Oklahoma bounced in round one of ESPN’s, USA TODAY’s predicted NCAA bracket simulation

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forcing nearly everything in the U.S. to shut down just as March Madness was set to begin. With no NCAA bracket to fill out, ESPN simulated Joe Lunardi’s final bracket accompanied by ESPN’s basketball power …

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forcing nearly everything in the U.S. to shut down just as March Madness was set to begin.

With no NCAA bracket to fill out, ESPN simulated Joe Lunardi’s final bracket accompanied by ESPN’s basketball power index (BPI) to find the national champion that never was.

Oklahoma was given a bid to the West Region as a nine-seed, heading to Spokane, Wash., to take on LSU. The first time since Buddy Hield and Ben Simmons faced off as part of the 2015-16 Big 12/SEC Challenge that the two schools have faced each other.

ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder was very blunt about the Sooners’ Tournament appearance.

Citing the College Football Playoff game against the Tigers and Sooners, Oklahoma finds a similar fate on the hardwood.

USA TODAY also had the Sooners making a first-round exit in the East as an eight-seed, losing to nine-seed Arizona State.

ESPN’s simulation had four-seed Wisconsin making a run to win the whole thing while USA TODAY had No. 1 overall seed Kansas beating fellow one-seed Dayton in the championship game 66-65.

Truth be told, we will never know who made the Tournament, let alone who won each matchup. But, it is fun to pretend as we get through this pandemic together.

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