It "only" takes a 6-game winning streak at the end of your season to cut down the nets and get a ticker-tape parade in your honor. Six games.
But which Big 12 teams have the make-up, fortitude and mental toughness to go on such a run?
Using the SB Nation's latest Bracketology I will try and break down the 7 Big 12 tournament teams on the list.
the list is in order by team seeding with Kansas first. After The Jump you can read the breakdown of the other 6 schools.
Kansas (projected 1 seed)
Toughest 6-game win streak this season: LaSalle, Michigan, California, Belmont, at (19) Temple, Cornell
Longest win streak this season: 14 games, broken at (15) Tennessee
Why they will win it: They have three guys who will be on the All Conference team in Cole Aldrich, Sherron Collins and Xavier Henry. They have interchangeable big men twins (read as: 10 fouls to give). They have Tyrady Morningreed. KU is STACKED. If their outside game isn't there, they can give the ball to a Morris (pick a Morris, any Morris) or to Aldrich. If their inside game isn't there, Morningreed, Henry or Collins can take over a game. They have no weaknesses. They can win an up tempo game or a slowed-down contest. They can dunk over you or shoot around you. It is quite unfair actually, and the reason they are #1 in the country right now.
Why they won't win it: There are times when they forget Aldich is on the floor. There are times when Collins' shot isn't dropping. These two anomalies haven't occurred at the same time yet, but if they do, they might be susceptible to a loss.
Texas (3)
Toughest 6-game win streak this season: (10) North Carolina, (9) Michigan St., Gardner-Webb, Texas A&M CC, at Arkansas, Colorado
Longest win streak this season: 17 games, broken at (9) Kansas St.
Why they will win it: The Longhorns are deep. With talent. And depth in March is never a bad thing to have.
Why they won't win it: The Longhorns are deep. With talent. But too much depth in March is sometimes a bad thing to have. Never get in rhythm.
Kansas State (3)
Toughest 6-game win streak this season: Washington St., Xavier, at (17) UNLV, at Alabama, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Cleveland St.
Longest win streak this season: 10 games, broken at Missouri
Why they will win it: Guard play. Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen can run with any two guards in the nation. Their inside is sufficient to get open looks for their perimeter players. If Bob Knight can teach Frank Martin to run some plays then K-State has all the firepower to go on that 6-game win streak.
Why they won't win it: K-State can go cold. Even in their W against Texas, the Wildcats looked like they wanted to give the game away. They were missing key shots, missing free throws, turning the ball over. As the guards go, so go the ‘Cats.
Baylor (6)
Toughest 6-game win streak this season: Jackson St., Texas-Arlington, at Arkansas, at South Carolina, Morgan St., Oklahoma
Longest win streak this season: 9 games, broken at Colorado
Why they will win it: Every good tourney team needs a good big man. Baylor has that in Ekpe Udoh. They also have the outside game to free Udoh up in Tweety Carter. Get those guys rolling and the Bears can follow them to the Promised Land.
Why they won't win it: Baylor would need to play perfect for 6 games. Limit turnovers. Take good shots and make them. Hit free throws. They don't have the bench depth to make a run if Udoh and Carter are ineffective.
Missouri (7)
Toughest 6-game win streak this season: Illinois, Austin Peay, UMKC, Georgia, Savannah St., (10) Kansas St.
Longest win streak this season: 9 games, broken at Oklahoma
Why they will win it: 40 Minutes of Hell. If Mizzou's full court pressure is clicking they can beat anyone. Their stellar D leads to easy baskets, which leads to more pressure and turnovers and easy baskets. Its cyclical. You get the picture.
Why they won't win it: Shooting woes. If the D isn't creating the turnovers and they are forced into a half court game, they need to hit their shots, something they aren't doing since the start of conference play.
Texas A&M (8)
Toughest 6-game win streak this season: None, longest is 4 games, twice
Longest win streak this season: 4 games
Why they will win it: Don't play BYU. The Cougars have booted the Aggies from the tournament 2 of the past 3 years. [Ed. Note: Apparently A&M beat BYU the past two years. That is what I get for using a drunk hobo as my source. Sorry A&M fans.] [Ed. Note 2: is there such a thing as a sober hobo?]
Why they won't win it: Donald Sloan gets shut down. Sloan can carry the Aggies, but if he is taken out of a game, either because of defensive pressure, foul issues or injury then the Aggies will struggle to put the ball through the net.
Oklahoma State (9)
Toughest 6-game win streak this season: Seattle, Southern, North Texas, Prairie View A&M, Bradley,
Longest win streak this season: 6 games, broken at Tulsa
Why they will win it: James Anderson. The Big 12's leading scorer is a huge reason the Cowboys will get into the tournament and his big frame allows the rest of the Cowboys to go along for the ride.
Why they won't win it: Lack of depth and lack of an inside-outside game. Too many things will need to go right for the Cowboys to become the lowest seeded team ever to cut down the nets.
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