Will any of the major state colleges in Oklahoma make the NCAA Tournament in 2022?

It’s not looking hopeful.

Oral Roberts University has the best opportunity. But after making the Sweet Sixteen last year (with wins over No. 7 Ohio State, Florida and a two-point loss to No. 10 Arkansas), ORU (18-9, 12-4 in the Summit) is in second place in the Summit League behind South Dakota State (25-4, 16-0).

It looks like ORU will have to win the Summit League Tournament again to make the NCAA field.

Oklahoma State (13-13, 6-8 in the Bigt 12) is on probation and ineligible for the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. And they are mathematically eliminated from the regular season title (Kansas is five games ahead of OSU with only four league games left).

Tulsa (9-16, 3-11 in the American Athletic Conference) would have to win their conference tournament to get the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Hurricane is just one game ahead of last place South Florida.

In the first half of the season, Oklahoma (14-13, 4-10 in the Big 12) looked like the best bet to make the tournament.

OU started by winning 12 of 15 games, including wins over No. 12 Arkansas, No. 14 Florida and No. 11 Iowa State.

Then the roof fell in during conference play. OU has lost 10 of their last 12 games, including two point losses to No. 8 Kansas and No. 20 Texas. They did beat No. 9 Texas Tech in that stretch.

Should OU win their last four games – against No. 11 Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Kansas State – their resume might be good enough to get an at-large bid to the NCAA. OU has already beaten Texas Tech, West Virginia and K-State plus the Bedlam game against OSU is in Norman on Saturday.

The Sooners would not be favored to win the Big 12 Tournament because of the presence of No. 6 Kansas, No. 7 Baylor, No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 20 Texas  but anything is possible.