Cowboy Basketball's Postseason Hopes Fade in Latest NCAA Projection

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball team has seen its NCAA Tournament hopes take a major hit after a three-game losing streak, including blowout losses to Arizona and Arizona State, as well as an overtime defeat against TCU. ESPN's latest Bracketology projection has the Cowboys falling out of the tournament field entirely, with their last opponent TCU now in the 'last four in' category. The Cowboys still have a chance to turn things around with upcoming games against ranked opponents, but their path to the Big Dance is looking increasingly difficult.

Why it matters

Oklahoma State was in a strong position to make the NCAA Tournament before this recent slide, so their fall from the projected field is a significant setback for the program. The Cowboys' struggles highlight the challenges of competing at the highest level in college basketball, where a few losses can quickly derail a team's postseason aspirations.

The details

The Cowboys' recent skid began with an 84-47 blowout loss to then-No. 1 Arizona, which seemed to shake the team's confidence. They then lost to Arizona State 85-76 and TCU 95-92 in overtime, all but eliminating them from the NCAA Tournament picture in the latest ESPN Bracketology projections.

• On February 7, the Cowboys lost to Arizona 84-47.
• On February 9, the Cowboys lost to Arizona State 85-76.
• On February 14, the Cowboys lost to TCU 95-92 in overtime.

What’s next

The Cowboys' next game is against the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks, led by projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick Darryn Peterson. Defeating the Jayhawks could be the spark the Cowboys need to keep their postseason hopes alive.