Joe Lunardi’s Latest Bracketology Leaves First Place Kansas State Out of the NCAA Tournament
While the Big 12 Conference gets more respect than any other league in America, one team currently tied for first place in college basketball’s premiere conference is getting no love from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi.
Jerome Tang’s Kansas State Wildcats currently sit in first place alongside the Texas Tech Red Raiders atop the Big 12 Conference, and despite boasting a 4-1 record in conference play, the Wildcats were listed as the first team out in the latest bracketology update.
While Lunardi feels that Kansas State’s resume is not deserving of a tournament entry at this point, he did list nine other Big 12 teams in the bracket despite currently trailing the Wildcats in conference play. Lunardi listed the likes of Kansas, Houston, Baylor, Oklahoma, BYU, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, and Cincinnati in the field with Kansas State narrowly missing as the unofficial 69th team.
The Wildcats started off the season with back-to-back wins against West Virginia and UCF, before losing in Lubbock by one to Texas Tech. Jerome Tang’s team showed their resolve following the loss going 2-0 against No. 9 Baylor and Oklahoma State.
While Lunardi seems to believe that Kansas State is less deserving than the likes of the 12-6 Charlotte 49ers, the Wildcats will have two opportunities for Top 25 wins on Tuesday, January 23rd against No. 24 Iowa State, and Saturday, January 27th against No. 5 Houston.
