ESPN’s Joe Lunardi Predicts West Virginia to Make Sweet-16

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – As the college basketball season is set to begin on Tuesday, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi ranked all 358 Division I basketball programs and predicted their season result.

If you’re not familiar with Lunardi, he is one of the best bracketologists in the country, releasing a March Madness prediction bracket every week.

Lunardi ranked West Virginia No. 36 in the country, predicting them to make the Sweet-16. Lunardi did rank the Mountaineers No. 6 in the Big 12.

Here’s Lunardi’s full rankings and predictions for the Big 12 Conference:

1. Kansas (2)

2. Texas (7)

3. Baylor (8)

4. Texas Tech (27)

5. Oklahoma State (31)

6. West Virginia (36)

7. Oklahoma (52)

8. TCU (78)

9. Kansas State (79)

10. Iowa State (114)

Tournament contenders

• Final Four: Kansas, Texas
• Sweet 16: Baylor, Texas Tech, West Virginia
• NCAA Bubble: Oklahoma
• NIT: TCU, Kansas State
• Asleep: Oklahoma State

Lunardi’s overview on the Big 12 is that Oklahoma State’s ineligibility hurts the conference, as they lose a tournament quality team.