ESPN picks MSU Bears to make NCAA Tournament

Can't cut it any closer than this.

Whenever I check ESPN.com’s Bracketology, I don’t look at the top seeds. I always look at the last four in.

And when ESPN’s Joe Lunardi came out with his preseason field of 68 Wednesday (that’s right, 68), not only was Missouri State in the field, the Bears were the absolute last team to make it — No. 68 with a bullet.

The Bears were listed as a No. 13 seed in a play-in game against Louisville, another No. 13 seed. In all, Lunardi had two Missouri Valley Conference schools in the field, with preseason MVC favorite Wichita State as a No. 7 .

Of course, the Bears were picked second in the MVC, the highest preseason ranking since the 1998-99 season, the year the Bears advanced to the Sweet 16.

Obviously, high expectations surround the Bears in coach Cuonzo Martin’s third season. The Bears open up the 2010-11 season at 8:35 p.m. Friday against Oral Roberts. Look for our MSU season preview on Friday.