Dallas ? The Oklahoma Sooners have more on their minds than just trying to extend their winning streak in the Big 12 Conference tournament. This time, they’re still trying to ensure an NCAA berth.

Oklahoma got to the conference tournament the past three years certain of a spot in the NCAA Tournament, then won the Big 12’s postseason event.

“We didn’t have to worry about the NCAA,” OU coach Kelvin Sampson said Wednesday. “All we had to worry about was where they’d send us and where they’d seed us.”

This is a much different Oklahoma team. Johnnie Gilbert and DeAngelo Alexander are the only remaining Sooners who played in last year’s Big 12 tournament. Four of the top players, including two starters, are freshmen.

“I’ve never come here with a Boy Scout troop,” Sampson said. “Really it’s a Cub Scout troop. I’m not sure we’re old enough to have a Boy Scout troop.”

Plus, OU is down to just eight scholarship players after the suspension of Jabahri Brown, who is facing misdemeanor drug possession charges.

The Sooners (18-9), who started the season with 10 straight wins, enter the Big 12 tournament as the No. 7 seed. The conference has sent six teams to the NCAA tournament the past four years, but never seven.

• No. 5 bye: Texas Tech coach Bob Knight didn’t kick a gift horse in the mouth. He just ignored it.


Iowa State guard Jake Sullivan works out during Cyclones' practice. ISU practiced Wednesday in Dallas.

Because of Baylor’s absence from the tournament, Texas Tech benefited with a first-round bye despite being the No. 5 seed. Only the top four teams avoid first-round games when all 12 teams are playing.

“I’ve never looked at those things,” Knight said. “The tournament plays out however it plays out.”

The Red Raiders (21-9) have gone 5-7 since a 12-game winning streak that included their first four Big 12 games. Tech won its last two regular-season games, including 87-76 over Missouri to match the Tigers for fifth in the Big 12.

• So close: Kansas State was about to become the first No. 11 seed to win a Big 12 tournament game. They had a 76-74 lead with 3.3 seconds left in the first-round game last year, but Colorado banked a three-pointer at the buzzer to win the game.

The Wildcats were back on the American Airlines Center floor for the first time since that heartbreaker when they practiced Wednesday.

“I think we’ve already learned that lesson: play until the clock is out,” senior guard Jarrett Hart said.

• Cyclone repeat?: Iowa State senior Jake Sullivan recalled his freshman season, when the Cyclones won 25 games and the regular-season Big 12 title, only to be beaten in the first round of the conference and NCAA Tournament. If the Cyclones get by Kansas State today, they get top seed Oklahoma State. “It’s ironic. We may have the same opportunity to upset the No. 1 seed. Hopefully, the situation will be reversed,” he said.