Bring On The Cats

Three K-State opponents fell short in their conference tournament's final game — Boston U., UNLV and Xavier.

The latter two probably will make it in as at-large teams, but the former is out of luck. Life's tough in the one-bid leagues and, unfortunately for the Terriers, the Vermont program appears to be back.

But how's this for a silver lining? The Golden Lions are dancing!

That's right — the sad little SWAC team that started its season 0-11, had never made a conference final and never has been to the NCAA Tournament (hell, UAPB only became Division I a few years ago) now likely will appear in the play-in game at Dayton on Tuesday.

So at least someone was happy last night...

AP Ranking = 9

ESPN/USA Today Ranking = 9

Overall Record = 26-7

Big 12 Record = 11-5

Big 12 Seed = 2

Projected NCAA Seed = 2

RPI = 6

SOS = 4

Signature Wins (RPI 1-30) = Xavier, Texas A&M, Texas, Baylor (x2), Oklahoma State

Quality Wins (RPI 31-100) = Dayton, IUPUI, UNLV, Alabama, Texas Tech, Missouri

Bad Losses (RPI 101 or greater) = Iowa State

• Loyola Chicago (14-16, 5-13) | RPI = 208
  
• Western Illinois (13-17, 6-12) | RPI = 280
  
• Boston University (19-13, 11-5) | RPI = 151: Loss at Vermont (83-70 in the America East Tournament)
  
• Ole Miss (21-10, 9-7) | RPI = 56
  
• Dayton (20-12, 8-8) | RPI = 51
  
• IUPUI (24-10, 15-3) | RPI = 85
  
• No. 14* FHSU (22-6): Win over Central Oklahoma (80-64 in the NCAA Division II Tournament)
  
• Washington State (16-15, 6-12) | RPI = 156
  
• No. 24 Xavier (24-8, 14-2) | RPI = 21: Loss to Richmond (89-85 in overtime, in the A-10 Tournament)
  
• UNLV (25-8, 11-5) | RPI = 50: Loss to San Diego State (55-45 in the Mountain West Tournament)
  
• Alabama (17-15, 6-10) | RPI = 97
  
• UAPB (17-15, 14-4) | RPI = 192: Win over Texas Southern (50-38 in the SWAC Tournament)
  
• Cleveland State (16-17, 10-8) | RPI = 159
  
• South Dakota (22-9) | RPI = 223: Win over Houston Baptist (91-86)
  
• Missouri (22-10, 10-6) | RPI = 39
  
• No. 23 Texas A&M (23-9, 11-5) | RPI = 12
  
• Colorado (15-16, 6-10) | RPI = 105
  
• Texas (24-9, 9-7) | RPI = 26
  
• Oklahoma State (22-10, 9-7) | RPI = 28
  
• No. 21 Baylor (25-7, 11-5) | RPI = 7
  
• No. 1 Kansas (32-2, 15-1) | RPI = 1: Win over No. 9 Kansas State (72-64 in the Big 12 Tournament)
  
• Nebraska (15-18, 2-14) | RPI = 153
  
• Iowa State (15-17, 4-12) | RPI = 114
  
• Oklahoma (13-18, 4-12) | RPI = 112
  
• Texas Tech (17-15, 4-12) | RPI = 71
  

*Division II Top 25