), No. 6 Tennessee (L, 77-69)
Remaining regular season games: vs. No. 1 Auburn (Tuesday, March 4, 8 p.m. on ESPN), @ LSU (Saturday, March 8, 3 p.m. on SEC Network)
On the bubble
Baylor Bears
AP ranking (as of March 3): Unranked
Current record: 17-12 (9-9, 8th in Big 12)
Likely tournament seed: Between a 9-seed and 11-seed (with bye)
Latest performances: Oklahoma State (W, 71-61), Cincinnati (L, 69-67), Colorado (L, 74-67)
Remaining regular season games: @ TCU (Tuesday, March 4, 7 p.m. on ESPN+), vs. No. 3 Houston (Saturday, March 8, 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Texas Longhorns
AP ranking (as of March 3): Unranked
Current record: 16-13 (5-11, 13th in SEC)
Likely tournament seed: 11-seed (without bye)
Latest performances: Georgia (L, 83-67), Arkansas (L, 86-81 OT), South Carolina (L, 84-69)
Remaining regular season games: @ No. 25 Mississippi State (Tuesday, March 4, 7 p.m. on SEC Newtork), vs. Oklahoma (Saturday, March 8, 7 p.m. on SEC Network)
SMU Mustangs
AP ranking (as of March 3): Unranked
Current record: 21-8 (12-6, 4th in ACC)
Likely tournament seed: 11-seed (without bye)
Latest performances: Stanford (L, 73-68), California (L, 81-77), No. 18 Clemson (L, 79,69)
Remaining regular season games: vs. Syracuse (Tuesday, March 4, 8 p.m. on ESPNU), @ Florida State (Saturday, March 8, 3 p.m. on ESPNU)
Need a strong conference tournament to have a prayer
North Texas Mean Green
AP ranking (as of March 3): Unranked
Current record: 22-6 (13-3, 2nd in American)
Likely tournament seed: 11-seed (without bye)
Latest performances: Wichita State (W, 68-66), Florida Atlantic (71-61), South Florida (64-57)
Remaining regular season games: vs. Charlotte (Thursday, March 6, 8 p.m. on ESPN 2), @ Temple (Sunday, March 9, 1 p.m. on ESPN+)
TCU Horned Frogs
AP ranking (as of March 3): Unranked
Current record: 16-13 (8-8, 7th in Big 12)
Likely tournament seed: 11-seed (without bye)
Latest performances: UCF (W, 89-78), West Virginia (L, 73-55), Cincinnati (L, 75-63)
Remaining regular season games: vs. Baylor (Tuesday, March 4, 7 p.m. on ESPN+), @ Colorado (Saturday, March 8, 3 p.m. on ESPN+)
