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Oklahoma State Out in Way-Too-Early Bracketology

The Cowboys are one of the first four out.

NCAA Basketball: Oklahoma State at Baylor Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

First, we all realize that this has zero impact on the season ahead, and will change multiple times between now and Selection Sunday 2018.

However, it’s always interesting to see what ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi (who is pretty good at this and one of the few people still employed at ESPN) thinks about a team.

In his latest bracketology, Lunardi has the Cowboys as one of the first four teams out. They are joined by Clemson, Wake Forest, and San Diego State.

OSU is going to look very different when they take the court next season. Gone are star point guard Jawun Evans, 3-point king Phil Forte III, and Leyton Hammonds. So too are Brad Underwood and multiple other staff members no longer part of the program.

In their place we get a first-time head coach in Mike Boynton (who has already worked with the program for a year), Jeffrey Carroll, a young but talented roster, a couple of incoming four-star commits, a grad transfer, and questions at point guard. There are a lot of questions about what the team will be next season.

Also keep in mind Lunardi has eight(!!) Big 12 teams as “in” next season leaving only OSU and Kansas State at home. This league is going to be DEEP next season.

Take all of that into account, and the fact that Lunardi has OSU just on the outside looking in is impressive and should fill Cowboy fans with some hope. I know it makes me feel a little better about next season.

If Boynton is the right man for the job and is ready for the spotlight that is Big 12 basketball, come next March the Cowboys just might find themselves among the “ins” when Selection Sunday ends.