College basketball winners and losers: Oklahoma State keeps surging; Villanova falters

Peaking in March is the goal for men's college basketball teams. In a season made up of bizarre scheduling and difficult rhythmic dynamics due to COVID-19, being a late-surging team is the best scenario a week from Selection Sunday. 

Enter Oklahoma State. 

The Cowboys (18-7, 11-7 Big 12) dispatched West Virginia 85-80 on the road Saturday to continue its late case for strong NCAA Tournament seeding. The most compelling part? They did it without their best player. Cade Cunningham, the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, rolled his left ankle in Thursday's loss to Baylor but is expected to be back next week for the Big 12 tournament. 

In the past several weeks — largely behind Cunningham's heroics — OSU has vaulted from a projected No. 7 seed to a No. 4 seed in the latest USA TODAY Sports bracketology. Following another Quadrant 1 (top-25 home, top-75 road) victory, the Cowboys just might be in the mix for a No. 3 seed. 

Many teams like Oklahoma State have surged late after establishing team identities late in the season due to COVID-19-related challenges. Bubble teams Duke and Michigan State are among that group. But how OSU has thrived, going 6-1 since mid-February. 

Despite receiving a one-year postseason ban in June for penalties committed by former assistant Lamont Evans, the NCAA's delay on an answer to OSU's appeal means the Cowboys are set to play in March Madness — where they'll be one of the most dangerous teams in the country. 

Winners

Oklahoma State. With the key victory over West Virginia without Cunningham and fellow starter Isaac Likekele, Oklahoma State has now won six of seven, with its only loss to Big 12 regular-season champion Baylor in that span. The Cowboys' portfolio keeps getting more impressive. They now have eight Quad 1 wins, a top-30 NET score and a top-10 strength of schedule.  

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