Dallas ? Even for Big 12 associate commissioner John Underwood, who has played and supervised college basketball at the highest levels, a mock NCAA Tournament selection process proved to be educational.

Underwood was among a group of administrators and media who recently went through a process simulating the one facing the actual selection committee next month.

“Knowing what to expect, it really is a fascinating process,” Underwood said, struck by the amount of information available to the committee.

He just hopes the real process mirrors the mock one when it comes to the Big 12. Seven conference teams were among the 65 on the finished bracket — Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas A&M.

Underwood neither dodged nor hesitated when the subject was raised late last week.

“We would deserve seven teams. I think we do,” Underwood said. “I think we should have seven teams in the NCAA Tournament. Now, it’s dependent at this particular time on how they finish out the regular conference race and the (Big 12) Tournament.”

If Underwood is right — and he’s hardly alone — then the Big 12 could make history when Selection Sunday arrives March 14. The Big 12 has never sent more than six teams to the tournament since it began competition in 1996.

No Big 12 team with a conference record under .500 has made the field. Two teams that finished 10-6 in the league were overlooked — Kansas State in 2006-07 and Colorado in 2003-04.

The conventional wisdom, supported by the league’s coaches, suggested that the league has never been stronger.

Underwood agrees.

“This is my eighth year in this position at the Big 12,” he said. “This is the most competitive that this league has been from top to bottom, 1 to 12.”

Also on board are several bracketologists, the numbers crunchers who decipher the selection process. Joe Lunardi told ESPN viewers Saturday that seven Big 12 teams had achieved “separation” from the bubble and were solidly in his projected field.

Asked about the Big 12 landing seven teams, Jerry Palm of CollegeRPI.com said Sunday that “it’s a good possibility. Obviously, some teams have some work to do.”

Palm noted that the Big 12 has six teams among the top 30 in RPI, and eight in the top 50, tops of any league. The conference also might be helped a little by a void left by the Pac-10, which might have just two teams selected.

Saturday’s games helped solidify the Big 12 candidates. Texas avoided a spiral with a road victory at Texas Tech. Oklahoma State gained a much-needed quality win over Baylor.

“You have some teams in pretty solid shape,” Palm said. “The most vulnerable are Oklahoma State and Missouri, but they’ve done some pretty good things.”

The key for both teams: avoiding bad losses, according to Palm. Oklahoma State was defeated by Oklahoma, and Missouri fell to mid-major Oral Roberts. Coaches are aware of the stakes.

After the win over Baylor, Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said he never once discussed the NCAA Tournament with this year’s group, according to the Oklahoman.

But when asked if the win got his team off the bubble, Ford responded: “Oh, I think so, yeah.”