March Madness bracket live updates: Where is OU basketball in latest bracketology?

Story by

Colton Sulley, The Oklahoman

Thu, Mar 12, 2026 ·

1 min read

NASHVILLE — Oklahoma men's basketball is still alive in the NCAA Tournament race.

The Sooners overcame a 13-point first-half deficit to defeat South Carolina 86-74 in the first round of the SEC Tournament. OU faces Texas A&M in the second round at 8:30 p.m. Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena.

Here's where the Sooners stand in ESPN expert Joe Lunardi's latest projections:

More: OU basketball 'path' to redemption keeps rolling along as Sooners try to make NCAA bracket

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Oklahoma Sooners vs South Carolina Gamecocks in SEC Tournament, see top photos

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Derrion Reid #35 of the Oklahoma Sooners shoots the ball against Myles Stute #10 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Meechie Johnson #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives to the basket against Dayton Forsythe #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Nijel Pack #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners drives to the basket against Meechie Johnson #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Nijel Pack #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners dribbles against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Dayton Forsythe #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners dribbles against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Head coach Lamont Paris of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Nijel Pack #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners drives to the basket against Elijah Strong #31 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Tae Davis #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners shoots the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Derrion Reid #35 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to shoot the ball against Eli Ellis #15 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Nijel Pack #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners drives to the basket against Nordin Kapic #24 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Dayton Forsythe #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners drives to the basket against Kobe Knox #4 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Tae Davis #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners dunks the ball against Nordin Kapic #24 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Tae Davis #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners shoots the ball past EJ Walker #6 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Tae Davis #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners dunks the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half in the first round of the 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

Oklahoma basketball standing in latest bracketology

Lunardi is coming around on OU.

On Wednesday night, the ESPN expert said the Sooners would have to win three games to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament and had them as the sixth team out in his 2 a.m. ET update.

But at 9:49 a.m. CT, Lunardi updated his stance on Porter Moser's squad. He bumped OU up to the third team out behind Indiana and New Mexico in an X post.

"Crunching the overnight numbers, Texas (lost to Ole Miss) hurt itself more and Oklahoma (beat South Carolina) helped itself more than we first thought; the Longhorns dropped to LAST FOUR IN and the Sooners are up to FIRST FOUR OUT," the graphic read.

However, Miami (Ohio) suffering its first loss of the season Thursday against UMass bumped OU down to the fourth team out.

More: OU basketball roars past South Carolina in SEC Tournament opener to keep NCAA hopes alive

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Where Oklahoma basketball ranks in latest March Madness bracketology