the shrewdness of apes

bubble business is shaking itself out as i type this. George Mason has lost, Oklahoma State completed their collapse by losing to Nebraska and Gonzaga is up on Santa Clara in the 2nd half [update: the 'Zags win]. let's finish this out!

Big XII
This league could get only 3 bids and not really have much to complain about, because the 3 teams they're sending could all win a championship
You Don't Even Get a Copy of our Home Game: Colorado, Baylor, Iowa State, Nebraska
If you're Baylor, you're just happy when your coach isn't implicated in the cover up of a player's murder. If you're Iowa State, you're just happy when your coach isn't spotted partying with coeds after a loss. If you're Nebraska, you're just killing time until football season. If you're Colorado, you just plain suck.
Something Was Lacking...Let's Call it Heart: Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., Missouri
I like Ken Pomeroy's rankings for the simple fact that he's working to improve on the RPI by rating things like efficiency. But there's still some kinks to be worked out, because Oklahoma just refuses to fall out of the top 30. They're 15-14, 6-10 in conference, they've lost 6 in a row and their only road wins are over Chaminade (non D-I) and Baylor. And it's not like they beat anyone of note. Just baffling. Equally baffling is the aforementioned collapse of Oklahoma St. Sitting at 15-1 in early January with wins over Pittsburgh, Missouri St. and Syracuse, they lost to Kansas then beat Texas in a 3OT thriller. And then it was like the eruption of Thera, as they went 4-9 the rest of the way losing to the clean and unclean alike. Missouri is one of those ho-hum teams who ends up at 19-12 or so without having beat anyone of note. They'll get to host an NIT game.
But I'm a BCS School!: Texas Tech, Kansas St.
Both teams are flawed, and not just because they have the execrable Bobby Knight and the slimetastic Bob Huggins as their respective coaches. They both have to hope that their good conference wins will outweigh a few questionable losses, though Tech is in much better shape for an at-large bid. I'm putting them in and Kansas St. out for now pending the conference tournament results.
Heavyweight Division: Kansas, Texas A&M, Texas
There's plenty of places to read drooling commentary about any of these teams: the depth and talent of Kansas, the court leadership of Acie Law IV, the Kevin Durant dreams of NBA lottery teams everywhere. They're all quite good and if any of them lose before the Sweet 16, it will be a major upset.

SEC
Wow, what a clusterf*ck this conference has shaped up to be. Anyone else want to take a shot at sorting out all the half-assed teams in the middle here? Because I'm going to bore even myself if I have to do it.
Kissing The Lipless: LSU, South Carolina, Auburn
Anyone else want to see LSU and George Mason play a "Faded Final Four" matchup in the NIT? That could be fun.
Lake Wobegon Division: Alabama, Mississippi, Mississippi St., Georgia, Arkansas
At least one of these teams will be probably make the field of 65, and no matter which one it is, I'm going to be annoyed.
The Quasi-Fantastic Four: Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
People worried when Florida lost 3 of 4, and rightly so - they seem to be playing from behind a lot and that won't work in March. Kentucky fans are becoming despondent and calling for Tubby Smith's head because they didn't beat a ranked team this year (poor 'Cats fans!). Tennessee was another fast starter that faded a lot faster than the image of a shirtless Bruce Pearl has faded from my memory, but they've turned it around to win 7 of 8. Is Vanderbilt the team that lost to Furman, Wake Forest and Appalachian St. before January or the team that beat Kentucky and Florida in February (while also losing to Mississippi St. and Arkansas)?

Tomorrow we'll put it all together and see what sort of pie we've baked.